"Why do I have to do this again?" Jake asked as he glanced over his shoulder, hoping that no one else was around to see him.
"All the articles I read said that it's good to stimulate Jack's senses, especially while he's so young," Cassandra answered.
"Yeah, but why can't we do that inside?" Cassandra had dragged Jake and the kitten outside to the communal garden behind their apartment building. It was bad enough that she insisted the two of them started taking Jack for regular walks, but somehow Jake had found himself the one holding the leash. He could only hope that none of their neighbours came outside and saw him.
"There's no place better than the garden, Jake. There's so much for him to smell and hear out here."
Jake sighed. "I look ridiculous."
"Well I think you look adorable," Cassandra smiled and looped her arm with his. Jake couldn't help but return the smile. He still felt ridiculous, but if his Cassie was happy then it was all worth it.
"This isn't like walking a dog, that's for sure," Jake said after a few minutes. The two of them had been standing in the same spot watching as Jack explored a very small patch of the garden, alternating between smelling the same two flowers over and over again.
Almost as if on cue, Jack suddenly sensed something on the other side of the garden. The small kitten quickly leapt into the air and took off, hopping like a rabbit across the small yard, dragging Jake behind him. Cassandra chased after the pair, giggling the entire time.
"You're right, this is definitely not like walking a dog," she laughed when she finally caught up to them.
"What do you think got into him?" Jake asked curiously. Once they had reached the other side of the garden the kitten had returned to his subdued manner, and was now stretched out on his side in a small patch of dirt.
"I don't know. Maybe he heard something that we couldn't?" Cassandra suggested.
After another minute Jack jumped up again and dragged Jake back to the side of the garden they had originated from, once again hopping across the grass instead of running.
"Are you sure Jack Tripper is the right name for him?" Cassandra asked Jake. She had given up chasing her two boys and had taken a seat on the grass where she could easily watch their antics. "Maybe Jumping Jack is more like it."
Jake laughed as he ran past her. He couldn't believe how much difficulty he was having keeping up with a two month old, blind kitten. "It's hard to believe this is the same cat that was crashing into our couch last week."
They stayed outside for an hour. Jake couldn't believe how quickly the time had passed.
"See, that wasn't so bad now, was it?" Cassandra asked when they returned to their apartment.
Jake shrugged. "I guess we can go back out tomorrow, seeing as it's what all the articles say we need to do." Cassandra beamed at him. "But, you're holding the leash next time."
"Jake, no one's going to think you're any less of a man just because they see you walking a cat."
"No, I know. But that was exhausting! Tomorrow it's your turn to chase after the cat. I want to be the one sitting on the grass," he said with a chuckle.
"Apparently you're not the only one who thinks so," Cassandra motioned to the spot on the couch where Jake had set the kitten down after they had returned home. Jack had curled up into a ball and was fast asleep.
"I have to admit, I had my hesitations, but that kitten is pretty damn cute," Jake said as he came up behind Cassandra and wrapped his arms around her waist. She tilted her neck up and smiled at him.
"Told ya so," she said with a smirk.
"Yes, you did," Jake smiled and placed a kiss on the top of Cassandra's head, content to just stand there and watch the small kitten sleep forever.