“I am soooo bored.” Topher stares blankly at the weasel across from him. “Mm. Green not yellow, Tri.”
Tri is standing in front of him in a sickly yellow blouse and a lavender suit. “You think so? It does look kind of old lady, doesn’t it?”
He nods, “Oh, and a little brighter of a suit. That colour lavender doesn’t really suit you.”
She sighs, “I know. I’ll put a little more red too, and then it will look better with the green blouse.”
Topher tilts his head to the left, “Hey, how are you going to get past the fact that you look like a thirteen year-old?”
“I’ll show you in a second.” She goes back into the changing room. “Hey Topher, there’s food in the kitchen if you’re really hungry.”
He smiles slightly and gets up off his chair. “Thanks.” The cat walks along the red carpet towards the purple and green kitchen. He finds a box of his favourite cereal on the counter, as well as a bowl and spoon. He opens the fridge and finds a small bottle of milk. It doesn’t have any markings other than an expiry date. “October 9th, 1948?” Topher shakes the bottle gently, “Tri, have you been shopping in the past again?”
The weasel peeks her head into the dining room. “I can’t help it! Everything’s so much cheaper.”
He rolls his eyes. “How long ago did you get this?”
“Just four days ago. Don’t worry, I milked the cow myself.” Tri chuckles.
Topher chuckles too. “You’re amazing.”
She rolls her eyes, “Like I need you to tell me that. Listen, what do you think?”
Tri walks fully into the room. She’s wearing a red-violet dress shirt with a lime green suit, but that’s not what surprises Topher. She also looks around thirty years-old. “What in the name of pineapples?!”
“Pineapples?” Tri raises an eyebrow, “Topher, we need to work on your cussing ability.”
He shakes his head, “You can transform? You never told me that!”
She shrugs, “I read it this morning in my mother’s journal. I’m almost done translating the most recent one.”
Topher sighs. “I’m never asking you for a favour again. You like to give me heart-attacks.” He shudders, “Like an image of the future.”
She sighs, “Topher, relax. You aren’t going to look that bad. At least not here. I’d stop going back to Thalia after you turn fifty.”
He groans, “Great. Thanks.” Glancing over her again, the cat nods. “You look outrageous enough to be famous. What are you going to do?”
“Charm. I’m turning it up to 700.” She morphs further, turning her fur darker brown, and changing her face shape a bit. She grins, “Even going to smile. But just for you, Topher. I don’t normally go this crazy. For anybody.”
---------------------------------------------------------
Midnight glances at the door as the thief comes in the door. “Oh. I’ll be with you in a second.”
Topher winces. She knows more than he would like her to, but Tri said that she wasn’t erasing any more memories. Luke must have been yelling at her about that again. “Thanks, Midnight.”
Alan glances into the dining room. He notices that the young visitor is on his own today. “Hey Weed, you know how I said that it was crazy that the weasel girl just appeared?”
The siamese glances up, “Something like that. Why?”
“She was on the roof last night. She slept inside a backpack.” Alan sighs, “I think I might be crazy.”
Weed chuckles. “Are you almost done that movie series? I’ve got another one for you.”
Alan shakes his head. “Weed, there are eight movies. I’ve watched two. And so far they aren’t that good.”
His friend starts chopping up a bowl of carrots. “Trust me, man. They get better.”
“If you say so.” Alan glances up as Midnight walks in. “How’s the front looking?”
Midnight winces, “You might want to take a look at this.”
The cooks follow her out of the kitchen. “What on-”
The dining room is trashed. The tables are askew, and some are even upside down. “Dudes, we have to clean this up before Chef gets here.”
“What is this that you need to clean up before I arrive?” Chef walks up behind them. “Oh.” The cat stares at the messy dining room. “Were you having a party of night last?”
Alan shakes his head. Weed shrugs and does the same. Midnight rolls her eyes. “We were robbed. And I think I know who- Oh, here he is now.”
Topher knocks on the glass door, panic in his eyes. Midnight narrows her eyes. The boy sighs and pushes open the broken door. “Is it gone?”
“Is what gone?” Midnight glares at him.
He flinches. “Listen, I have to find that robot. If I don’t…” Topher looks down sadly. “Like, Tri is going to kill me.”
The waitress pauses and straightens. “Wait, robot?”
He groans. “Her brother built it when he was three. That robot is the only thing she has of his.”
Midnight glances around at the mess. “Could it have done this?”
He follows her glance, noticing the huge mess for the first time. “Xoltla.” He runs through the mess to a slashed X on one of the seats. “Tri is going to kill me!”
“Why did you leave it here?” Midnight follows him. The other cats are staring at them in shock.
Alan asks what they’re all thinking, “Why did you think that he did this, Midnight?”
Topher freezes and turns to stare at the cat behind him. “It’s still a possibility.” Midnight is glaring at him.
The young cat’s face pales. With his eyes, he begs her not to tell them. With his mouth he says, “I. Did. Not. Rob. You.” He makes a fist. “Listen, what I’ve done in the past is in the past, lady. My father could be in prison now for all I’ve heard of him.”
Midnight meets his eyes. “In the past two days? That was pretty fast.”
He stiffens. Reaching a hand into his pocket, he presses a button on a remote. “Shut up.” He turns to the rest of the cats. “I’m so sorry about this mess. If I hadn’t been playing with that robot… Let me help you clean up.” The waitress is still glaring at him, but now her mouth is closed. She starts making frantic motions with her hands. Topher chuckles quietly as he flips a table back onto its feet. “Speak up, Midnight. I can’t hear you.”
“Christopher Penita! What is the meaning of this?” Tri stands in the doorway, her eyes and fur bright red. “He’s gone, isn’t he? And… why did you shut up Midnight?”
Topher winces, “Tri… It’s hard to-”
“Topher, I’ve been listening in off and on. Didn’t I tell you not to touch Dig’s robot? I trusted you.” She clenches her teeth. “I’ll talk to Midnight. You’d better find Pezt and get me back that robot.”
He nods and runs out of the restaurant. Alan steps in between Tri and Midnight. “Why do you need to talk to Midnight? About what?”
Tri sighs, and the colour in her eyes fades to normal. “Her mother.”
The waitress gasps, or as well as she can with her mouth shut. She shakes her head madly. Alan shrugs. “Well, be nice to her. She’s part of our business here,”
Midnight makes muffled screaming noises. Tri rolls her eyes. “Come on, Midnight. Listen, I just want to ask you some questions.” The cat winces, but follows Tri out. As soon as they leave earshot, the weasel turns around. “Hold still. If you move, this will hurt.” She grabs Midnight’s mouth.
“What the-!” The cat pulls away in shock. “Oh. Thanks.”
Tri rolls her eyes. “You have a way of saying ‘thanks’ that makes it sound like ‘jump in a lake.’”
Midnight crosses her arms. “What did you do to my mom?”
After staring at her for a couple seconds, Tri asks, “Why in the universe would you think I did something to your mother? I don’t hurt people unless they deserve it, genius.”
“Oh. Then why-?” The waitress breaks off as Tri hands her a photo.
The weasel sighs, “I didn’t hurt your mother, Midnight. Remember Topher’s father?” The cat nods, staring at the photo in shock. “Well, somehow he found out that you know where the stolen exhibit went.”
Midnight drops the photo and runs in the direction of her house. Tri follows close behind. The photo hits the ground, turning face up. It's of Midnight's mother tied up to an Egyptian statue of a young girl.
Please Comment!
