(SHORT STORY) The Tale of Tony Tomcat

Authors Note: * = A conversation that happens in chapter 7 (coming soon) of "My Turn to Drive"

Nick and Judy were patrolling the streets of Sahara Square in their squad car. It was a slow day. One of the most peaceful days they've had since they've been on the force. Judy was practically falling asleep at the wheel. "It's soooo slow!" Judy moaned. "I know I say I want to make the world a better place, but...I wasn't expecting peace to be so dull!"

Nick chimed in. "If you'd like, I could try conning that old lady over there and you could arrest me? She looks gullible."

"Would you?" Judy replied with a sarcastic tone.

Nick leaned back in his car seat. "Well Fluff, I would but those orange prison suits just aren't my style."

Judy drove around some more. Nick looked for something to talk about. Even a good joke. Then, he thought of a conversation he recently had.*

"Hey Carrots! Have I told you my mom is dating again?" Nick asked Judy.

"No." She replied. "Glad to hear though. She deserves to be happy."

"It's a bobcat." Nick replied.

"Get out!" Judy exclaimed happily.

Nick let out a sigh. "Okay." and pretended to open the car door.

"Would you knock it off?!" She chuckled. "Wow! A Bobcat huh? You're mom is very sweet. Not the least bit specist."

"Yeah." Nick replied with a smile. His mom was really loving to any and all mammals. A trait she tried to pass onto him, but society put him down so much that it was hard to see the world like she did. Then, Nick got a sly grin across his face. "In fact, this isn't the first cat she went out with!"

"Really?!" Judy said in a surprised tone.

"Yup! His name was Tony Tomcat. Nice guy, but he had the worst luck. He worked at a fast food joint near Featherton Valley that served chicken."

"Fried chicken?" Judy asked.

"No. The customers were all chickens. Most of the menu dealt with bread and corn and the like."

"Not the place to go if you want to cut carbs." Judy imagined.

Nick kept going. "And the food was very 'cheep'."

"And the wages?"

"Chicken feed."

"Of course." she said. Rolling her eyes.

"Anyway, they always brought their little baby chicks with them and it drove him mad. They were so loud, always going "PEEP! PEEP! PEEP!" all day. He couldn't stand it."

"I bet." Judy added.

Nick continued. "Anyway, it didn't work out between him and my mom. They split up. He then ended up losing his job too. He couldn't pay his rent and was kicked out of his apartment as well."

Judy's ears drooped. "Awww! That's a shame!"

"Yeah. He ended up homeless and out on the streets. Eventually, he just went nuts. Just like those baby chicks, he started to make peep sounds himself."

Judy was a bit stunned. "Oh my gosh!"

Nick looked sad. "All day long just "PEEP! PEEP! PEEP!" At the top of his lungs. He was scaring the neighborhood something awful."

"Oh my! Did he get any help? Did they take him to a hospital?!" Judy asked in suspense.

"No!" Nick replied. "In fact, they arrested him and threw him in jail!"

Judy was shocked. "Sweet cheese and crackers! Why?!"

With a wide smile on his face, Nick replied. "Because! He was a peeping tomcat!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...A peeping...tom...cat."

Moments passed. Nick stood there with that big, dumb smile while Judy just looked at him with disgust not only for the lame joke, but for tricking her once again. Slowly, Nick's smile went away and he turned his attention back toward the road.

"Sooo...slow day hunh?"

"Yup." Judy replied. "Slow day."