Monster stories

Cat—

“A cat?”style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Don said in surprise.

“Yeah,” Will said.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “That way there will always be someone home
with the other one when one of us is working long hours.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  A dog would need too much attention and I’ve
never been into birds or fish.”

“I’ve never had a cat,” Don mused.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “We had a dog when I was a kid – a golden
retriever mix named Archie.  Actually,
his name was Archimedes.  Charlie is the
only 5-year-old that would name a dog that. 
He was a good dog.  Liked to chase
baseballs but he always chewed on them so I went to tennis balls.”

“I like dogs too,” Will agreed. “But it wouldn’t be fair to
a dog with our crazy schedules.”

“True,” Don frowned thoughtfully.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “But a cat … Would a cat even care if we’re
home?”

“Depends on the cat,” Will said.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “I’ve had four different cats and one was
super clingy, one was friendly, one was indifferent, and one wouldn’t let me
get near him unless I was holding food.”

“So it’s a crap shoot?”

“Not at all,” Will laughed.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “Well, mine I got through neighbors leaving
or a friend’s new girlfriend being allergic, but you can go to the pound and
actually meet them before you adopt one.” 

“Adopt,” Don said.  class=GramE>“Sounds serious.”

Will held up his hands. 
“Just think about it, okay?  No
rush.”

The next time Will was gone for a few days, Don wandered
around the empty house.  He had lived
alone for a long time but now that he lived with someone, the silence seemed
much more empty. 
He thought about going over to Charlie’s, but he and Colby deserved
whatever private time they could find.  Reluctantly,
he went down to the local animal shelter, just to look.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  

And there he met Monster.