2021 riverrun Final PDF

right.
Jeffrey.
Daniel dug his nails into the thick fur behind the cat’s ears and gave him a
deep scratching before pushing him away to grab the cat bowls. One for Maya, the
lazy female, and one for Leonidas, the loving male. The third one he left. He would
not need it.
He carried the empty bowls to the counter and grabbed the last can of Fancy
Feast from the cupboard. The cats would have to share. It was only a five-minute
drive to buy more, but once he was home, he preferred to stay there. He did not
leave the house other than to go to work or for a quick trip to the store. He spent
most of his time on the worn green sofa, fingering the new cigarette burns in his
favorite blanket and staring at the muted television or at the pictureless wall behind
it. Other than that, he slept, usually where he sat.
The sound of the electric can opener was a dinner bell for the cats, and Maya
waddled into the kitchen from the bedroom and sat next to her empty bowl. Leonidas
sat next to her, and they both cat-stared at him expectantly.
“Sorry, kids,” Daniel muttered as he split the gooey brown chunks evenly
between the two bowls. It smelled vaguely like roast chicken. “Gonna have to share
tonight.” He took the two steps to where they waited and seated himself on the
floor, legs crossed. Neither cat moved, their eyes locked on the bowls he held over
their heads, and he leaned over to place one in front of each.
Daniel looked at the empty third bowl. It said “Mildew” in thick black letters
on the side. He closed his eyes and smiled. Mildew had been Jeffrey’s cat. When
Jeffrey first brought him home, Daniel had laughed. The cat was rough looking and
rail thin. His black and white tuxedo coat was uneven and unkempt, and his seafoam
green eyes had seemed to be looking in different directions. Daniel had protested
that two cats were more than enough, but Jeffrey was adamant.
“Just wait,” he had insisted. “He’ll grow on you.”
“What, like mildew?” Daniel had snapped. Neither of them said a word for a
moment before they both laughed out loud.
“Good one,” Jeffrey had chuckled, the cat cradled in his arms like a newborn.
“Thank you. I thought so, too.” And just like that, the mood between them
had changed and the argument was over. Jeffrey knew he had won, and he had
draped the scrawny beast over his shoulder and walked into the bedroom.
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