The day began just like an average day in the Burtonburger family's life. Coop woke up, opened his closet to pick out clothes when a paintball hit the boy, covering his face and pajamas.
Coop: KAAAAAAT!
Coop shouted as he left his room to go to the bathroom to shower. However, Burt had just come out of the bathroom and looked at his son in bewilderment, wondering why he was covered in paint, but to some extent, he had already grown accustomed to it and wasn't surprised anymore.
Annoyed, Coop wiped the paint off his face and pajamas before heading to the shower. While the warm water washed the paint away, he tried to remember the events from the previous evening to figure out why all this had happened.
Coop furrowed his brow as he massaged foamy shampoo into his hair.
Coop: This cat never stops playing pranks on me - he muttered to himself.
After finishing his shower, he walked out of the bathroom and met his father again in the hallway.
Burt: Are you ready, Coop? - he asked, smiling at the sight of his paint-covered son.
Coop: Yes, just Mr. Kat pulled another one of his pranks on me.
Burt: Well, I hope you didn't take it too seriously.
Coop: No, just annoying. But he'll pay for it.
Coop tried to explain to his father, but Burt didn't seem convinced that Mr. Kat was the culprit.
Burt: Coop, do you seriously believe a cat could do something like this?
Coop: But Dad, he's done so many things that are way worse. I know it sounds strange, but he's actually an alien being, and he always messes with me.
Burt just laughed.
Burt: Come on, don't believe these made-up stories, Coop. Mr. Kat is just a cat, nothing more.
Coop looked at his father angrily and reproachfully.
Coop: Of course, Dad, so you think I painted myself to mess with myself? Why would I do that? And how could a person have paintballs to suddenly cover my face and pajamas like this?
Burt hesitated for a moment, then answered somewhat awkwardly.
Burt: Well, maybe someone else is playing a prank on you or there was some accident... But I guess there's really no evidence that Mr. Kat did it.
Coop turned around and started looking for new clothes, while his father went about his own business.
Coop found a clean T-shirt and pants in his closet and quickly got dressed. Then he went down to the kitchen, where Millie was already having breakfast.
Millie: What's up, Coop? - she asked cheerfully as she spooned her cereal.
Coop: Nothing special, just the usual mischief from Mr. Kat - Coop replied as he took an apple from the fruit bowl.
Coop just smiled, but inside he knew that the day still had surprises in store. He should have stopped Mr. Kate somehow before he caused more trouble.
As Coop ate his breakfast, outwardly patient but inwardly growing concerned, he watched Mr. Kate, seemingly innocently resting on the living room windowsill. But Coop knew exactly that the cat's quietness was deceptive.
He wasn't wrong. Barely a few minutes passed, Mr. Kat suddenly jumped up and ran towards the table. In a deft move, he knocked over the milk cup, which was headed straight for Coop. The boy only jumped aside at the last moment, so the milk only reached his chair and part of the table.
Coop: Mr. Kat!" Coop shouted, but the cat had already disappeared from the scene as if it had never been there.
Millie: (laughing) Coop, you're the clumsiest boy in the world!
Coop sighed. He knew it would be unnecessary to explain. No one believed him when it came to Mr. Kat. But he didn't give up. "You'll see," he thought to himself. "One day everyone will realize that Mr. Kat is not who he seems."
Coop, still slightly annoyed from the previous incident, sat down at the table. Millie had already finished her breakfast and gone to play, leaving Coop alone in the kitchen, deep in thought. He was just raising his morning glass of orange juice to his lips when he suddenly noticed a strange noise. The sound came from the refrigerator.
He approached carefully and slowly opened the refrigerator door. As soon as he saw its contents, his face was shocked. All the food, the milk, the butter, even the orange juice - all scattered as if a mini tornado had swept through the fridge. Coop just stood there with his mouth open as the orange juice in his hand slowly dripped onto the floor.
Coop: This is also Mr. Kat's work. he whispered to himself.
Then he suddenly heard Mr. Kat's soft laugh from behind him. He turned around and saw the cat sitting contentedly on the kitchen counter. Mr. Kat's eyes seemed to flash an evil light for a moment.
Coop sighed deeply.
Coop: All right, Kat. I've had enough! he yelled, but the cat only responded with an indifferent nod, as if he understood but didn't care about Coop's threat.
Coop's heart filled with rage and a sense of challenge. He decided not to leave it at that.
Coop: Okay, Kat, if you want it like this, then we'll play!" he said determinedly, while trying to collect the spilled food from the fridge.
However, just as he was about to pick up the orange juice bottle from the ground, Mr. Kat unexpectedly walked up to him and gently but firmly nudged his leg. Coop lost his balance and fell backwards, hitting the refrigerator door and falling to the floor. The cat looked at him triumphantly as if to say, "It's still my game."
Coop stood up angrily, but inside he knew that he wasn't fighting Mr. Kat now, but his own impatience and sudden anger.
Coop: Okay, Kat, you just won, but it's not over yet! he said, watching the cat out of the corner of his eye.
Burt entered the kitchen just as Coop was putting the last of the food back in the fridge. He looked at his son, then at the fridge, and a tired smile appeared on his face.
Burt: Coop, I understand you're growing and want to eat more, but try not to make a mess in the fridge, okay?
Coop looked at his father in confusion.
Coop Yes Dad, I'm sorry! It didn't happen on purpose, but you know Mr. Kat...
Burt: No, don't say the cat did it! Just don't do that!
Coop nodded in frustration.
Coop: I'll fix everything dad, I'll be more careful next time.
Burt: All right son, remember you're seeing a psychologist today and this will be your last chance to get yourself right.
Coop: I know dad.-while his clean dad was still in the kitchen making some vegetable smoothie and he thought now was the time to ask more about his mom's family.
Coop: Dad, I heard somewhere that the psychologist used to ask about my family, what if he asks about my mom and her family too? What am I going to tell him? You never told me about them.
Burt paused while making the smoothie and looked at Coop thoughtfully. His expression turned serious and for a moment he seemed to be lost in thought. He looked deep into Coop's eyes. It was obvious that this topic was uncomfortable for him.
Burt: Coop, your mother's family...we don't talk about them too much. To tell you the truth, the loss of your mother hurts me, and I didn't get along very well with your grandfather, so much so that he couldn't even remember my name, he always called me Bob.
Coop could sense that the subject was causing deep emotion in his father.
Coop: But why, Dad? What happened?
Burt continued with a sigh.
Burt: Your grandfather was an archaeologist-Egyptologist. He has always believed in the legend that during the Ancient Egyptian Empire, a pharaoh fought with an alien cat. He claimed that this story was true and that he devoted most of his life to prove it, that he was a descendant of the pharaoh and that he could not believe that he had found these artifacts.
Coop's eyes widened.
Coop: It's... it's like Mr. Kat and me.
Burt: Yes, he found the artifacts that can be seen in the Museum in Bootsville, thanks to your mother, that exhibition is there, because she was a museum curator. That's why I don't want you to meet him. I'm afraid your grandfather's stories would only make you worse. I don't want you to believe the fantasy he believed.
Coop nodded thoughtfully, but another question occurred to him.
Coop: And my grandmother? What did she think about all this?
Burt looked a little relieved that the subject had changed.
Burt: Your grandmother was a literature teacher. He didn't believe in your grandfather's stories. She got too involved in her work and ended up leaving your grandfather because she couldn't reconcile her fantasy world with reality.
Coop nodded, feeling the depth of his family's history.
Coop: And my uncle?
Burt: (surprised) How do you know about your uncle?
Coop: (slightly confused) Er...Dennis' dad told me about it. He said that mother had a younger brother.
Burt: Yes, he's name is George. He has always been interested in the past, just like your grandfather. But he was researching dinosaurs and prehistoric life, not ancient legends.
Curiosity flashed in Coop's eyes.
Coop: Have you ever met him since mom died?
Burt: (nods) A few times when you were little. But as you got older, he became more and more engrossed in his research. The last I heard he was digging somewhere in Mongolia.
Coop: (excited) Maybe he knows something about Mr. Kat, or at least could help me understand my grandfather's legends.
Burt looked at Coop a little worried.
Burt: Maybe, but I don't think it's a good idea. - Coop nodded seriously, understanding his father's concern.
Coop: Got it, Dad. But it would be nice to meet them sometime.
Burt looked at his son with a smile.
Burt: Maybe someday, Coop.
Coop still had one question on his mind, that particular question about his mother that kept him from resting. Although Fiona had told her Dwight Munson was living in Los Angeles at the time Millie could have conceived, she still wanted to know the truth. He asked this of his father in fear.
Coop: But dad, there's another thought that won't let me rest. I don't know if this is a town rumor or not...is it true that mom cheated on you before she died?
The smile froze on Burt's face, he didn't know what to say. A look of deep pain was reflected on him, and Coop desperately waited for his father's reaction, but judging by the expression on his face, the rumor might be true.
Burt: Coop I...-he started as if searching for the right words.-The truth is, Coop, that your mother and I weren't as close as we used to be. A lot has happened that is hard for a young guy like you to understand. I've heard rumors about the relationship between your mother and Dwight Munson, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't suspect it, but I never got any proof of it. After your mother's death, I decided I didn't even want to know what exactly was between them. I leave the past in the past and focus more on the present and the future; on you, my children.
Coop listened in silence, trying to process this information. Although he didn't get a clear answer, he felt that this topic was hiding deep wounds in his father.
Coop: Thanks for being honest, Dad. I know it's not easy to talk about.
Burt hugged Coop.
Burt: The most important thing is to know that he always loved you and I always love you.
Coop was touched by his father's concern and pain. He filled his heart with gratitude and understanding. He knew that while the mysteries of the past continued to preoccupy him, the most important thing in the present was the love and support of his family.
Coop: All right, Dad.
He didn't dare ask the most sensitive question, Millie's parentage, because he could see from his father that he was upset by this topic anyway. That's why he didn't even dare to ask the question whether he was Millien's father or Dwight Munson, and he didn't want to know the answer either. Despite the not-so-rosy sibling relationship, he has always regarded Millie as his sweet sister, and that's okay. That's why he asked about something else.
Coop: But dad, if you only had conflicts with grandpa and grandma didn't believe in his research, why can't we meet her?
Burt: You know, your grandmother Olivia, is quite a sensitive woman, already when she divorced your grandfather, when your mother was still a little girl, it took a toll on her, she took refuge in writing, and then wrote her novel, which was inspired by her relationship with your grandfather, "The Cursed Archaeologist" meanwhile, she taught English literature here in Bootsville. I think this was also a way for her to process the divorce. She probably didn't divorce him because she didn't love your grandfather anymore, but because she was sick of neglecting the family because of his crazy theories. When your mother died it even worse. She was withdrawn and it was difficult even for me to reach her. What happened really affected her.
Coop: But Dad, maybe we should go see her.
Burt: You might be right Coop, but focus on the psychologist right now.