Monster stories

Monster and the Koi--

Monster circled around the Koi pond, examining all the
angles of approach.  Don and Charlie
watched closely.

“It’s better to introduce him to the pond while I’m here,
instead of letting him find it on his own, because you know he will,” Don said,
readying himself to grab Monster if he jumped in.

“I can see what kind of parent you are,” Charlie said with a
sly grin.

“He’s a cat, not a kid,” Don protested.

“He’s your and Will’s bay-bee,”
Charlie said in a singsong voice that all little brothers seemed born with.

“He’s nothing like a baby,” Don said in irritation.

Monster took advantage of Don’s distraction and slid into the
pond.  Monster’s paws slashed through the
water and the Koi scattered.

“Monster!” Don shouted.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  He stepped into the pond, slid, and landed
hard on his ass.   “Ugh,” he groaned as
his whole body was jarred.

He turned to find Monster. 
The cat was paddling around the pond, sticking his nose into the water
every few strokes.  His tail was thrashing
around like a long-furred whip, the end still dry.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Don looked for the Koi but they seemed to
have disappeared.  At least Monster
didn’t have any in his jaws just yet. 

Behind him, Charlie was laughing.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Don glared at him.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “Give me a hand?”style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

Charlie stepped back. 
“You’ll pull me in.”

“There are enough of us in here already,” Don snapped.

Charlie held out his hand, looking ready to let go at the
slightest hint of trouble.  Don grabbed
it and yanked himself out of the pond, causing Charlie to stagger.

Soggy and annoyed, Don looked back at the pond.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Monster was still paddling around, but from
this angle Don could see that that Koi were all hidden safely under the
overhanging rocks.  Unless Monster was
willing to dive pretty deep – and it didn’t look like he was – he wouldn’t be
able to get to them. 

Monster quickly reached the same conclusion and turned to
Don, meowing a demand.

“No,” Don grumbled. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “I’m not going to get the fish to come up for
you.”

Monster’s tail lashed angrily, spraying water around.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Don watched him silently until he seemed to
tire of swimming.  He climbed out of the
pond and trotted up to Don, the water streaming off his thick fur.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  He sat and glared up at Don.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

“Mrow!”style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Monster said reproachfully.

“The fish were here before you were,” Don replied.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “I’m not going to change their pond to please
you.  Chase a bird or something.”

Monster lifted his nose and stalked away.

“Interesting parenting technique,” Charlie said snidely.

“Oh, shut up,” Don said with a sigh.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Usually Monster was a good buddy, but
sometimes it felt like Monster was a child – a furry, energetic, obstinate
child.  “Just wait until you have kids.”

“I don’t think that I will,” Charlie said quietly.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

Don grimaced, remembering the slim likelihood of either of
them giving dad grandkids now.  He
shrugged and patted Charlie’s shoulder. 
“You could always get a dog,” Don said. 
“Monster would love that.”