Family Plans

Mom and Sammy left not long after our chat. 

Apparently, I was just one check mark out of a couple dozen other things on their to-do list. 

My birthday made it the perfect time and chance to go on a week-long vacation away from the quaint, silent countryside… and city life was just ripe with endless opportunities to fill in that long, empty week to the brim.

While they were on their way out, traversing past the doorway, giving the standard hugs and kisses goodbye, Mr. Black poked his nose out of his hiding spot, curious of the commotion as all felines do, and took one whiff, one look at Mom and suddenly I was seeing squiggly lines of light as some feral demon began ripping and tearing its way out of my eardrums. 

I felt the bristles of porcupine dash between both my legs, and I swerved behind me just in time to catch a spiky blur of black fur clambering up the stairs and out of sight.