Original Cindy stared me, as if confused, glanced over to Mom, then back to me. "You sure 'bout that?" she asked me in a hushed undertone.
"Of course I'm sure." That's when I remembered Dad. He usually timed his arrivals and departures just right so that he would leave before Mom came into heat. Obviously, he was off this time. And since his visits usually lasted about a week, we were all going to be majorly screwed. Both figuratively and literally for some of us.
Original Cindy apparently remembered Zack as well, for she said, "We gotta git Zack outta of 'de 'partment."
"I know, I know," I told her, rising to my feet to rinse off my dishes. Mom, still preparing her breakfast, looked up as I walked by. She was giving off enough pheromones. It was definitely heat all right. "Mom?" I asked her.
"Yeah Alanza?"
"Is it 'that time'?" I questioned. We both knew that Mom's urges were hard to control. She even admitted it herself. So, it was better that more than one person knew, and therefore she could be helped easier.
Mom nodded reluctantly. "And, of course, this has to be the time Zack shows up." She drilled her fingernails against the countertop, edgy and nervous.
"I'll take care of him," I volunteered.
"And I'll watch you, boo," Cindy offered.
"But you gotta go to work," Mom countered.
"You're lookin' for a job-ain't cha?"
"Well…yeah…"
"Aiight, Original Cindy just tell her boss 'dat you can work alone in 'de back room."
"I guess that would work," Mom admitted reluctantly.
"You guys had better get going before Dad gets out of the shower," I reasoned.
Unfortunately, my remark came a little bit too late.
Dad, freshly showered, was standing in the doorway of the bathroom, watching the three of us intently. He was dressed in the same clothes he had arrived in. "Who's going where when I get out of the shower?" he asked us.
Mom immediately began to move towards him, her feline DNA blocking the rest of us out. The only thing she could think about was Dad.
It's funny, it really is. Female X-5s may have the heat cycles, but the males aren't much different, (or so Mom's told me). They're like male cats; they can't resist a female in heat. And, like the rest of the male X-5s, Dad wasn't much better than a male cat around a female.
"You betta get dressed," Cindy told me. "Hurry up!"
I hurried over to my motorcycle suitcase and began to grab some clothes. Cindy was holding Mom back, but it wasn't going to be easy.
Darting into the bathroom, I threw on my clothes faster than I thought would be possible. With a quick flip of my wrist, I scanned a brush through my silky hair and ran back out.
In a matter of mere seconds, Mom was nearly on top of Dad, pinning him against a wall. Cindy was holding onto Mom's shoulders, struggling to keep her away. Dad was being a little bit of help, (but not much), by attempting to push Mom back. But, even I could see that his efforts were next to useless.
I ran up to the bunch of them and grabbed Dad by his left forearm. Being stronger than he, all I needed was a hard yank, and he backed away. Fortunately, his mind came back to its original surroundings once Mom wasn't breathing down his neck. Thank God.
"'Lanzie," he said, surprised to see me standing there.
"Well, good morning to you too. So, if you don't want another mistake like me, let's get going."
"What?"
"Hello? Mom's in heat. And you, of course, wouldn't notice." Pulling him towards the door, I told him, "We need to get you out of the house…for a good twenty-four hours or so-"
"Wait a minute, I don't have to go anywhere that you tell me."
"Sorry to break it to you so harshly, but yes, you do. That is, unless you want to end up having your face punched in or, like I said earlier, another me."
Dad, seeing his choices were limited, reluctantly agreed. He gave one final glance back at Mom, who, by this time, had been slapped across the face by Original Cindy. And we left the apartment before any damage could be done. It was going to be the longest day of heat Mom had ever gone into. Great.
