Chapter 11: Homeward Bound

"Cherie! Don't pass out from zhat perfume, please, come back to me!"

I quickly woke up, with the huge stink from Pepe's spray in my nose, as it was apparently only seconds after I believed to have passed out. As soon as I looked into his eyes, he smiled with joy.

"Cherie! You are normal again! Now we can get ready for our dance." I was in confusion. What happened, and why was I chasing Pepe like crazy? And why did it smell like he just had a huge workout? To me, it just was confusing. At least that annoying perfume mix was not confusing me anymore, but I needed Pepe to recap what was going on, and how long did I really stay passed out?

"Pepe, wait a moment! How long was I passed out?" Pepe turned around and gave me a smile.

"Only about 5 seconds. I thought I lost you! Zhat teaches me not to overdo the perfumes..." He then walked out of the door, unlocking it, and then turned around toward the dining room. I followed behind him, in case he was going to a new room. Following the stinky odor trail being left behind, he came to a door on the other side of the dining room, a room I have not yet entered.

"Come in cherie, this is where I will show you my powers on zee dance floor!" He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the new room.

The new room was even bigger than the dining room! With a lot of empty space, a wooden floor with no rugs on it, and a disco ball on the top. I was in amazement once again.

"Pepe, is this a dance room?" I just had to know. If it wasn't a dance room, then it wouldn't make sense to me. Luckily he quickly removed my doubts.

"Oui! This is zee dance room. In this, I will now win your heart by dancing with you. Come to zee center of zee room!" He then dragged me once again, positioning us under the disco ball.

"Now, let's get this party started, cherie!" He let go of me to head to a stereo plugged into a wall, putting in a cassette tape. He then ran back to me and grabbed my body.

He really thinks I love him. Even after I chased him to death due to his stupid odor. And now I stink, I have to dance with the foul body odor in my nose, and he won't stop hugging me. Won't he ever give up.

The machine started playing sound, eventually turning into the song "Alouette". Pepe then started moving me back, then forth, and then back and forth again.

Wait, what do I do? I don't know what a dance is or how to dance!

After I made those thoughts, Pepe knew that I couldn't dance.

"Don't worry cherie, I will move for you, and you will follow me." At that moment, I stopped trying to move, as Pepe did some movements, pulling me along.

I can't really explain how it went... It just seemed to me as if he was moving me in the same motions, and it just seemed boring. After what seemed like forever, the stereo shut off, causing Pepe to stop dancing.

"I can see that now is not your time to dance, no? Don't worry. It is near zee end of zee day anyway, almost time for another gourmet dinner." Another gourmet dinner? It seemed like he never stopped using that word. Was he really rich after all? Eventually he lead me back to the bedroom, where it still stank from the workout and the chase. Do I really like him? Is it really possible?

No Penelope. You are not in love with him. He is too stinky for you, and he is a skunk, and you are a cat! You can't be friends. Never. Go back to your parents...

The thoughts roamed in my head for a long while as I rested on the bed with a hairpin on my nose, hoping to block out the leftover odor in the room as Pepe was making dinner.

Fifi... Pierre... They are my parents, and even though I abandoned them in a way, I need their help. Maybe marrying another cat won't be bad after all. It will be better than him at least.

I made my decision. After supper, I would borrow Pepe's address book, and find out where they are. They had to be in the same house they were when I lived with them. And from what I recall, that wasn't that far from the forest near Marisa's cabin.

Marisa... Has she changed her mind? Does she regret throwing me out?

If she really cared for me, then she wouldn't have thrown me out. She probably just was making that prodigy stuff up. But before I could think more about my plan, Pepe shouted through the door.

"Cherie, I don't get why you have zee door locked, but your fish is ready!" That phrase just quit all of my thoughts together. Another fish meal? It seemed like he was obsessed with fishing! I guess I could have some fish before I leave.

Entering the dining room, the chair was next to Pepe, just like this morning. Sitting down, I saw Pepe next to me, with no tray on the table.

"So what are we eating tonight?" I licked my lips several times, ready for the mouth-watering fish that was going to be served. But Pepe just gave a happy smile to me.

"Fish. Zee fattening fish we ate last night. Nothing less, nothing more. You did great today, fighting zee natural urge to love me. Zee fish is your reward. And it's right here." He pulled out the tray from under the table, with the lid already off, revealing another huge pile of fish.

"This time, I will let you eat it anyway you want. But no messing up zee table please. Remember zhat this is for zee two of us. I need some too." I gave a nod, and picked up a couple handfuls of the fish as I shoved them in my mouth. Pepe started to smirk as I was quickly eating all of the fish.

"This is good... Are you sure you don't want this much?" I managed to get out with my mouth full. Pepe then looked confused.

"How do I do that? Zee shoving down zee throat has to hurt, doesn't it?" I shook my head, and then Pepe grabbed a fish, and shoved it in his mouth, swallowing it down quickly.

"Oooh... That tastes more mouthwatering zhat way... Cherie, you know how to eat zee fish!" Pepe gave a smile as he ate the fish, before he let out a burp.

"Excuse moi." I giggled as he was embarrassed over his little burp. For a skunk that acts like a gentleman, he sure doesn't smell like one. Turning back to the tray, I grabbed another handful to shove in my mouth, with Pepe doing the same.

Eventually, the tray was completely empty, with the two of us cleaning out the tray. After I looked at Pepe, we both stared at our bellies.

"You are fat, no?" Pepe smiled at me as I looked at his gained weight.

"You have gained some weight, too." I was smiling at him as he was smiling at me.

His smile... It looks so handsome... NO! I am not in love with him... Once again, remember that he smells like foul garbage, and that you are a pretty kitty. One who stinks up a bedroom is not welcome in your life, Penelope.

I had to agree with myself. He was very stinky, and I couldn't stand his stench, only able to bear it tonight due to the hairpin. But now was the time to make my move, even with my gained weight back.

"Pepe, do you have an address book? I need to go on an errand." Pepe quickly gave a confused look at me.

"Zee book with addresses? Zhat is in my bedroom, hold on..." He slowly got up, his gained weight weighing him down, and slowly made his way to the bedroom. Coming back, I saw him holding a small book.

"Here you go cherie!" I took the book from him as I flipped through the pages.

N, M, O, P! P for pussycat. Now to look through the book for Fifi's address...

After coming to the P section, I saw my parent's name and address.

"Fifi Pussycat

9523 Raw Ave

San Diego, California"

I had found her, but I need to know where I currently was, so I flipped back two pages and came across Pepe's name and address

"Pepe Le Pew

9607 Raw Ave

San Diego, California."

Only a short distance away from my parents' house! It was a perfect opportunity. I just had to wander around, look for "9606" and go that direction until I reach my house.

"I found it. It may be a while before I come back... Goodbye!" I stood up and walked out of the mansion, with Pepe following me to the entrance.

"Au revoir! May I be lucky to run into you on your errand!" I waved goodbye as he shut the door.

Good. He is gone from the door. Now to remove this hairpin and to start looking for my parent's house.

Removing the hairpin, I was relieved to smell fresh air for once, and to my surprise, the stench I thought was sprayed at me was nowhere to be found. I guess he just sprayed the room instead. Turning my back toward the river, I saw Pepe's mansion, and decided to go left a little, coming across a small cabin. Looking at the number, I saw "9606" on the door.

I chose the correct way, if this leads backwards, my parents should be here soon...

Running down the stream, I could see numbers and numbers on the walls of the house. 9560, 9540, 9535, 9530, and finally, 9525.

Almost there...

Passing by one more house, I expected the next to be 9523, but saw 9522 instead. Looking at the other cabin, I saw 9524, but no 9523.

Where could it be? It just has to be in between the two somewhere...

After looking for the cabin, I saw a small amount of gravel in the middle of the two cabins. Following the small traces of gravel, I found a way through the trees, leading to a big house on top of the hill.

Walking up to the front door, I saw the number "9523" on the door, meaning I was there. I quickly remembered that this really was the house I used to live in for years before I moved to the city.

I can't believe I am wanting to come home after so long... And to think after I wanted to do nothing with their desires.

Knocking on the door, the door swung wide open, unlocked.

"Hello? Mom? Dad?" I looked around the familiar living room, seeing no trace of them. Closing the door, I ran up the stairs, and saw my room. Completely untouched. All of my cassette tapes, my diary, and my bed... The memories were coming back. The day I was angered by my mother, the day I ran away to the nearest area I could find, the day I felt sad about myself. The day-

"Penelope Pussycat? Is that you?" My thoughts were broken as I saw my mother, Fifi, with a shocked expression in her eyes...