Chapter 1: Papa

Pops drove along, his windshield wipers pushing the rain off of his front window. He was coming back to the park after getting dinner at a restaurant. Of course, he'd gotten kicked out when he tried to pay the bill with lollipops.

A scream escaped him when thunder boomed, its lightning showing up ahead near some mountains. His car splashed a puddle on the road.

"Rooww!" cried a high-pitched voice.

"Huh?" Pops parked the car and took out his umbrella.

"Hello?" he called nervously, climbing out onto the sidewalk. "Is someone there?"

"Mew," the voice came again.

Pops looked to a building to see a tiny, gray kitten backed against it. The feline arched its back, bristling as much as it could with its soaking-wet fur stuck to its normally fluffy body.

Pops and the kitten both cried out as lightning struck again. "What are you doing out here?" he asked as soon as he'd caught his breath. "The middle of a rainstorm is no time for a little kitten to be out and about. Don't you have a family?"

The kitten shook its head, sadness coming across its fearful face.

"Oh. I see. Why don't you come with me to the park? My friends and I have a very nice home you could share."

The kitten's eyes widened even more. "Mew!"

"Now, now, kitty," Pops said tenderly. "I'm not going to hurt you, I assure you." The man reached forward, and the cat lifted its paw, drawing out its needle-sharp claws. It paused as Pops gently began stroking it. After a few seconds, the kitten mewed again, this time sounding calmer. Finally, it took a deep breath and mustered the courage to come up to Pops's leg.

"So, will you come with me?" The kitten glanced around before nodding. Pops smiled excitedly. "Jolly good show!"

The kitten followed him into his car, riding shotgun. "My name is Pops," the man told the cat. He gasped in surprise as it suddenly jumped into his lap and rubbed against him, purring.

"Papa," she said, her voice high and sweet.

Pops looked confused. "No, no. It's Pops."

The kitten shook her head. "Papa," she replied unwaveringly.

Pops smiled. "All right, if you insist."

"Papa, Papa!" the cat chirped, sounding less excited than before as she yawned. She curled up on Pops's lap and closed her eyes, purring contentedly.

As Pops arrived at the park, he took out his umbrella again and gently scooped up the kitten, carefully trying not to wake her. She yawned, her jade-green eyes beginning to open.

"Hello, Pops," Benson greeted as Pops came inside. "How was dinner?"

Pops shrugged. "I got kicked out," he replied sadly. "They said something about lollipops not being real currency." He smiled. "But at least I found this little darling."

He held the kitten forward, and Benson came closer to look and gasped. "A kitten?" Benson sighed. "Pops, I know you have good intentions, but you can't rescue every animal you come across."

The kitten opened her eyes fully and mewed with fright, desperately jumping at Pops's torso to cling to him.

Pops stroked her back. "It's okay, little one. Benson won't hurt you either."

The kitten stared up at him, her green eyes still nervous. "If you say so, Papa."

Benson furrowed his brow in confusion. "'Papa'?"

I don't really have much to say in the author's note except that the kitten does have a name, which will be revealed in the next chapter. Please leave a review! :)