Chapter 6
Later that evening, Sylvester and Benny went out joyriding in Sylvester's car to let off some steam from that long morning and afternoon. Babbit wasn't feeling any better in the afternoon. He was distracted from his work and had to go out to smoke three times! However, the cats didn't worry about Babbit's sudden change in behavior. They thought if he rested, Babbit would be good as new on the next day.
They were now a couple of miles north from the bed and breakfast. Since it was turning dark, Benny turned on the headlights so they could see the road and its surroundings. Sylvester rolled down his window on the passenger side and lit up a cigarette. Even though he got a few warnings about his smoking affecting his immune system and lungs from his doctor, Sylvester didn't care. It wasn't that he was depressed or angry about life in general, it was just that Sylvester was destined to smoke.
"There isn't anything on the radio?" Sylvester said in disappointment after he turned off the radio. "The only stations they have here are country and western and classical. I guess folks are stuck in the past and don't wanna change." He put his feet up on the dashboard.
"I guess so." Benny shrugged as he kept his eyes on the road. "Don't you have CDs or something in the car to listen to?"
"As a matter of fact, I do!" Sylvester exclaimed. He pulled out his CD case from his glove department. After deciding a CD to play, Sylvester place the CD in the CD player and place his CD case back in the glove department.
"I thought you hated Latin jazz." Benny exclaimed as he glanced at Sylvester for a second and focused back on the road.
"I did at first, but since Speedy and that cousin of his…I forgot his name-"Sylvester began, but later paused in thought.
"Slowpoke?" Benny suggested.
"Yeah, that's his name. Since they introduce me to the music, I been diggin it ever since."
Sylvester was moving head to the beat while Benny chuckled in amusement.
Benny and Sylvester were in their fifteen minutes on the road when they saw something that caught their eyes. That something was a petite gray female feline who was walking on the bridge, with her arms crossed and head bent down. There was also something particular about the feline. She wasn't wearing contemporary clothing. Instead, it appeared that she was wearing a black flapper dress that was from the 1920s.
"I thought Halloween isn't in a couple of weeks." Benny said slowing down the car.
"Some people like to dress up every day." Sylvester shrugged in his relaxed position.
When they got near the bridge, Benny and Sylvester were able to get a good close-up of the gray feline.
The feline had what appeared to be a wound on her left ear. She also had some scratch marks on her arms and neck. Her dress was somewhat raggedy and torn-up.
After thinking for a moment, Benny stops the car. Sylvester starts to tense up a little. He takes a couple of puffs from his cigarette.
In Sylvester's dismay, Benny asked gently, "Do you need a lift ma'am?"
The gray feline looks up.
"Where to?" She asked timidly.
"To 5th and 7th street."
The cat smiled weakly. "That's my destination. I'll be there in a minute."
As the cat was on her way walking towards the car, Sylvester smacks Benny beside the head hard.
"Benny! What the hell is wrong with ya? She could be some kind of mental patient or worse, a killer!" He hissed through his teeth.
"What?' Benny protested. "She looks like she was in some kind of struggle with someone or something! Plus, she might need help!"
Sylvester wasn't buying it. "I ain't buying that sob story one bit. I know how we cats are. We're slick, very slick!"
Before Sylvester could say something else, the gray feline open the backseat door and then closed it after getting inside the car.
"So what's your name?" Benny asked after a few moments of silence.
"Margarita." The feline replies.
"Like the drink?"
Sylvester puts his hand on his face and grumbles quietly about Benny's absent-mindedness.
The feline had an opposite reaction however.
"Yes." She giggled. "But my friends call me Rita."
"I see." Benny replies. "That's a lovely name. I think it's a Greek meaning-"
"Stop sounding smart and trying to impress cats you knucklehead!" Sylvester said annoyed.
"Thank you." Rita replies sweetly, ignoring Sylvester's comment. She also notices that Sylvester was still smoking.
Politely, Rita asked, "Hey! Can you get rid of that cigarette please! That smell is making me nauseous."
"Tough crap, lady!" Sylvester scoffed. "My cigarette, not yours! Plus, I haven't had a cigarette all afternoon!"
"Sylvester!" Benny scolded. "That's rude!"
"What?" Sylvester protested. "It's true, Benjamin."
Benny looks at the rear mirror to see that Rita has an irritated look on her face. He carefully turns he's head back quickly and says to Rita so that Sylvester couldn't hear, "I have an idea about your problem!"
After turning back to face the road, Benny suddenly grabs Sylvester's wrist with force and says calmly, "Give up the cigarette Sly!"
"Ow! You got one hell of a grip there!" Sylvester begin. "But I ain't doin' nothing-"
Benny squeezed Sylvester's wrist even tighter. "Or else!" He warned with his characteristically gentleness gone.
"Okay!" Sylvester gave up, trying not to yell out in pain. "I will get rid of the cigarette, if you let go of my wrist!"
Benny let go of Sylvester's wrist. Sylvester let out a sigh of relief and reluctantly threw his cigarette out of the car.
…
"Where we're here!" Benny called out as he stopped the car at Rita's destination. "You may-"
Benny looks at the backseat and sees that no one is there.
"Okay lady, who heard the big cat-" Sylvester called out, but then he sees Benny's expression.
"What's the matter, it looks like you seen a ghost or something!"
"Uh, she's not there!" Benny said nervously.
Sylvester turns around to look at the backseat.
"What the heck! I didn't hear the door open." He says calmly after turning back to his seat.
"Yeah. That's the thing." Benny sighed. "I guess I should stop smoking catnip!"
Just then, Sylvester gets a text message from Penelope.
"Well what is it?" Benny asked while Sylvester was looking at the text.
"It's Penny." Sylvester said, sounded suddenly serious. "She says that we must go back to bed and breakfast immediately!"
"Has something bad happened?" Benny asked calmly.
"She didn't say. I hope not though."
Benny did a sudden turn around and speeded quickly back to the bed and breakfast.