SWAT Kats: Dog Days

Chapter 2: Slice of Life

You can't judge someone before you get to know them. It's not right and it hurts the feelings of dog and cat alike. I looked up at the sky to see the Swat Kats saving the day from Dark Kat. My life doesn't have to be eventful. As long as this business keeps going and I have cats like Clarissa here, then I am happy. The sun was setting on a warm day in MegaKat City, but Clarissa and I were far from closing. The bell atop the door rang to signal a customer, an Enforcer and I knew this one, "Hey Felina, long day?"

"You can say that again, Sammy," Felina replied, strung out from the day. I wouldn't blame her. One thing about MegaKat City is that there is always something happening that puts the city in peril. It's a good thing the Swat Kats are around. Clarissa and I are big supporters of them, "how's business? I still want a ride in that Corvette,"

"Oh good, stop by on Sunday, and we will make it happen," I replied, reminding Felina when the shop is closed. I saw a little smile from her, "so what can I get for you, sweetie?" Felina is a regular around here, and she still seems to have trouble choosing toppings. Our toppings include pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms (fresh not canned), bacon, salami, broccoli, spinach, onions, peppers, gorgonzola cheese, ricotta cheese, chicken, shrimp, fresh clams, roasted garlic, pesto, olives, tri-tip steak, and anchovies.

"Can you get me a small 'Cardiac Arrest', and an order of garlic knots?" Felina ordered, her day must be bad if she is ordering that. The 'Cardiac Arrest' pizza has gorgonzola cheese, bacon, spinach, roasted garlic and thick tri-tip steak cooked nice and rare and marinated in olive oil, salt, garlic and rosemary. Clarissa came up with the marinade.

"That bad, eh?" Clarissa said, putting on the sauce and the cheeses after I finished tossing and laying out the dough, "c'mon sistah, you's can twalk to us," Clarissa said with an accent I never grew tired of. Felina sighed, something was definitely bugging her. The order of garlic knots came first to at least give her something to munch on while waiting on the pie. I rang up Felina's total at the register. While the pizza was cooking, it seemed Clarissa and I were on the same page, "c'mon sistah, spill it," she smirked.

"It's my uncle," said Felina, "he always wants to get the Swat Kats, and he's never grateful for all the times they saved his tail, and they...they're some of the best guys I know, none of the Enforcers can match them...not even me," I nodded in understanding. Commander Feral comes here once in a while, mostly because he does not trust me.

"I know guys like Feral, they think they know what they're doing is best, but in the end it's suffocating and you never get a chance to show you're true potential," I replied, "when I first opened up shop here in the city, my parents told me I wouldn't last a year because I am a dog living in a city full of cats, it's been four years now and Clarissa has been at my side for three of those four, and she's still going strong," I put a hand on her shoulder, "the point is don't let him stop you, you're a grown she-cat, Felina,"

"Thanks Girls," Felina said as I was slicing up the pie, and putting it in a box for her to take home, "you know what? I'll stick around, you guys make better company than my uncle going off on how the Swat Kats make him look bad," one bite is all it took to make a statement, "mmm...I still stand by what I said, this IS the best pizza in the city,"

Clarissa and I fist-bumped knowing we can still satisfy our regular customers, "So what about you? You got any hobbies, I mean," Felina swallowed a bite before continuing, "you must have something you like doing away from the oven," Felina added, it is nice to have a pleasant conversation with a cat that is not a health inspector threatening to close my shop down. It's funny though, I have a lot of body and a lot of muscle for strength, but the thing I enjoy doing the most is something folks don't expect for my size.

"Hmm...I haven't put much thought into that, well...I'm a pretty good swimmer and I like taking the Corvette to Track Day weekends at the MegaKat Speedway," I explained to Felina, "say I have an idea, why don't you come with us to a Track Day meeting? You're the best the Enforcers have in the skies, let's see what you can do on the tarmac,"

"You're on, I'll meet you gals on Sunday in front of the shop," Felina said, finishing her pizza and heading out of the shop. The customers for the day came and went until closing time came around. As I was cleaning up, I thought about the weekend coming up, 'I wonder if I should call up Chance? Maybe he would like to go,' I thought to myself. Clarissa and I are roommates in our apartment, and also weekend racers when the those times of the month come around. I have just the beast for Felina to drive.

Clarissa and I drove back to the garage below the apartment complex we lived in, 'You's sure about this one? This one's still a kitten," Clarissa said, her voice echoing in the garage. I feel it is better to buy something with the money you earn rather than someone giving it to you like a toy. I nodded a single nod to my roommate, and gave a wink.

"You're right, Clarissa, but don't you feel we should give this kitten some track time?" I asked, Clarissa lightly chuckled. We put all our time and effort into our business, but there comes a time for pleasure, "Hmmm...I wonder if Felina knows how to work a seven-speed paddle shift gearbox?" I asked myself, thinking out loud. The other car we keep in the garage is a new Ferrari 488 GTB in red. Clarissa and I have taken it for drives around the city, and given Enforcer inner city cops a few headaches along the way.

Clarissa and I share everything except our beds, showers, and toothbrushes. I am glad to have cats like Clarissa and Felina in my life as friends. We have two beds in two separate bedrooms, one shower, and one TV in the living room. Even now, I think about Chance. He is a cat, and I am a dog. I wonder if we can make this relationship work.