Harbinger: A Journal of Art & Literature | 2018-2019

I rush out of bed and to my closet where I kept her food. “I’ll fill it now!” I say, suddenly
afraid of my 9-pound cat.
“Fresh water wouldn’t hurt, while you’re at it.”
“Of course! I’ll do that.” What the hell is happening?
“Don’t get any ideas by the way, say one word of me speaking here this morning, and
I’ll make sure you’re sent straight to the Looney bin.”
I stop filling the water in her bowl, “What? But, why?”
“Does it look like I have time for appearances? No time for Ellen DeGeneres when I
have moths around the house to keep under control. Do you think they’re going to kill
themselves?”
“No, Bu-”
“But nothing. No one can know,” she says, beginning to eat her fresh bowl of food.
“But we could be famous!” I bellow.
She stops eating abruptly, choking on her last bite. “FAMOUS?! Do you really think
I want to give up my life of absolute leisure for fame? Naps don’t take themselves you
stupid human!”
She had a point. Naps were a necessity in this household.
“But you talk! This is groundbreaking! We should at least tell NASA… Or something!
I don’t know.” I state, beginning to pace the bedroom floor, unable to sit still.
“Yeah, and so does that imbecile dog of your roommates, Morty. Stupid canine. This
isn’t new human.”
“Morty? No!” I barely whisper, astonished.
“See for yourself.”
I run from the room, fueled solely by adrenaline. “Morty? Morty! Where are you?
Come here buddy!” I find him on the couch in the living room, staring at me blankly.
“Can… Can you talk too?”
His head turns quickly to the side, like any curious dog before he dashes off the couch
and into my bedroom. I run after him, anxious for answers. Entering my room shortly
after Morty, I see him staring expectantly into the eyes of my now talking cat.
“It’s okay, she knows.”
Morty looks from her, to me, and back again before both of their eyes fall to me.
Silence fills the room, and then Morty begins towards me. Was this it? He stops in front
of me and looks up into my eyes; this is it, he is going to speak!
“Well, now that the cat’s out the bag… My food bowl, too, is empty.”