Cat got your tongue?

Cat Got Your Tongue?

From the top of the tree is a tangle of branches and different states of yellow leaves catching the sunlight like a yellow canvas splattered with brown and red paint

Dog barks one last time, but unfortunately it falls on deaf ears much like the leaves cascade from the gentle fall breeze. Life has always been great for Dog, nothing short of a reality provided by his loving family. He thinks back in his memories with them all the way to his being a puppy. They were always there to support him in his endeavors and to save him when his endeavors go awry. There was that fence his head got stuck in. Oh, what about that skunk, or when Dog got stuck in the clothes hamper, or when that lamp chased and attacked Dog mercilessly. Good times. Good times.

Dog is not worried, as the humans will inevitably save him again.

Well until Dog thought he could finally catch that squirrel he has been eyeballing for months. All it took was one fateful bathroom break.

"This time today, I'll just climb after him. He thinks he is so safe, I'll show him." The Dog exclaims, peering into the tall oak tree rustling in the wind like a yellowing guardian over the house.

Dog is confident he will get out of this one. The first bark was a formality. The second was just in case. Dog knows his happy two legged human will just stride over with a ladder and two shoes and a "Who's a silly boy?” and all will be well. The Dog lays his head on his hairy paws.

“ You waiting for divine intervention or just the slow help?” The cat says as it circles itself and tucks its tail as it sits like a shadow in the sunlight. The black cat looks past the leaves into the distance. Dog raises his head and wags his tail vigorously to the sky.

“They aren't slow, they are just getting their shoes!” The Dog exclaims excitedly, “They are smart, they will find where I left it. Under the couch is my favorite hiding spot for my chewing collection! That's where my ball is too.”

“Well, you must be the cat that got the cream.” the cat says smugly

“Umm ok, well I'll just wait for my humans, they can get both of us down!” Dog says excited

The cat raises up like a proud lioness and faces Dog. The cat outreaches its black paws out toward Dog, dipping low for a more than mighty stretch. The cat digs its claws in the bark, retracting its long feline body back to its habitual stance. Dog’s tail wags a little slower and his nose points toward where the cat has just dug its claws.The cat looks off toward the sun, the fall sun sprays beams of light making her fur almost a shiny brownish red.

“why would they need to?” The Cat smirks, who knowingly smirks because that question mark should be a period.

The gentle breeze coaxes some nearby leaves from their wooden handlers as some time passes; both animals sitting in each other's presence. Dog continues to stare at the spot, then his head darts up toward the cat.

“What, the cat got your tongue?” The cat teases

“No, why did you leave no marks on the barks, Miss Cat ?” Dog questions as he cocks his head and lowers a brow.

“Wouldn't you like to know?” The cat says as she takes stock of her beautiful claws.

“Ok, Well my humans have always saved me, so they will save me again. Yes they are very good humans, yes!” Dog says excited, tail wagging causing the leaves to rustle.“

One thought, how are you so sure you don't need help?” The Dog questions.

“Never seen a cat skeleton in a tree, that's why.” The cat responds reluctantly.

“I have never seen a skeleton dog in a tree, have you?” The Dog says

“Yes, thousands. Well, No none actually but how do you know? How do you know the humans will save you?” The cat questions,

“Because…Because, they will never leave me. They will always wonder where I am and… and they always try to take my ball, but … but they sometimes throw it. I am not sure about that part.” The Dog says lowering his hands back into hands.

“Do you want me to let the cat out of the bag?” The cat says smirking.

The cat circles, Dog, climbing to and from branches like a panther toying with its prey. No branches moved and the leaves she touched didn't seem to be affected.

“I trust my humans. I am theirs and they are mine.” The Dog says ignoring her pacing.

“Ok, what about the time they left you for a week. You just sat there sad. the human got another human to be around you at times. You didn't like her did you?” The cat prods

“I did. She wasn't my human but she was ok. She gave the same food as my humans! she's good in my book!” Dog exclaims, “And she didn't take my ball!”

“What about that time they said they would be right back, After running out of the house. They didn't show up all night and eventually when they did, they brought another little human whom stole their attention from you.” The cat gloats.

Dog sits up stiff, tail sticking straight up in air rustling leaves as he adjusts.

“They took time from you too.” Dog barks defensively.

“I don't need the time of the humans, I merely accept it.” The cat responded

“So you hate the humans as much as I hate squirrels?” Dog questions head cocked

“This isn't about the humans, this is about self. I don't need the humans. They are nice to have around for sure. But what I need I can get.” The wise cat explains.

Dog raises up into a defensive stance and snarls, the cat pauses and lays down on an upper branch, a branch unmoving from her weight. Her tail slapping around at leaves and the branch she lays.

“No, but the humans need us. I need to defend them and take care of them and make sure to always guard them. They are my humans.” The Dog defends,

“My humans, or is it their Dog.” The cat responds uninterested.

“They trust me and I trust them.” Dog snarls at the cat.

The cat unamused responds, “ it's not about love or trust it's about self sufficiency. The humans love you I'm sure you know. Those humans and their emotions flying all around never know what they are going to do.”

“They love you very dearly as do I. That's why we should sit and wait for help.” Dog says

“I tolerate them, simply.” the cat says standing for another lioness stretch, “well, all you can do is wait. Or you could get down the same way you got up.”

“What about your witches? they love you.” Dog questions

“ And it's exactly that, love. They don't need me and I don't need them. I keep them around and they give me snuggles. It's simple.”

“But you still haven't explained what this has to do with me. They will come save us.” Dog says confident as he lays down, head still raised in the air, his blond fur jostling in the wind.

“ That's just it. This is like herding cats and I'm no shepherd.” The cat says standing up looking toward the house, “some lessons are learned the hard way.”

The cat prances to the edge of the gnarled oak they stand on and looks back towards Dog and blinks slowly twice and clambers down the towering tree to the relative safety of the great green grass below.

Dog rushes to the edge peers over, The cat is nowhere to be seen. Just then a commotion starts to stir towards the house. A screen door swings wide open then slams shut. A child with his blond hair and red sweater sprints into the yard screaming. Dog stands alert trying to get a better view through the leaves.

The door swings open and slams shut again, and the screaming continues. Dog starts pacing where he can, making attempts to scurry as close to the edge as the fear and anger wells up in his furry abdomen. They will not hurt his human.

Dog faces the tree and tries to back step of the tree then gets scared and scurries back toward the middle like a mouse to its hole. The screaming continues but it seems to get farther away. Dog now panicked howls and barks as an attempt to help one that falls on deaf ears as the screaming continues.

The Dog stands straight tall in the air. With pure determination, Dog steps to the edge of the tree looking down at the tangle of oranges and browns. Not but a few feet down a branch about the same size. Dog takes a leap of faith and lands on it with a thud, jostling the autumn leaves from the branch to their final resting place.

Dog clambers up to better footing on the branch, now filled with vigor, he masterminds his next move. Leaping from the tree to an even lower branch. The screaming slams into Dogs ears. He lowers himself down the tree. From branch to branch with the speed of a loyal heart. With one last leap, Dog lands on grass and sprints toward the house.

A taller man in a light brown jacket and jeans with a purple ball cap, plants his foot into a red kick ball sending it careening down the hill toward the tree. The red kick ball glistens in the fall sunlight as it arcs toward the dog. The source of the screaming becomes evident, The little blond boy chasing his ball like a big red target, down the hill and screaming with joy.

Dog sprints to the little boy whom he thought he was going to save to be met with eager hugs and pets; otherwisely making the ball non important.

“Oh, Charlie!” the little boy exclaims.

“Charlie, were you up in that tree? Come here you silly boy!” The man in the purple hat questions cheerfully, picking Charlie up in his grasp.

Charlie is barraged with a human quality of love and pets, peering up the trunk of the tree to where he was sitting. There sunbathing in the afternoon fall sun, The cat looking at him pleased. She racks her paw over one of her ears, Charlie blinks a slow blink at her but when he opens his eyes.

she is gone.