I took Cat over to my house. It was a quick walk, considering she was the one who was dragging me all the way. Apparently she already knew where I lived. Can you say stalker? I was a little bit creped out, but I got over it sooner then I thought I would. I don't know what was coming over me, but it seems that I was able to forgive Cat more easily than I ever had with anyone else. It was so out of the ordinary for me.
It amazed me how quick Cat was walking. You know, since she had a hurt knee and all. Also, she stopped crying and started smiling and laughing again. She could be sad and moody one second, and then happy and peppy the next. Is this normal? I don't think that it is. Well, I guess I should stop expecting normal things to come out of this strange girl. Just stop all together.
We showed up at my house, and my mother was sitting on the front porch. Cat hid behind me.
"Where do you think you were, young lady? I was worried sick!"
"Really?" I was actually a bit surprised. I didn't exactly have a good relationship with my parents.
"Yeah, you're chores are still not finished!"
Figures… They're only worried about me if it's inconvenient for them. What jerks. I hate them. And don't say that I'll look back on days like these when I say I hate them (which I should mention, happen a lot) and notice they were only doing or saying what was best for me. They were "protecting" me or some other junk like that. You might be surprised at how much anger one 4-year-old could hold but trust me, there's a lot more. You'd be far from shocked. Well beyond just plain old surprised.
"Who is this?" she asked in a somewhat disgusted tone.
I pulled Cat out from behind my back, she put up a bit of a fight, too. I finally got her out from behind me and showed her off.
"This is Cat. Cat Valentine." I said and almost smiled. Just almost.
"Hi." Cat squeaked.
Oh Cat. Poor, innocent, little Cat. Oh so nervous. It was actually odd seeing her nervous. She hasn't been the least bit scared all day. I think my mom frightens her. I don't blame her one bit, my mom was just like me, just a lot older and meaner. Its ok Cat, my mother scared me the first time I met her too.
"Hello. Are you a friend of my Jadey?" Mom asked her
"Yep!"
"Good, I thought she would never make any friends with the way she is always acting."
Cat looked a little bit shock, but then quickly settled down. I grabbed her by her wrist and brushed past my mom with a little bit of anger. Ok, ok, a lot of anger. How could she say that? I know she thinks it, but actually saying it right in front of me? That's terrible! What sort of mother does this!
"You're moms kinda mean…" Cat said after I dragged her to the bathroom room to fix her room.
"I know. You should meet my dad. But they're no better than your parents." I shoved her down to sit on the toilet and got big bandages from the cabinet.
Oh god. I think I just hurt her feelings. The worst feeling just went through me. If I'm going to be friends with her for the rest of my life, I'm going to have to learn to cope with me hurting her feelings. Lord knows that will take a while.
"Listen, Cat, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
She looked up at me. The look in her eyes absolutely killed me. Like she stuck the dagger in me and twisted it.
"It's not that, it's just that…"
I was getting a little bit concerned. What was happening inside her mind?
"It just what?"
"It's true… my parents are worse than yours."
"Cat, what happens with you and your parents?"
Cat took in a deep breath. She sure took her sweet old time getting to the point.
"I was kind of an accident child…" she started. I could already tell that this was going to be a sappy story. "My parent's didn't want me. So they just kind of ignore me."
"Cat… That's terrible."
A perky smile flew across her face yet again. I don't understand her! How can she put this happy mask on so quickly right after taking it off?
"It's ok. I'm used to it by now. I just do things on my own. One time, my parents took my brother on a vacation and they forgot me at home. I was all alone for a week and I did everything that I needed to do to take care of myself!" she was so proud to tell me this. Like it was this great feat.
"That's cool." I went along with it.
She told me all sorts of stories when I was done with her knee. Some depressing ones about her parents "forgetting" her at home whenever they went out. Some wacky ones about her weirdo, mean brother. And then there was one that kind of disturbed me a little bit.
