The Food Dilemma


           The spotted black and white cat jumped onto the couch, rolled onto her back, stretched her legs out, and dug her claws into the plush black cushion. One of her humans ran around the house like a panicked mosquito while the other leaned her shoulder against the wall opposite the couch.
            "Where's my keys?" the man said.
            "On the counter," the woman replied. She wrapped her fingers around the strap of the duffle bag, which sat at her feet and contemplated lifting it, but decided it would panic her husband too much if she did.
            From the depth of her stomach, Nina felt a grumble. She bolted up, and eyed the woman, but she didn't glance Nina's way as she normally would. Nina mewed, but the woman still didn't look at her. Come on, woman. I can't go all day without food.
            The man frantically searched the counter, pushing piles of paper out of the way until he saw the metallic keys, dulled by continuous use.
            Nina jumped down, and continued to mew at the woman. She finally peered at Nina, but quickly looked away. Nina rubbed at her legs, and the woman shoved her away with one leg.
            The man let a sigh escape through his teeth, closed his eyes for a brief moment, then looked up at his wife. "Are you ready?"
            The woman stared into her husband's eyes for several seconds. "Let's bring this little booger home." The woman waddled her way out of the house as her husband followed behind with his fingers hooked into the straps of the duffle bag.
            As they exited the house, Nina hopped onto the counter and glanced out the window to watch as they loaded into their brand new, hatchback. She glanced over at her food bowl to see that it was full of food.



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