Picnic for two

I throw the blanket onto the ground, spread it out under the shade and make my sandwich.

There's a very lovely picnic spot right near my house, there's an old weeping birch that overlooks the neighborhood.

The light makes the leaves glow, and casts its rays through the branches. The leaves rustle softly when the wind blows. A few years ago I planted marigolds and its roots to keep away ants. Unaccompanied by ants or other pesky bugs, I can have the perfect picnic.

After swallowing the last bite I leaned back and closed my eyes, just absorbing the sunlight and calm.

I lost track of time but not long after I ate my sandwich I heard purring next to me.

Thinking of it to be some stray, I open my eyes and look down. Low and behold, the speckled tabby that belongs to Lorelei, the woman across the street.

Blinking, I look at its collar, there's the key. Just my luck, the one cat in the village that everyone is chasing came to me. "You're quite the smart cat, huh? Outsmarting all those idiots, at least we have something in common. You're a pretty cat. Don't let them get you." I tell it, closing my eyes.

Not long after I close my eyes, I feel a paw brush my hand. Laughing to myself, I open my eyes and find the cat trying to sit next to me.

I move my arm and it curls up to my side, I smile and rest my head on the tree again.

"You're very soft. She must care greatly for you, it seems kind of cruel she would make the entire village want to chase and trap you." I mumble, offering the cat a piece of bread.

Do cats eat bread?

Soft chewing tells me the cat does eat bread. The cat seems to know I've never taken interest in the key, doesn't mean I'm not interested, but the cat must trust me on some level.

I hadn't realised I'd dozed off until I had woken up and the sun was setting. I stand, stretch and start cleaning up after myself. Picking up the blanket I remember the strange encounter with the cat. I looked around for the tabby but it seemed to have gone back to Lorelei.

After bringing all my stuff home, I bring some jam over to Lorelei's house.

I knock on her door, and wait. "Hello? Who's there?" Her voice comes muffled through the door.

"Hi Lorelei! I'm your neighbor from across the street and I got thinking and I realized you probably can't go to a lot of places because of all the men in the village so I brought you some food. I would also like to tell you that I fed your cat some bread." I say through the door.

"Yes I know my cat ate bread, thanks and I'll unlock the door, give me just one moment." She says, and I hear her go further into her home.

A couple of seconds later I hear her come back and unlock the door. She opens the door and steps aside, her home is very.. homely. Flowers in vases and clean walls. I gave her the basket I had previously prepared with jam, bread, water, seasonings and some kitchen supplies that I hadn't ever used.

"Your house is beautiful." I say.

"Thank you, it's a little small but I manage, Asher and I don't need much. So it's perfect." She explains.

"Oh, that works out nice." I say.

"So, you're the only one in the village that doesn't try to get the key, why?" She asks.

"I've thought about it, but why get the key? No offense, I would just rather meet a girl who isn't marrying me just because I opened her front door." I said, just a little too quickly.

"That makes sense, is that why you're here? You want to befriend me before you go for the cat and try to take the key?" She raised a brow as she spoke.

"No, not all. I'm sorry it came out like that, I didn't mean it like that, I'm just bringing you food, it would be a shame if all the men were to realize you had died. They would all blame each other, it would end up in town-wide chaos." I theorize.

She laughs, "I'm sure it would be quite the fight to remember."

"Not one I'd like to see. It would be the fight that destroys this village." I continue.

"That's true, I wouldn't be here to see it though." She laughs again, this time as more of an ice-breaker.

I take the hint and excuse myself, going home and into my bed.

Laying awake I realize I am very interested in the cat's key.