Chapter 31: Cornered

He swallows hard, nose twitching, puffy tail appearing over his shoulder as his whole form fluffs out with dark red fur. How had I never noticed before just how rodent-like he seems? But no, not a squirrel. That's an insult to squirrels everywhere. His body shifts again, fur shrinking, darkening, a thin, whip tail appearing, nose pale and covered in whiskers as black rat eyes glare at me with hate.

His mother doesn't notice, made even more apparent when the phone rings. She makes an apologetic face to me, fetching the handset and hurrying from the room while shoving her son bodily into the kitchen as though unsure if he's going to make the move or not.

It's hilarious and painful all at the same time.

Tom's shoulders pinch together, brown eyes staring at the laptop in front of me. "I could have you arrested." Desperation sounds good on him.