The forest rustled as the winds of leaf-fall blew through my fur. I sat entranced by the swaying trees.
"Morning Genie!" meowed Maggie. She was a long haired tortoiseshell she-cat and my best friend. I know her since kithood. I look down from my fence.
"Morning Maggie, how's things in the other side of the road. A large road cut through the yards separating houses from one another.
"Meatball is coming home!" She giggled. Meatball was this Scottish Folds that had gone to the vet to get fixed. I hopped down from the fence and brushed up against Maggie.
"When's he getting back?" I purred.
"Noon." She smiled. I look up at as a meow came from the yard next to mine. Atop the fence sat Bixby, a dark brown tabby tome with big amber eyes.
"Morning Bixby," I called up, "How's things with your housefolk?" The tom hopped down and purred.
"Great, Sarah is expecting another child!" He beamed. Bixby lived with a lady named Sarah and a man named Jason they already had one child and were expecting another soon.
"That's wonderful,"I smile,"Did you hear that Meatball is coming home!" Bixby smiled in delight.
"Should we go meet him?" He yelled. I nodded but before I could speak Sarah called for Bixby.
"Gotta run!" He meowed as he hopped back over into his own yard.
"Let's go," said Maggie,"Before Dainty shows up." Dainty was an old flea bitten Siamese who was always nagging. We started to creep away but a loud yowl stopped us in our tracks.
"Morning Dainty." said Maggie, a look of disappointment on her face,"what tis the honour. "
"My fur is sticking up." she complained. I smirked, an idea already forming into head.
"Dear dear me," I said,"is that calling?" was Maggie's owner. Maggie smirked, understanding my hint.
"Gotta run!" She cried as we bolted towards the road. Once across we stopped at Meatball's yard. I hopped up to the fence top and yowled down to the yard. As I sat Maggie joined me. When a plump Scottish Folds appeared from his cat flap I leapt down and brushed up against him.
"Meatball!" I squealed,"You're back!" He nodded. Something was wrong, his tail lay low, his step was flat and the mischievous look he always had in his eyes was gone. Maggie noticed this to.
"Meatball," she stuttered,"Are you alright?" The cat just blinked lazily.
"Yah," he mumbled," m'just a bit tired." Before we could question him he'd headed back into his house.
"The vet did something to him," meowed Maggie,"that's not the Meatball I remember!" I nodded.
"I'm due for the vet in about a year," I whisper,"If I end up like Meatball then I don't want to be fixed!"
"Then what are you going to do then?" Maggie questioned. I shook my head, unsure of myself.
"I truly don't know." I replied. At that moment came outside, calling Maggie home.
"Gotta run!" She called, pelting towards her home. I turned, heading home myself. I reached my home and curled up under a hedge. Was I going to wait and be fixed? Where was I going to go?
"Genie, Are you okay?" Meowed a cat behind me. I turn to see Bixby standing behind me.
"No," I reply,"Meatball came back and he's different, I'm due in a year! I don't want to be changed!" I wailed. Bixby sat down and laid his tail over his paws, listening to my venting.
"Well," he replied,"you could always leave." I thought about it.
"But where would I go?" I questioned him. He looked up as a gust of wind blew through the forest rustling the leaves.
"The forest," answered,"it's the only place other than the streets." I was taken aback.
"But...but," I sputtered,"wild cats live there!"
"Well you're tougher than any wild cat," he praised,"I think you could handle yourself." I smiled as I rubbed my white muzzle against his brown one.
"You really think so?" I purred
"I know so!" He boomed. I purred but then I look down at my paws.
"I'll think about it... okay?" I meow. Bixby nodded then left me alone. If I left my housefolk would get another cat.I stood up and walked to the fence. I took a last glance at my home, at my warm comfy bed and full food bowl before hopping over, into the woods