Lesson 6 Assignment

Her lame explanation wasn’t lost on Ben, however, Edie realized she didn’t have time to dwell on egos and emotions.  Determination propelled her to not to waste her precious window of time and she focused on the process of prioritizing Michelle’s pieces to be auctioned on eBay.  Her brows knitted tight puzzling over two items, oblivious to her new companion.

“That was a close call.” 

Twirling around at the disembodied voice, Edie fumbled with the box of fluted champagne glasses imported from Belgium.  “Who’s there?”  Her voice quivered.  She grabbed for a gleaming silver candlestick.

“I’m just saying.”  A white cat with a black patch over one eye sauntered out of the closet, tail high. “And, why do you keep coming around?”

Oh boy, I’ve just gone bat-shit crazy.  Frightened and confused, Edie stumbled over her words.  “Yyyou’re a cccat.”

“Wow.  You’re a smart one.”  The cat slid back on her haunches and licked a paw.

“How come I’ve never seen you before?”  Clutching the candlesticks she contemplated her next move and why she was speaking with a cat.  Edie pressed on with this teasing experiment of speaking cat.  “What’s your name?”

“It’s none of your business, but I don’t care for people much, so I stay out of sight.  And, since I’m a polite sort, my name is Winslow.”  The cat remained sitting, but tilted her head as if waiting for Edie to speak again.  “I heard lover-boy call you Edie.”

“Yeah, Ben.  He followed me here.”

“I’m not sure I like that.  Why would he follow you?”  Winslow motioned forward and stretched on fours.  "I was thinking of attacking him, but I didn't."

Edie hesitated before stuffing the candlesticks into her bag.  She considered backing out of the room and running for the door, but fear of the talking cat kept her rooted to one spot.  I know this isn’t happening.  It’s my headache making this all up.  Right?

“Well, I must be going.”  She took one step back, testing the cat.

“Wait!  Aren’t you pet sitting?”  Winslow arched and sat back again, and truth be told, she imitated smiling.  “Or, are you a big fat liar?” 

Was that a hiss?  “No offense, but I have to meet him about now.”  Edie took another step back, her eyes never leaving the cat.  “I had to tell him something and that’s all I could think of.”

“Are you ever coming back here?” 

“I don’t know.”  Edie said.  Probably not in a million years.

“Well, if you do, bring me some catnip.  They never buy me catnip anymore.”

“Catnip it is.”  With that Edie raced out of the room, grabbed the fake rock, locked the door and replaced the key in the fake rock before tossing it in the bushes.