All was silent at the Karpusi Cat Clinic. It would be another two hours before they were scheduled to open for the day. Sleeping at the desk in the front was Matthew. In an office at the back was where Heracles was sleeping. They were also a veterinary hospital. Last night a cat that had been hit by a car was brought in. The surgery had taken most the night. By the time they had finished it was so late that by the time they went home, it would be almost time to turn around and head back.

A rattling came from one of the cages. Inside was a male Maine Coon. One paw reached out and began to manipulate the latch on his cage. The door swung open and he jumped down to the floor. The concrete felt good under his paws after spending the night in that cage. The stitches on his belly felt stiff, but that was not going to stop him. He puffed out his chest and strutted toward the door, trying to impress the lady cats. He nosed his way out to the door and into the waiting room where Matthew was still sound asleep at the desk. The cat jumped onto the small trash can lid and from there onto the desk. He crouched next to the polar bear coffee cup and began lapping up the cold coffee.

The phone began to ring.

Matthew sat up and rubbed his eyes. He reached for his glasses and put them on. Reaching for the phone, his hand was blocked by something solid and furry.

"Alfred, what are you doing out of your cage again? You ripped open your stitches," Mathew sighed, "again."

Alfred looked up at his owner and licked the coffee off his lips with his tongue.

Matthew would deal with the cat after he answered the phone. He reached over the cat and picked up the yellow, cracked telephone.

"Karpusi Cat Clinic. This is Matthew, how can I help you?"

"Yes, this is Honda Kiku- I mean Kiku Honda. Are you open?" The voice sounded worried and had an accent to it.

"No, we aren't open until nine unless it is an emergency."

"It is an emergency. I need to see the doctor right away."

"Um, this isn't that kind of place. Doctor Karpusi treats cats not people."

"Yes, yes, it is my cat. Well, it is not my cat, but it needs to see a doctor right away."

"Well, if it is an emergency then you can bring the cat here now."

"Good, good, I will be there in fifteen minutes." The click signaled that Kiku had hung up.

Matthew hung up his own phone and then picked up Alfred. He squeaked in protest and made a halfhearted attempt to wriggle out of the large arms.

"You've already had enough coffee. You need to stop sneaking out of your cage. Don't you want to get better and go home?" Matthew carried the cat back to his cage, put him in and shut the door.

Matthew headed into Heracles office and began to shake the sleeping veterinarian. He was a notoriously heavy sleeper and often took naps in between patients during the day. After a late night he was out like a light bulb.

"Heracles, you need to wake up. A cat is being brought in."

"Not time yet."

"It is an emergency."

Heracles sat up from his napping couch, stretched and yawned. He stood up and walked out of his office and into the bathroom. Matthew headed back to the reception desk, pausing to make sure Alfred had not made another escape attempt. When he was back at his desk he checked their database to see if anyone named Kiku Honda had brought a cat here before. There was no one with that name in the database. So Matthew started pulling out the forms that the man would have to fill out. He had everything ready by the time he heard the pounding at the door.

Matthew got up from the desk, went to the door and unlocked it. When he opened the door he saw an Asian man holding a small kitten wrapped in a towel.

"You must be Mr. Honda?"

"Yes."

"Come in," Matthew said. He stepped aside to let the man in. Once he was inside Matthew shut and locked the door again.

Heracles wandered into the reception area. His white coat was draped over his shoulders but he had not bothered to use the sleeves.

"What is the emergency?" his voice was sleepy and drawn out.

"This cat is dying. He needs to see a vet."

Heracles yawned. "Alright, follow me." Heracles led Kiku into the examination room and closed the door. "Set him on the table.

Kiku set the cat and towel down. He unwrapped it. The cat was white with brown patches. Its eyes were closed and there was a curious curl. It meowed pitifully. With an intensity that was at complete contrast to his normal laidback appearance, he began to examine the cat. He was poking, prodding, feeling and probing. He muttered softly under his breath reassuring words to keep the cat calm. The cat seemed to not need it and was perfectly fine with being manipulated like a rag doll.

"Is it serious? Will he die?"

"He is fine."

"That sounds- Wait, fine? How can this be? He cried so pitifully."

Heracles reached into a pocket and pulled a cat treat. The cat instantly perked up his head and grabbed it out of the vet's hands. He began to purr like a little motor and rub his head against Heracles.

"He is underfed. Bring him back in a month. Feed him this." Heracles used a notepad to write down a specific brand of cat food. He tore off the page and handed it to Kiku.

"Thank you," Kiku said very fast. He grabbed the cat and hurried out in embarrassment.

Heracles watched him leave. He wondered if the Asian man would come back for the follow up. He was not that bad looking.