The Watcher Chapter 6

"Randy's Four Legged Shadow"

Randy's POV

'I know you hate the carrier Anders. Just give me three seconds to get in the house, then I'll let you out' I say to the thrashing figure inside the pale blue cat carrier.

I set the carrier down in the kitchen and kneel down to undo the latch on the front. I expect him to make a run for it and hide the rest of the night. Instead, he strolls out and starts rubbing up against me.

'No, I didn't forget about the tuna I promised you' I laugh. Apparently he did, however, because as soon as I say tuna, he runs to the pantry. I follow him, and grab the can opener and Anders' food bowl on the way. I give him half the can and promise him he can have the other half tomorrow.

I then take the carrier out to the garage. As soon as I do, Anders leaves his tuna and follows me into the garage.

'What's the matter, is there something in your tuna?' I ask. He gives his head a hearty shake that most people would probably write off as being an itch, but I don't think so.

'Is that grey cat at the door bothering you again?' I ask, heading back to the kitchen. Once I get back to the kitchen, Anders goes back to eating his tuna.

'If nothing's wrong, then I'm going to go downstairs and do some homework. I'll leave the door open so you can come down if you want' I say.

I get about two steps away before Anders is right behind me.

'You need to finish your tuna' I say. He just stares at me. 'I'm not leaving you. I'll be in the same house as you, just in a different room.' Reluctantly, he walks back into the kitchen to his bowl.

I go downstairs, and on the way step on a missing nail dad warned me about. As soon as he hears my exclamation of pain, Anders comes running to see what happened.

'I just stepped on a nail Anders; it's not like I was murdered or something' I assure him. He folds his ears back at the word murder.

Anders follows me the rest of the way down the stairs, and sits with me the whole time I do my work. Just as I'm finishing the last of my science (real mind numbing stuff, too), mom comes down to tell me I have a phone call. I'm hoping it's this girl, Lauren Johnson, so I take it in mom and dad's bedroom for privacy. Of course, Anders follows me up there. I try closing the door, and he just starts scratching up a storm, so I open it and let him in.

I take a deep breath and pick up the receiver.

'Hello' I say, my voice jumping an octave.

'What's the matter with you?' Jeremy asks.

'Oh, it's just you. I thought it was going to be this girl named Lauren Johnson' I explain.

'Lauren Johnson. Where have I heard that name before?' Jeremy asks.

'She's Doc Johnson's granddaughter' I say.

'Yeah, that's right. Anyways, I called you because I need someone experienced with cats' Jeremy explains.

'I'm not sure I'd call me experienced in cats. I've been the caretaker of one for three months, but go ahead anyways' I say.

'I just need to know the name of that place in Dearborn where you took Anders when you found him. I found this cat who's pregnant and has been knocked around pretty badly, and my mom and I need to take her somewhere' Jeremy says.

'It's called Dr. Joe's Animal Hospital' I tell him.

'Alright. Thanks' he says, and then hangs up.

Anders is up next to me on the bed. He's looking at me in that same weird way he was that night a few months ago. I really don't know what to make of this cat.

I get off the bed and open the door to leave and go downstairs. My four legged shadow follows me.

I sit down on the couch and turn on the TV. Anders gets up into my lap and gets comfortable and is asleep in minutes. About half an hour later, he jolts his head up and starts looking around the room as if a military invasion was imminent. After concluding that everything is okay and that the living room is not under enemy control, he looks up at me. He swallows hard. Now, I won't swear to it, but it almost looks like a single tear rolls out of his right eye.

No, I really don't know what to make of this cat.

A/N: Something occurred to me while I was writing this chapter. When Randy rescued Anders, Tim drove to someplace in Dearborn to have Anders treated. In the previous chapter, I erroneously stated that Anders had been treated by Dr. Weech that night. I'd like everyone to disregard the statement from last chapter. Thanks.

Please read and review. Both are appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

-Yours truly, Randy Taylor