Chapter XXII

The Purrfect Friend

Awakening to the now familiar sound of drilling, sawing and hammering, the five year old peeked out of the van. Wood and other construction parts littered the beach in front of the Temple, which loomed above the remodelling below. Pearl was busy sawing with Greg, whose sunburn had intensified over the past few days due to working in the sun for hours on end. Garnet was carrying large pieces of wood on her shoulder and tossed them to Amethyst, who would put them in piles corresponding to length.

Construction was well under way for the new house and the framework had already been attached onto the Crystal Gem's former residence.

"Wow!" Steven stepped out to marvel at the work, "I can't wait to see my room!"

"Your room can begin to be built after we've made sturdy flooring for the rest of the house. I'm thinking hardwood, don't you agree Greg?" Pearl asked the sweating male.

"Sounds good to me, when are starting the floor?"

"I want it all put in today, that way we'll be meeting the deadlines I've made." Pearl took the pencil sitting on her ear out, and began writing on a clipboard taken from her gem. "I also wouldn't mind starting the roof tiles, we need to weatherproof this house as soon as possible."

"T-tomorrow?" Greg gave her an incredulous look, "We haven't even ordered the tiles yet, let alone the hardwood!"

Indifferent, Pearl raised an eyebrow. "Well I'm not expecting to be tardy on my deadlines, you'd better get started on ordering the supplies we need."

"Yes Ma'am." Greg sighed.

Steven carried on his way, walking across the maze of timber the laid on the sand and hopping from one to the other. Nearing the end of his path and the edge of the construction circle, he plonked down and began playing in the sand for a bit.

With tongue out in concentration at making his miniature sand fort, the youth barely noticed the small black kitten watching inquisitively. When the realisation happened upon him, they both blinked at each other.

"Awww, a kitty!" Planting his palms either side of his cheeks, Steven knelt down to eye level with the feline.

"My name's Steven! What's yours?" He held out his hand and the cat mewed, nudging into it.

Giggling, he pet its head.

"Where's your home, little guy? We're building a new one here so that I can live with the gems – you'd like them a lot!" the cat mewed once again and started to knead Steven's shirt. The boy grinned, and scooped the cat up in his arms. "Do you wanna stay with me, little buddy?" Nuzzling into the red material, Steven took that as a yes.

He got up and held the kitten close to him, being careful to ensure it was supported with both hands. Anxiously stepping over the timber, he eyed the gems and his Father in the distance conversing.

"I wonder if they'll let me keep him?" Thought Steven. He became more nervous as he neared them.

"Who am I kidding?" He sighed despondently, "Christmas just finished, and Pearl hates it when seagulls fly in the Temple – she'd never let me have a cat in there."

The boy stopped and looked down at the content feline that was peering up at him. Determination filling him, Steven bundled the kitten under his shirt.

"This will just be for a little while okay?" He moved the neck of his shirt so he could look down. "Hehe, that tickles!"

Steven began to walk up to the quartet, trying to act as normal as possible and silently praying that nobody would notice the fidgeting mass under his t-shirt.

"Hey Shnu-ball, how's it going?" His Father greeted.

"Oh, h-hey Dad I'm doing g-great!" The cat had tried to poke its head out, and Steven attempted to look natural.

"You sure? You're looking a little sweaty there pal." Greg reached out to touch his son's forehead only for him to duck out the way.

"I-I'm fine, really!"

"Steven, why's your shirt moving?" Pearl brought up next, arms folded.

Inwardly cringing, the boy tried to stall.

"I – uh, m-moving, where?" He chuckled nervously, and as Pearl only hummed impatiently he couldn't bring himself to lie.

"It's a cat…" As if on cue, a furry head poked out next to Steven's and mewed innocently at the gems.

"Why's there a furball in your shirt, dude?" Asked Amethyst.

"Yes, I think we would all like to know." Said Garnet.

The next few minutes were of Steven explaining where he had found the cat and how they make really great pets.

"-and that's why I should keep him, so he can chase all the seagulls out of the temple that Pearl doesn't like!" he smiled hopefully.

"Absolutely not, the Temple, or this construction zone is not a safe place for a cat. Even if we did have the house finished, what if it accidently warped out? Or if a gem monster found its way to the Temple? It's not worth the risk." Said Pearl.

Steven turned to his Dad.

"He could live in the van?" He held up the kitten.

Although it pained him to say this, Greg had to decline. "I'm afraid not kiddo, the van is barely big enough for the two of us, let alone three."

In a final attempt, Steven turned to Garnet with the biggest eyes he could muster.

"Pleeeeeease Garnet?"

The stoic gem looked into his eyes and held up her hand. "I'm out, sort this amongst yourselves." She backed away and walked off.

"Garnet!" Pearl sounded in disbelief, "Take some responsibility!"

"Is that a yes?" A small voice said.

"That's a no." Said Pearl, she then sighed. "I'm sorry Steven, but this place really isn't suitable enough for a cat."

"Yea man," Amethyst put her arm around him, "who wants a cat anyway when you have magic?" She shapeshifted into a purple Persian.

"He has no home…how would you feel if you had no home?" Everybody remained silent for a bit until Greg spoke up.

"I know someone who has lots of cats, I'm sure they wouldn't mind one more. Would you feel better knowing that he's going to a place with lots of others like him?"

Steven knew that he had lost the battle and knew that his Father was right. He gave a tiny nod and hugged the kitten. "Bye bye, little buddy."

"You're doing the right thing pal; it takes a lot to know what's best for someone else instead of yourself."

It was early evening Greg, Amethyst and Pearl were all checking out the newly installed hardwood floor whilst Steven lounged on the temporary sofa.

"It's a job well done, if I do say so myself." Proclaimed Pearl.

"Aww Steven, are you still bummed out about that whole cat stuff? Cheer up little man." Amethyst dived next to him. "You said he looked really happy when you took him to the person's house."
Steven sighed, "Yea, but I still miss him."

Everyone looked up at Garnet walking into the Temple, who made a leeway for Steven.

"I have something for you." The stoic gem said, picking up Steven with one arm and holding something in the other.

Eyes lighting up, Steven wondered "What is it?"
Garnet gave him the packet, and when Steven tore it open to reveal an ice-cream sandwich shaped like a cat.

"A 'Cookie Cat'?" Read Pearl from behind.

"Mm!" Steven swallowed, "Oh wow, it's delicious! Pearl you try!"

"Ehh no thanks." She backed away.

"I will!" Amethyst swallowed one whole, making Steven laugh.

"Thanks Garnet!" He hugged the gem, and she smiled.

"Knew we were best mom." She thought.