Expanding
Sel sat in the garage. It was dark outside, and only the outdoor lamps above the front door of the house and the garage door lit up the garden. In the farthest corner of the building, he sat on a rusted metal stool. A small lightbulb hanging above him. The working bench he sat by was old, and had several splashes of paint on it, as well as different sized holes and notches where knives and screws and what not had marked the thick wood. He was screwing together a corner of a wooden box, using a screwdriver. It took some time, instead of the faster electric drill, but this was quieter, and he didn't want to scare Flen, who sat on the table, looking at him working.
"I'm soon done, just a few details left. he said to the cat.
He finished screwing and turned the box around. It was covered on all sides but the front, where he had made an opening. He picked up a small can of hobby paint, and opened the lid. Flen raised his ear at the sound, and sniffed the air as the smell of paint leaked out.
"You like this colour?" Sel asked him and held the can closer as to show him.
Flen sniffed it, his neck fully stretch out. He pulled his head back and licked his nose and pawed at it a little, as if the smell was a bit to much.
"Don't worry. It'll smell less when it's done." Sel smiled at the kitten and stroke him across the back.
Flen followed Sels hand and licked him affectionately on the wrist. Sel took out a small brush and started to paint on the box. Above the opening he wrote 'Flen' in thin green letters. He finished it of with a line underneath, and put away the paint.
"There we go." He picked up Flen and showed him.
He held him close to his chest with one hand and reached into a bag on the floor with the other. He had bought a cat bed on his way home, and with his one hand he pressed it through the opening and flattened it out inside the box. He grabbed Flen with both hands, held him up to his face, gave him a small kiss on the head, and then put him in the box.
"What to you think, Flen? Not to bad huh?"
Flen smelled the bed, and looked around inside his little house. He meowed once and then spun around in a circle and laid down. He snuggled in his head in the fur-like fabric and closed his eyes. Sel looked at him, it felt good to take care of this tiny creature.
"Hold on in their." He said, and carefully lifted up the house.
He held it under one arm, and turned of the light above the table. Very slowly he took the house back outside, and then up to his room. He placed it beside his bed. Flen crawled out and looked around at his new destination.
"We're going to bed soon. Wanna come with?" Sel asked him and held down his hand.
Flen climbed into his palm, and Sel lifted him up. He placed the cat on his shoulder, since he had noticed that he seemed to be happy there. Sure enough, Flen laid down, easily balancing, and licked Sel on the neck. They went downstairs. Agosto sat in an armchair, reading a book.
"Is it any good?" Sel asked and sat down in another chair.
Agosto turned the book around to look at the front page, as to remember what he was reading.
"Eh it's okay I guess. I like the first one better. Sequels rarely live up to what they follow."
"I can agree to that. To some degree at least." Sel nodded and lifted a hand to pet Flen on his shoulder.
"How are you doing, eh?" Agosto asked and earmarked his book before closing it.
Sel shrugged, careful not to shake Flen.
"I don't know. There is always so much going on, I feel like it's hard to relax sometimes."
"But you have your ways." Agosto peered at him, a spark behind his eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sel said, pretending like they hadn't had that conversation before.
He understood that Agosto knew about his smoking, and what he smoked, but he didn't want to talk about it.
"You're getting old Sel." Agosto changed the subject.
"Eh, thanks?" Sel looked at him, confused.
"You're becoming an adult."
"Yes, that is true." He waited for Agosto to get to the point.
"Maybe you should know more things."
"I know plenty of things."
"You do. But there are things you don't know." Agosto smiled at him, enjoying the game.
"I need to go to bed. Is there something you want to tell me?" Sel asked, and yawned.
Agosto leaned back, and looked at Sel, clearly trying to decide.
"I think we'll take this another day. As you said, there is always so much going on. We can talk about this when you're feeling less overwhelmed."
Sel nodded, unsure what this was all about, but too tired to argue. He stood up, went up to Agosto and gave him a light hug.
"Good night." he walked upstairs.
He put Flen down in front of his little house, and the kitten stretched a little before climbing inside and laying down like a ball again. Sel went to bed, and fell asleep with his hand inside the kitty-house, petting Flen.