Nellie Lovett was sitting at the counter eating a piece of toast for breakfast. She spent the past week will Lillian and so far everything was just fine… except for business as usual.

Lillian Mooney came into the room rubbing her eyes sleepily. Nellie chuckled. "Get enough sleep did you?" "Yeah, though I did have a 'ard time waking up this morning." she laughed back with her. "Well come on sit down and have a bite to eat."

As Lillian sat down, Mrs. Pettigrew came in with Mittens following behind her. "Morning Miss Lillian" she didn't say high to Nellie though.

"Good morning Mrs. Pettigrew." Lillian responded.

"I expect you to come up with some grand ideas for the shop, and along the way maybe teach this one here to ease up on her mistakes."

"Hag" she said when Pettigrew left the room.

Lillian laughed. "She's really that mean, Nellie?"

"Yes, very. I don't understand why she favors you, but hates me." "Who kno-" Lillian stopped when she felt something furry brush up against her leg.

She found it was Mittens, Pettigrew's fat cat.

"Aww" Lillian said. Mittens meowed and jumped into Lillian's lap.

"Ugh don't get near that thing, it probably has diseases." said Nellie. "Aw but its just a sweet lil' ol' pussycat."

But as Lillian said that, Mittens snatched Lillian's bacon off of her plate and ran away.

"Oi! That was my last piece of bacon!" she cried. "Damn cat" she scoffed.

"See? What I tell ya? Mittens is the sneakiest cat you will ever meet, also the laziest, laying 'round the shop all day and bloody night." she said finishing her toast.

She looked up to find Lillian staring off into space, like she was pondering. "What are ya thinking 'bout?" she asked.

"Like ya said times are so 'ard you just keep thinking.

Mrs. Pettigrew wants us to have some new ideas for the shop. Since lambs aren't to anyone's likin'…" she chuckled.

Nellie looked at her wide-eyed. "Oh no… Lillian you don't mean?"

"But I do. Why don't we use the pussycats in the pies Nellie?"

"Eww Lillian that's totally sick an' wrong. Who would eat pussycats?"

"Well no one has to know, I mean people in other countries eat pussycats. Me uncle was an explorer, he traveled to different countries and ate doggies!"

"Ew!"

"Oh, come off it Nellie, you basically just said you were tired of Mittens. I mean we both no what he's capable of. Just an annoying lazy house cat. No one will care… except Pettigrew. People might like it you never know."

"And if they don't?"

"Well, then I don't know, I guess we'll have to find another type of meat."

Nellie looked disgusted. "Lillian… we can't kill a cat. I mean yes Mittens is completely annoying and a thief, but I mean that's no reason to kill a cat." she put her face in her hands.

"Come off it, Nellie. If this plan works it will bring in lots of business. We'll get more people which means more money. And don't forget, you've told me a million times how you wish you could buy that new crimson dress in the window of Smith's Dress Shop. Think of it Nellie…"

Nellie thought and thought.

"No, we just cant Lillian. Its wrong."

"Aww Nellie come on!"

"No is the final answer for me."

She cleared her plate but she didn't look where she was walking. They didn't know that Mittens was nearby sleeping on the floor. Nellie accidently stepped on Mittens' tail. Mittens hissed like mad and scratched Nellie's leg. The unfortunate thing was, was that she scared Mittens so badly. Even though she was wearing a long dress, it was very thin material. When Mittens scratched her, he ripped through part of her dress and made a scratch bad enough to cause blood to gush out. Nellie looked like she was in total pain, but did her best not to yell. She didn't want Pettigrew coming in her and yelling at her.

"Ughh, on second thought Lillian… maybe I will reconsider your proposition."

Poor Mittens!