Caffeine will help.
With any luck.
“That’s why you have me.”
I glance at where Prudence is watching the rain splatter on the windows, one paw raised like she can’t resist batting at where it’s streaking down.
Strangely, the cat’s offer of help, no matter how snarky, makes me feel a little bit better.
“Thank you, Prudence.”
“Of course,” she says, swatting at the glass, tail twitching.“You’d probably get yourself killed without me.”
My feelings of good will towards her shrivel up.
It takes me a moment to locate my raincoat in the boxes I haven’t unpacked yet, but once I’m dressed, I feel better.Like I have armor on.
Raincoat armor.
“You’ll have to carry me in that,” Prudence tells me, standing up on her hind legs like she’s asking for uppies.
“Oh, because people won’t like a random cat following me around?”
“No, because I hate to be wet.”She delivers this news with the sort of patient, scalding tone one might reserve for the stupidest of coworkers.
“I don’t think I have room for you in my coat.”I do, probably, but I’m not likely to be bullied by a cat whose poop I still have to scoop.
“I can either climb my way up there, or you can pick me up.Your choice.”
I wonder if Ivy’s familiar treats her like trash and I scoop the cat up, then put her in between my thin vintage t-shirt and the light raincoat.
Prudence settles in easily, purring like a motor, and I decide having the cat nestled there isn’t all bad.
I’m so tired from last night’s activities and the rigamarole of moving that I nearly forget to grab my phone off the charger.
A smile lights up my face when I glance at the screen and some of the grumpy cloud hanging over me dissipates.
Slightly.
“What did he say?”Prudence asks.
Nosy cat.I’m pleased enough at the message though, so I hold it up and show it to her.Assuming she can read.Will wonders never cease?
Aiden: Here’s hoping you had a bedbug and ghost-free night.Let me know if you need help with anything—that storm was something, huh
“Oh, he likes you.”Prudence gives a little kitty purr, and there’s a sort of wistfulness to her voice that is surely a figment of my imagination.
“No, he doesn’t.Not at all.I did not get that vibe.”I snort.“He thought I was weird.He’s just being nice.”
“You’re an idiot,” Prudence says, still somehow purring simultaneously.
“Thank you, you’ve made your feelings abundantly clear on that issue.”
Me: I’m just waking up and getting going, but I’ll be sure to take advantage of your neighborliness again soon
Aiden: It’s not taking advantage if I want to do it
Me: That does make me feel slightly better
