"What's with the weather?"
"No clue," she said. "Hot, cold, then hot again."
"Your species even screwed that up, although having nice weather during winter isn't a bad thing."
"No, it's not."
"What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"How many lives do you have left?"
"That bad?"
She nodded.
"Then forget I asked."
"Thank you."
"You look exhausted."
"Yeah, well, not sleeping all that much."
"You weren't like this when I met you."
She nodded.
"Wanna go for a walk?"
She nodded again and they started moving down the sidewalk. She stopped often, when cats came up to her for pets. She kissed and hugged them, inviting them over for dinner, telling them how beautiful they were. The rubbed against her legs and then went on their way.
"That was fun," she said, as they returned to their regular meeting place.
"Well, you know everyone, since they're always at your house, so it was nice for them to see you on the street."
"Pretty soon it will be spring and Jinx can take the new babies to the park."
"True."
She ran her hand down his back. "We have a man who can't put two words together and a tyrant who wants to be king forever, running for president. I'd say all is lost."
"You're right. Although the tyrant is a walking nightmare and will destroy everything you care about."
"You'd make a good president," she said.
"Why do you think they don't let cat's run for office? They know we'd make them look bad."
"I never thought about it that way. I think you're right."
"I'm always right. When will you ever learn that. And I've been thinking. You know how they're going to build that thing to put all of Obama's stuff in?"
"Yes."
"I think you should build something like that for what cats have done and continue to do."
"You don't have any papers or..."
"We have other things."
"Like?"
"Stories, dead mice, food preferences, street smarts and..."
"I get it," she said. "Sadly , I do not have the funds to erect a building in your honor."
"It would be for all cats."
"I can't afford it and I doubt that donations would come pouring in so that the bills would be paid."
"You could have a bake sale."
"And make three dollars?"
"Are you saying that you can't bake?"
"I'm saying you don't make the kind of money we would need...from a bake sale."
"Maybe you could do one of those cat calendars. Take pictures of Nimmi and Joey, you know how cute they are. You could sell them next year."
"Still not enough for a box of nails."
"Are you saying it's impossible?"
"I am."
"Why are you being so negative?"
"I know my limits and I know I can't afford to build a cat library."
"What if we turned your first floor apartment into a cat friendly foundation."
"Hmmm."
"Does that mean yes?"
"No. It does not mean yes, it means that you guys live there half the time and I don't want strangers in my house everyday."
"This is a perfect example why things never get done."
"No one can afford anything nowadays. Food costs have skyrocketed, along with everything else, but no one is making more money and we are being taxed to death as well."
"Why do you put up with that?"
"Aways a good question," she sighed.
"Move all of us to a better place."
"You mean you want us all to die?" she asked, shocked.
"What? No! Are you insane?"
"Not sure."
"These treats are delicious. Are they new?"
"Yes."
"Buy more of them."
"Okay."
"Maybe you could put them out for the others tonight."
"Already did that, in case anyone stops by today."
"Good. Did you find out where you could buy a dozen voles?"
"Stop it."
"Never hurts to ask."
"Tell that to the voles."
"If I see one, we don't usually have time for a chat."
"That's mean."
"I'm a cat."
"Is Jinx single again?"
"What do you think. He's a love 'em and leave 'em kind of cat. But there are never any hard feelings. He's too polite and sweet, to hurt anyone."
"That's nice of you to say."
"It's just the truth."
"A new cat was in the yard the other day. He's been around a few times."
"I heard about him. We're looking into it."
"Well, I'm going to do some shopping for tonight. Come over any time and tell the others. I just got new beds, blankets and nip."
"The good stuff?"
"Of course."
"Nice," he said. "See you later then."
She watched him curl into a ball and close his eyes. She bent over and kissed him a few times, listening to him purr. She rubbed her face against him, then rose and tip toed away, whispering, "I love you."
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