Chapter 2

Present Day

"Sly, do you know how much time we have before we make it there?" Sylvia asked half-asleep from the backseat. Kitty (who is also known by her last name, Pussyfoot), who was also in the backseat beside Sylvia, was sound asleep.

"Between thirty to forty-five minutes." Sylvester said matter-of-factly.

"Are you sure?" Claude asked with his legs crossed in the passenger seat. "You got us lost about two to three times-"

"Shut up Claude!" Sylvester said irritably. "I know what I'm doing!"

Sylvia rolled her eyes and closed her eyes. Claude just sighed silently and went back reading his book.

That was one out of many things that Claude, Sylvia, and Kitty didn't like about Sylvester. He seemed to be too confident, even prideful, on almost everything. From his driving skills to his lady killer skills, to Sylvester, he was the "top cat".

Claude had just finished reading a chapter in his book when he thought he smelled something like musty acid. It didn't take him any longer for him to find out where the real source of the smell came from.

"Sly! Do you mind?"

"What!" Sylvester said defensively with a cigarette in his left paw. "It's my car!"

"Yeah, but what are you trying to do? Give us cancer-"

"Not this crap again Claude." Sylvester sighed.

Before Sylvester and Claude could have another argument about smoking, Sylvia popped up and said sternly, "Sylvester, will you stop being an ass and put that cigarette away?"

"You know that Claude has asthma, remember?" Kitty added politely. She was woken up by the cigarette smoke.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Sylvester mumbled.

No you didn't. Claude thought to himself.

After a couple of minutes of silence, Kitty asked Claude, "Can you see what's on the radio, if you don't mind?"

"No, I don't mind." Claude replied.

Claude turned on the radio to see what was on. As he soon found out, there weren't a variety of stations he could choose from.

"There isn't anything good on the radio." Claude said indifferently after turning off the radio.

"Oh, I nearly forgot!" Kitty exclaimed while getting her CD case from one of her bags. "I have some CDs with me."

"We all do Kitty." Sylvester said.

"I know that Sly, but what I mean is that I have a particular CD that everyone will enjoy."

Kitty pulled out a CD from her CD case and gave it to Claude.

"It's very relaxing. In fact, it's so relaxing that it will calm everyone's nerves, even Claude's."

She winked at him. Claude felt himself turning red a little.

"It will calm everyone's nerves," Sylvester repeated, trying not to mimic Kitty. "What do you mean-" He paused in thought for a second. "Please don't tell me that CD is some kind of New Age or alien crap-"

"Trust me," Kitty insisted. "It's not."

"Okay then."

Claude put in the CD. Almost immediately, the songs of the CD were giving a pleasurable and relaxing effect to the cats.

"You are right Kitty." Claude said in a relaxed tone. "This CD is calming."

"What genre is this?" Sylvia asked while moving her head to the slow beat.

"Trip-hop."

"The hell is that?" Sylvester asked.

"It's a mellow and calmer version of hip hop." Kitty said. "It also has some jazz, R&B, and soul influences as well."

"I see. At least it's better than the crap they play on the radio."

"Yeah." Claude agreed.

…

While the CD was finishing its last song, Claude received a text message from George.

Sensing that Claude was looking at his phone, Sylvester said while his eyes were focused on the road, "Who's that texting you?"

"George." Claude replied.

"What does he want?"

"He wants us to know that he, Penny, and Benny are already at the bed and breakfast. They are now waiting for us so that we can all check in together."

"So what did you send him?"

"That we'll be there in about ten minutes or less."

Claude was thinking about saying if Sylvester would have asked for directions, they would have been at the bed and breakfast earlier. But knowing how stubborn and strong-willed Sylvester can be, Claude decided to keep the thought to himself.

Sylvia was gazing out the window on her side when she suddenly saw the bed and breakfast. She can also see George, Benny, and Penelope waiting in the parking lot.

"Sly!" She exclaimed. "Turn left! It's our destination!"

"How do you know that?" Sylvester asked indifferently.

"Kitty and I can see George, Benny, and Penny in the parking lot."

"I see them too." Claude added.

Sylvester can now see George, Penny, and Benny in the parking lot. He turns left towards the bed and breakfast.

Before Sylvester turned off his ignition, Kitty said gently, but sternly at the same time, "The next time you get lost, ask for directions. It won't hurt your feline pride."