The dark turned to light and I was woken from a light sleep by something in the room. I opened my eyes wide awake and looked around. I slowly rose from where I was laying, only to see a cat on the ground in front of the bed. I sighed a breath of relief as my heart calmed to a reasonable pace.

"Hello little kitty. Come here." It got up from its sitting position and walked over to me purposefully. It jumped up on the bed next to me and I patted my lap for it to come closer.

"That's okay. I'm fine where I am." I froze and my mind blanked for a second. A talking cat. They exist.

"I always knew that animals could talk! And fairies exist too, right? I knew it!" I huggled him close (him based on the low voice) as he tried to say something that was muffled by my clothes.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" I let go of him a little so he could speak, but I still held onto his soft fur.

"(breath) I'm here (breath) because (breath) your brother (breath) sent me." He sounded so cute when he was catching his breath and with the breaks it caused I didn't register his words at first.

"Big brother sent you? Is he okay? And why didn't he tell me he had a talking cat? I would have kept it a secret…" While I wondered what else big brother might be keeping from me, the cat replied.

"He's fine, but he won't be able to see you for a while, so I am here in his place."

"Thank you, Mr…?" And even to my ears, it sounded somewhat half-hearted. From the look of things, I would be here for some time before big brother would come and get me.

"Mr… ? Oh, you can call me Chatz." You can call me…? That didn't seem like his real name, but I wouldn't ask too many questions. He must have his reasons, and if big brother trusted him, then so would I.

"Then Mr. Chatz, are you hungry? I could fix us breakfast." I moved to get out of bed as he leaped down.

"That sounds good."

We found our way to the kitchen, but there wasn't any food in the refrigerator. I guess big brother hadn't prepared food as well as furniture and clothes. It was funny to picture big brother buying the girly drapes or flowered dresses. I mused on it to lift my spirits as I put on a plane blue dress. I figured I would have to go to the grocery store/ find where it was, so I headed out the door for the first time in my new life.

Mr. Chatz led me there, and I was thankful he was there because the town was like a maze. I got dizzy trying to remember all the streets and turns we had to make.

When we got there, Mr. Chatz couldn't come inside, so I shopped by myself. I grabbed all the basics (milk, eggs, butter, bread…) and some cat food, but I wasn't sure what else Mr. Chatz would need. I would have to make another run to the pet store later.

I got in line and made it all the way to the register before I realized that I didn't bring any money. With every scan, my panic grew, but I didn't know what to do. I searched around for some way out, but when none was spotted and she was already finishing with my purchases, I had no choice but to confess.

My mouth had already opened to apologize when I felt Mr. Chatz nudge my leg. I looked down to see he had a coin purse in his mouth. He really felt like my savior just then. "Thank you so much."

I paid her with a smile and grabbed the bags of food as Mr. Chatz and I made our way out. It only occurred to me later to question the sudden acquisition of the money. "Um, Mr. Chatz? Where did you get that coin purse?"

I looked down over my bags when he didn't answer. He looked up at me an gave me a curt meow that seemed to convey something along the lines of: 'We're in public! I can't run around shouting I'm a talking cat!'

Needless to say, we walked in silence the rest of the way home.

"Now will you tell me?" were the first words out of my mouth as soon as we were inside.

"Alright, so I realized you didn't have any money a little after you went inside, so I went back and grabbed the coin purse for you," was his bland report, but he really did help me out back there. I was glad big brother thought to send him.

"The coin purse was in here? Did big brother leave it here for me?" He provided everything for me, didn't he? It's like he's my knight in shining armor.

"Yeah, why? Did you think he would leave you to starve?" He sounded defensive and I wondered how close he was to big brother.

"No, of course not, he is the best big brother in the world after all!"

A/N: Chatz is the swiss-german word for cat… Yeah, I'm not very good with names…^^; Thanks to everyone who has read this so far~ I hope you'll find it in ya to review! And good luck to those of us who are taking our finals! (My first one was today… English… my worst subject along with all the other ones… except math. Math is ok)

This is a random side note, but I use the word breath a lot… isn't that weird…? I need some suggestions for a different word… I can't think of one…

Love, AllenClaySnyder