Happy Birthday to my friend, CM Guys-Girl. I hope it's great and I hope this makes you smile.

(Please stick around for the announcement at the end)

"David Rossi!" Erin glared at her husband, eyeing the box in his hands. The Humane Society logo shown plainly against the cardboard.

"You get that thing out of my house immediately!"

"Erin-" Dave started to protest. He glanced down at their five-year old daughter. Mia's dark eyes trained on him. Silently pleading with him, her Daddy. Her hero, to do something, anything to help the poor kitty currently trapped in a box.

"No," she cut him off before he could get started. "We don't need another animal. We already have Mudgie, Paul has two birds in his room. This house is not a place for a cat.

"Please, Momma?" Poking out her lip in a perfect pout. Mia begged, "I promise to feed him and everything. He's so sad, Momma and the cage was so cold." Mia said in despair, "we just had to take him! I can't leave him alone!"

Dave could barely hold back his chuckle, half expecting his compassionate princess to throw herself on the ground. While pleading the kitten's case.

"You already have a fish, Ameilla." Erin said gently. Meanwhile casting an icy glare at her husband.

"But that's boring!" The little girl cried, her little fingers clutched the cardboard carrier in her father's hand.

Dave beamed with pride, his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Did you hear that, Momma? fish are boring."

A rustling noise from inside the box, cut off Erin's response. Mia giggled as a small white paw popped out of the box, baring its claws.

"Get away from it!" Erin shrieked, pulling Mia away from the box.

Dave sat the box at his feet, "relax, Sweeheart." He said, lifting the black and white ball of fur onto the kitchen floor.

"You would be frustrated too if you were stuck in a box." Dave said, gently running his hand against the kitten's back.

Erin watched the kitten take in its surroundings. She sniffed the tile and Mia knelt beside it. "Look, Momma, her likes me!" She squealed as the kitten preceded to bathe the little girl's fingers.

"You." Erin gripped his shirt sleeve and pulled her husband away from the scene, lest he be tempted to join their daughter on the kitchen floor to get acquainted.

"Look," he began, "it's not my fault-okay, it is my fault-" he stumbled at the look she was giving him. "We were driving by the shelter and Mia asked what it was."

"And your idea of a response was..." Erin said, tapping her toes impatiently.

Dave shrugged, his brow knitted. He was toast. "We...may have stopped inside..."

"May have?" Erin growled.

He swallowed preparing to give his lamest excuse to date."I thought it would be an educational experience."

She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him. Her eyes found Mia, giggling with the kitten curled in her lap.

Erin huffed in resignation, "if that cat eats the birds," she warned, turning back to Dave and poking him in the chest. "You're sleeping on the couch."

He took her hand in a shake, "Deal." He turned towards the

kitchen and said, "hey Erin?"

"What?"

"You're beautiful when you're mad at me."

"Hush," she admonished, wiggling her fingers, inviting him to take them.

And he did.

The end.

We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.

Orson Welles

Calling all CM readers and authors! Join us in celebrating the best of the best CM stories for the annual Profiler's Choice CM Awards! Help us and let your voices be heard. Please check out the nomination ballot and rules at the ProfilerChoiceAwards2014 Forum. All rules and information are on the forum. Nominations begin November 15 and are due December 31st.