"Hurry or you'll miss your flight," a soft voice muttered followed by an mhmmm sound that was slightly irritating.
"Alright. Look after my apartment and especially, Taz," Toby said and came close to where I slept. He stroked my back for a few seconds and left. I stretched and rolled onto my other side.
My home was like heaven, better than all of the places I'd lived before and Toby made it more pleasant with his kindness and his love of coffee —oof I had fallen asleep again. I yawned and stretched, sniffing for that aroma of freshly brewed Arabica coffee…and nothing!
I jumped up at once. Was I back at Twiddle Thumbles' house? The home of that silly girl who scared easily and liked to twist her thumbs whenever she lied. When she broke or spoiled things in the house, it became my fault. I never liked her so I ran away and Toby found me.
Phew, what a relief. I was still in Toby's house but something was off. He always made coffee every sunrise and its aroma woke me.
"Hey Taz! You are awake," a shrill female voice whispered behind me.
Now, I remembered. It was the same voice that made the mhmmm annoying sound. I turned to look at her.
She was petite, her skin pale and her hair, slick straight and jet-black, framed her oval face. Her almond eyes reminded me of the Chinese. I did not like her body scent so I pulled back but not fast enough because she grabbed me, set me on her knees and started to stroke me. My furs stood straight in protest.
"Toby's gone to Iowa for a week. That leaves you and me. We must be friends because I like Toby and hope he will fall in love with me," she crooned absentmindedly.
Ugh, I hope he doesn't! Wait, I shook my head. Toby up and left without me. Then I recalled him telling someone to take care of me.
No, no! This was not good. I wriggled out of China girl's hands, shook myself to get her scent off my fur and zoomed out of the house through the flap in the back door.
"Wait, Taz!"
There were heaps of crusty snow on the ground as I snooped around the flower beds, waiting for Toby's return. Afternoon came and I became hungry. I strolled around the neighbourhood but got chased by two terrifying pitbulls only to escape by a fur's breadth.
By evening, my stomach growled for food. I walked down the street and saw Kinky, an old fur friend, who lived a few houses from me. She invited me into her home to share her tuna and rice.
Her home was decorated with shiny things and tiny lights everywhere. It must be Christmas again. I remembered Toby and I spent the holiday together the previous year at his parents' place.
I gave a soft meow in nostalgia. "You miss your friend?" Kinky lifted her head from her plate and gazed at me with apple-green eyes.
I licked my lips and scratched at my neck for a moment. "I think so," I replied but avoided her eyes.
Kinky purred and stretched her elbows. "You don't want to admit he's your friend," she drawled and slowly brushed against me. "You are spoiled."
I hissed. "Speak for yourself. You have your friends here. Two! They have not left you."
Kinky hissed back. "They leave sometimes too and it's okay because they always come back."
"What if my friend doesn't come back?"
"Ah-ha! You admit he's your friend."
"Fineee." I would roll my eyes if I could. "Toby is my friend. What if..."
"He loves you, Taz." Kinky cut in. "Of course, he'll be back."
I stayed with Kinky for a few days and got a taste of her heaven. Her friends, newlyweds, were caring and spoiled us with food and comfort. I curled by the fire on a cosy rug to warm myself every evening while Kinky would alternate between their laps as they stroked her.
The woman tried to pet me one time but I shied away. I wouldn't want to intrude on Kinky's territory. The couple loved her a lot but were too mushy with each other which made Kinky and I uncomfortable.
One evening, their mushy acts were getting intense so Kinky and I left the house and wandered into the woods for two days.
On our return the third day at sunrise, I sniffed the air because the aroma of freshly brewed Arabica coffee permeated the neighbourhood. No one else brewed coffee like my friend, Toby.
"Kinky, I think my friend is back!" I bumped against her in excitement. "I have to go home now."
"Don't be a stranger," she drawled tiredly and pushed through the flap into her home. My steps were bouncy as I hurried home. I crawled through the flap in the back door and walked into the kitchen.
The first thing I noticed was the shiny decorations around the house, just like Kinky's place. Oh, yes, it was Christmas. But who cares? Toby was back!
There he stood by his automatic espresso machine, filling his cup with hot coffee. I vaulted toward him, bumped and brushed against his leg with a soft meow.
I missed Toby, my friend.
"Taz, my boy!" He shouted, picked and threw me a little into the air. Okay, I didn't like that but I let it go. I landed on his chest and clawed at his jacket. He held me tight and stroked my back continuously. He smelled of freshly brewed coffee and I purred in response.
We had breakfast together like we usually do after which I curled into a perfect circle on his desk as he worked on his computer.
I wondered where China girl was. I hope she doesn't come back. This was my heaven.