Page 9 of Cursed with Fortune

My back end danced as I watched him hold the young man by the back of his shirt between his fingers. “Where’d you come from?”

“Suck it, Giant!”

The man chuckled and went over to a small cage, popping the door open and placing the “mouse” inside.

“It’s too late to call pest control. You should be safe in there. Tomorrow I’ll call and we can get you taken back down to your parents.”

He filled a bottle with some water, put some food in a drop feeder, and left the room. As he walked away, I kept my eyes on his back. I was still hungry, but I didn’t want to make myself sick. I’d get more food tomorrow. I knew I would; he already treated me better than anyone in my life ever had.

Right at that moment, I yawned and stretched. Now to find the window he spoke of. I padded softly around the kitchen, sniffing the walls, counters, and cabinets before I entered the hall.

With a glance to my right, I saw five open doors and to my left only one. Across the hall, light filled the room, and I decided to check that room first. They lined all the walls with bookshelves, and the window held the perch he told me about.

A large table sat in the room’s corner and there were papers and pencils scattered on top, along with a mug. I hopped up onto the table and sniffed the cup, letting the sweet scent of tea fill my nostrils.

I glanced behind me to make sure I was alone and then leaned in to lap at the cold brew.Mmm, sweetened with honey, notes of jasmine and a hint of cream. At least I know he’s not a brute and appreciates the finer things.

The sound of water running made me turn my head to the door. I hopped off the table and went in search of sound. As I crept down the hall, something caught my attention in my peripheral vision.

I turned around and there ran another gnome.

“Eat it, cat!” He flipped me off and kept running.

With a chuff, I spun around and took off after him. He ran in a serpentine pattern, trying to dodge my paws and so far that worked. He darted into the kitchen and I followed.

“Jamie! Run! She’s almost got you!” The one in the cage yelled out as he held onto the small bars that confined him. “Serpentine, man!”

“I’m trying!” He panted. “She’s fast!”

My paws slid on the smooth floor and my ass hit the cabinets beneath the sink, causing the dishes inside it to rattle.

“Missed me!” The little brat called over his shoulder and stuck out his tongue.

I reached out with my paw and slapped the trash can to knock it over and it fell over the young gnome like a perfect mouse trap.

“What is all the racket?” Frank stomped into the kitchen with only a towel around his waist. He tilted his head and let out a barking laugh. “I’ll be damned. My sweet kitty caught another one.”

Lifting the can up, he reached out quickly to capture the little guy and the smell of urine hit my nose. Hissing, I backed up to avoid the fluid leaking from the gnome. A splashing sound made me look at Frank’s feet and he let out a frustrated sigh.

“Great. This one pissed on me.” He rolled his eyes and then popped him into the cage with his buddy. “Guess I’ll get back in the shower.”

I watched as he left the room and then went back to the room where my window perch had been. He wasn’t wrong about how beautiful the view would be. And I did like it. I hopped up onto the padded seat, made two circles to fluff it and then curled up to the amazing landscape and sky. The stars looked so close to me I thought I could catch one.

My tail curled around my body and I settled in, imagining pictures with the stars. Behind me, I heard him clean up the kitchen and then refill my cream bowl.

More cream?

I hopped down and went to indulge myself. My tongue lazily lapped up the frothy goodness, and I purred with delight.

“Hey!” one gnome whisper-yelled at me. “Cat. Pst. Cat.”

I glanced up, but continued lapping up my cream.

“Here kitty, kitty, kitty.”

“What are you doing, Arthur?”

“Trying to get the cat to come knock this cage down, Jamie.”

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