The Cat Part 1

The cat was pure black. Its orange eyes reflected the dreary rain as it innocently looked up at me. I liked cats, my wife, Molly, didn't. I decided to ignore that thought. “poor cat” I muttered as I picked it up, and stroked it's head. It seemed to like it. Stores were closing as I walked down the sidewalk with the cat curled up in my arms. It was cold and wet. The sky was dark. The clouds blocked the sun from revealing what cracks I was about to walk over on the sidewalk. “step on a crack and break your mothers back” was a phrase i was familiar with, luckily my mother died when i was 13, so i had no mothers back to break.

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The apartment i shared with my wife Molly was on the 5th floor of the tall building. There was no music playing when I stepped into the elevator, the cat still lying in my arms happily. I kept my eyes on the little black thing that counts what floor you are currently on. “ 1...2...3...4...5”, I whispered to myself as we went up, the cat took no notice of my counting. The door sizzled open. I flinched, I didn't think that elevator doors were supposed to sizzle.

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The long hallway had 10 apartment doors in it. Behind the doors were 10, 1 bedroomed, 2 bathroomed, 1 kitchened, 1 living roomed apartments. I walked down to the door that said 9 and opened it with my right hand, because my left one was holding the cat. I put the cat down on the cold apartment floor, and it casually strolled down the mini hallway to the bedroom i shared with Molly. I took my shoes and coat off, hung the coat and scarf up, and put away my shoes. When I looked up I saw Molly eating dinner with her back to me. Without saying anything i sat down and started eating. After she finished eating, she got up and went to our room. I was left to eat my stupid food. A couple of minuets later she came back and sat next to me on the couch, the one in front of the TV. “Did you see it”? I asked. She looked surprised, like it was insane i was even talking to her. “the.....the,,,” she stammered. “Say it....all of it”, I practically screamed. “ The....cat,” she finally managed. Yes, of course the cat I thought to myself.....was there anyone else to think to anyway? She then got up and walked to our tiny bedroom to sleep. After a couple of minuets the cat walked into the living room and lied down on my lap. It purred as I pet it.

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A couple of hours later I slipped into bed, laying next to my wife. Her body was warm and she was sleeping soundly. I would have kissed her goodnight but i didn't want to wake her up. I closed my eyes, and slowly fell asleep.

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2.



When I got up the clock said 6:17. I groggily got up and stepped into the shower. I noticed that Molly wasnt in bed still sleeping. I figured she had got up early, and was probably walking down some street, trying to tie her scarf around her neck.

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I never eat breakfast. I never have since I was 13. Breakfast is overrated. When I came out of the bathroom, the cat was sitting in front of the door, looking at me like it was expecting me to do something about it. Its eyes were more orange than anything Ive ever seen before. I patted its head, got on my coat and scarf, and left the apartment. There was no music playing when i stepped into the elevator. “5...4....3...2....1” i counted to myself as the elevator lowered me down to the street. Outside it was still raining. I pulled my collar up to block the cold gushes from my face, im sure the collar didn't do anything to help. As I walked down the sidewalk the stores started opening, their open-neon signs flickered to life. The smell of coffee and car exaughts flew through the air. The sound of cars noisily rushing by was like a constant background music for some movie. It was the background music of my life.

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Work was as dull as it always is. Filled with screaming customers, doubled my screaming employees and bosses. When 6:00 came, I jumped up and practically flew to the elevator.



It was still raining. The thick wall of clouds blocked the sun from showing the truth of the sidewalk and road in front of me. I walked over cracks, muttering apologies to my dead mother all the way along. The stores were closing again, their open-neon songs flickering to death. A couple of minuets later i stood at the bottom of the apartment building. The elevator repairman told me to take the stairs. I did. When I got tho the apartment #9 i walked in. The cat mewed silently and padded over to me. I smiled at it and took my jacket and scarf off. I stared blankly at the note on the kitchen table. It was from Molly.

Dear Jack,

I left you for that cat you brought back yesterday. I packed my stuff and left, I rented a apartment in a different city. Goodbye Jack, it was fun.

,Molly.

I camly put it down and walked to my bedroom. The cat was curled up on Molly's side of the bed. I undressed and got into bed.

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The clock said it was 6:18 when I woke up that morning. The cat was still curled up in the same place. I got up, took a shower,got dressed and went to work.