Cat stood at the counter, waiting for his coffee to brew. Boy, was he tired. As Adrien earlier in the day, he had done a photo shoot and the photographer had been especially demanding. Just thinking about it made Cat feel tired.
Scrape, scrape! Cat's sleepy eyes flew open. What was that sound? Scrape, scrape! Okay, he wasn't just hearing things, but where was it coming from? Then he heard a meow. Cat opened the door find Inky, one of the neighborhood cats sitting on the stoop. "Inky! What are you doing here?" Inky meowed, trotting inside. "Did you come for a treat?" Ladybug had been making homemade cat treats, and Inky loved Ladybug. Ladybug was out shopping for dinner, so Cat was home alone. "Just let me...whew!"
Cat waved a hand in front of his face. Inky stank! "Inky, what were you rolling in this time?" Cat asked, with clear affection. "If you want treats and cuddles, you need a bath." "Meow?" Inky cocked his head. "Oh, no. That cute look never works on M'lady, so I've not going to let work on you."
A hour later, Inky was clean, dry, and fluffy. "Aw, who's the sweetest black puffball in Paris?" Cat cooed, as he carried Inky back to the kitchen. But Inky still wanted something as he batted at Cat's chin. Then he stuck out his pink tongue. "Are you melming or do you need a wash?" Cat asked. Another meow.
"Fine," Cat groaned, taking a deep breath. Anything for Inky. Cat stuck out his own pink tongue, lowering it to Inky's fur….
"Cat? What are you doing?" Oh, cheese and crackers. Ladybug was home, holding a bag of groceries and looking rather confused. Cat just stood there, holding Inky tummy side out, his tongue sticking out. "Um, Melming, love! I was just showing Inky here how to do it!"
Okay, maybe that wasn't exactly it. But it would do. "Inky! Come to Ladybug!" Ladybug cooed, melming or licking forgotten. Whew, that was close!