Title: Ryan's Cat
Summary: Ryan finds a kindred soul.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the cat.
Chapter 1 - Prologue
Ryan reported:
It just showed up one day. I guess I didn't shut the door of the pool house completely when I left to go to school, because when I got home, the door was open a little. Through the door, I could see a sandy-colored cat curled up on my bed. Obviously a stray, probably looking for a place to sleep, food, a home. It was skinny, and a little dirty. I didn't see any collar or tag.
It reminded me a lot of the alley cats I used to try to make friends with when I was little. The really wild ones, you couldn't get anywhere near. The strays, the ones that had a home with people once -- those you could. Since this one had walked right in, it must have been someone's pet. It was probably thrown out or left behind, maybe when it got too old to be a cute little kitten any more, or when it clawed the furniture one too many times. I could relate.
I didn't want to scare it away. I tried to open the door slowly and walk in quietly. But it heard me, or sensed me somehow. It stood up, slowly, watching me every second. I think it was afraid of me, but it didn't run off, which I took to be a good sign.
I slowly lowered my bookbag to the floor. I held out my hand, and slowly walked towards the bed. Looks like this cat has been on its own for a while. And been in a lot of catfights. I could see a large nick in one ear, and an area below the other ear where the fur didn't grow any more.
As I got closer and closer, the cat crouched down, but at least it didn't bolt. I stopped with my hand a few inches away from its head. I wanted to let the cat make the first move, if it wanted to. After a few seconds of eyeing me, the cat stood up and stretched its head forward. It sniffed at my fingers a bit then rubbed the side of its head against them.
I think I have a friend.