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“Don’t look at me like that! You already ate mister!” Michelle yelled to the top of the fridge.
A grey cat flicked its tail and stared at her.
“And treat time isn’t for another hour, so suck it up!” She laughed and plopped herself on the pink sofa.
A jet black cat jumped up and sat next to her and a calico cat walked up to her legs.
She picked her up and stroked her.
“I should get you some stairs, huh? You’re getting old…” She sighed a little sadly.
A black and white cat meowed and clawed at her leg.
“Ow ow! Claws!”
It jumped up and displayed its tummy.
“You gonna trick me?” She chuckled and scratched its belly as it purred.
A thud was heard and she whipped her head around.
“Creamsicle! You okay, buddy?”
An orange kitten meowed and sprinted to the couch and jumped up.
Michelle sighed and sipped her coffee as a movie played.
She felt her phone ring and she groaned.
“M’yes?” She answered tiredly.
“Hey Michelle.” Kevin’s voice greeted.
“Kevin! How’s it going?”
“Good… I need a little favor though.”
“Go on…” She stated.
“Could you watch Avys for the day? I know it’s your day off and all, but please?” He asked.
“Dude! Yes! I’m bored anyways! Bring her over! But why can’t Elijah do it?” She asked.
Kevin let out a breath of relief.
“Thanks so much! And Elijah’s out with his friends. He’d be pissed if I’d ask him to come home.” He explained.
Michelle hummed and she hung up to clean her place up.
“Avys is coming over! Isn’t that nice?” She asked her cats.
Of course, they didn’t respond. They all just looked at her.
“Woof! Tough crowd.”
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Michelle opened to door and was met with Avys jumping into her arms.
“Aunty!”
“Avys!”
“And Kevin.” Kevin laughed.
Michelle set Avys down and pointed inside.
“Why don’t you play with the cats for a little bit while I talk with your daddy?” She suggested.
Avys nodded and ran inside the apartment.
“Thanks again.” Kevin said.
“No problem! I’m bored anyways!” She laughed.
Kevin looked at her outfit.
“Nice slippers.”
Michelle looked at her mix and match kitty slippers.
“I am very dedicated to my role!” She laughed.
“Yeah, Elijah was proud of that gift.” Kevin laughed. “Well, I’ll be off! Thanks again!”
Michelle waved and closed the door.
“Don’t you have work, auntie?” Avys asked as she dangled a cat wand with Creamsicle.
“Not today! I have the day off! So we can do whatever!” Michelle explained.
Avys gasped and smiled.
“Can we go to the aquarium?” She asked happily.
“Ooh! Yes! We could even get ice cream after!”
“Dad says I can’t have ice cream before dinner.”
“Well, your dad ain’t here right now!” Michelle snickered.
She looked to the clock and took note of the time.
“Have you eaten lunch yet, mija?”
“Nope!” Avys responded as she played with the cats.
“I have leftover caldo if you want?”
“What’s that?”
“Soup.”
Avys looked at her confused.
“Why do you have soup in the summer?”
Michelle opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out.
Why did she even have soup?
“I’ve turned into my mother… may she rest.” She mumbled, wide eyed.
Avys laughed and sat at the table.
“I’ll eat the soup, auntie!” She laughed.
Michelle smiled and reheated it for her on the stove.
“Hey. No. Off.” She scolded to Mittens.
He meowed at her and jumped down from the counter.
“Why can’t he be up there?” Avys asked.
“It’s not very sanitary, hon.” She explained as she pour the soup into a bowl and placed it in front of Avys.
Avys said a thank you and began to eat it.
“Aunty, when are you gonna get married?” She asked, which caught Michelle off guard.
“I don’t know yet! I haven’t found someone!” She laughed.
“Why didn’t you marry Mr. Robert? You said you were friends when you were kids!”
“Cause Robert and I are just friends! Besides, he’s married to Roy and Ross now!” She chuckled.
“Daddy says you’re lonely.” Avys stated and swallowed a spoonful of broth.
Michelle cringed a little and looked around her place.
She was pretty lonely. She had her cats, which everyone says 5 is way too many, and she loved them all to death. She had Robert, but of course they couldn’t hang out a lot like they had as kids. The dude had his own kid now!
“He’s right to a certain level. I guess. But no one really wants a cat lady with grey hairs at 33.” She laughed.
Avys laughed as well and slurped her soup.
Michelle heard her phone ring and she grabbed it from the couch.
“Yes?” She answered.
“Michelle! We need you down at the clinic!”
“What? But it’s my day off! I thought Debbie was working?” She asked.
“Surprise! She quit.”
“Ugh! Debbie! Okay, I’ll come in. But y’all owe me for this!” She exclaimed and hung up.
She turned to Avys and gave a sad smile.
“Sorry, hon. No aquarium today.”
“Oh.”
“But! You get to come with me to the clinic! Who knows. Maybe some puppies might come in for a checkup!” She sang.
Avys sprung up excitedly.
“Let me get dress really quick.” Michelle stated.
—————————
“Alright! I’m ready!” She announced as he put her coat on.
She took Avys’s hand and opened the door to walk out, but we’re met by an old man.
“Has she bitten the dust yet?” He asked.
Michelle groaned and rolled her eyes.
“No, Mr. Needlemore. Reese is very much alive.”
“I swear, that cat is gonna outlive me at this point!” He complained.
“Yeah yeah, whatever.” Michelle mumbled and walked away.
“That dumb meowing!” He growled.
“Cats meow! Get over it!” Michelle yelled and closed the elevator door.
“Why doesn’t he like Reese, auntie?” Avys asked.
“He just doesn’t like cats in general. Also, auntie isn’t actually supposed to have 5 cats…” She chuckled sheepishly.
“But why did he say ‘bitten the dust’?”
Michelle sighed and looked to the wall.
“Reese is very old. I got her as a gift from someone very important to me around your brother’s age! Cats usually live around 15 years and it’s been almost 17!” She laughed a little sadly.
Avys took her hand.
“Are you scared she’s gonna pass away?”
“A little. But I know she lived a nice happy cat life!” She stated and walked out of the elevator.
—————————
“Michelle! Sorry for having to call you in.” Her boss stated.
“Can’t say I’m surprised. Especially with Debbie!” Michelle groaned and clocked in. “By the way, you wouldn’t mind if my niece hung out with me today?” She asked and gestured towards Avys.
Her boss looked at her and smiled.
“Sure! I didn’t know you had siblings?”
“I don’t. I was just coworkers with her dad as a teen!” She laughed.
Her boss bent down to eye level with Avys.
“Do you wanna become a vet like your auntie?” She asked with a smile.
“Nope! I wanna study marine animals!”
“Wow! That’s funny considering your aunt is afraid of the ocean.” She chuckled and Michelle rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, whatever.” She replied and walked away.
She set Avys down on the counter and began to wash her hands.
“You’re afraid of the ocean? But why? It’s so fun!” Avys exclaimed.
“Something happened when I was 14 and I haven’t been in the ocean since.” She recalled.
“What happened?”
“Apparently, your old auntie is allergic to the cold. I got a reaction from the water temp and it was horrible! Anyways, I’m not afraid of the ocean! I’m afraid of what’s in it…”
“The fish?”
“Yep! Well, except sharks! They get a free pass cause they’re badass. Don’t repeat that.”
Avys laughed.
“But how could you be allergic to the cold?” She asked suspiciously.
“The human body is dumb, honey.” She laughed.
“So, what do you do all day?” Avys asked and played with a cotton ball.
“Well, I mostly get the usual cats and dogs for their check ins, but I do occasionally have to do more… icky stuff.” She shuttered.
“Do you get fish?” She asked excitedly.
“Hmm, not really. But we do get turtles sometimes!” She stated and grabbed her clipboard.
“And our first patient today is a Labrador Retriever!” She sang.
—————————
A large dog jumped up onto the table and panted happily.
“Woah! Big dog!” Avys stated.
“Yes! A very big boy!” Michelle agreed and patted its head.
“So, what do you do?”
“Well, first I run my hands down to make sure there’s no skin issues and to check for bumps!” She said as she demonstrated.
“Next, we check the teeths!” She pulled up the dog’s muzzle to show the sharp teeth.
“Woah. Sharp.”
“Very!” Michelle nodded. “But, very clean! Your owner does such a good job!” She praised the dog.
Avys watched intently as Michelle went through the rest of the check up. Except, she was shocked when Michelle had to put a thermometer in a… special place.
“It’s… it’s just where it goes…” Michelle explained as she walked the dog back to the waiting area.
—————————
“Do we get to play with puppies yet?” Avys asked.
“Soon. They’re coming in at 3!” She laughed from her swivel chair.
Avys climbed up on her lap and watched as she did some work on the computer.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Just looking through patient files. Making sure everything is correct and when their next appointments are!” Michelle explained.
Avys looked up to meet her eyes.
“Why are you squinting?” She asked confused.
“It’s a little hard for me to read.”
“Why don’t you have glasses then?”
“Ah! They make me feel old!” Michelle laughed as she typed something in.
Avys laughed as well.
“You already are old! Like my daddies!” She stated.
“Psh! Your daddies are older than me! And taller still…” Michelle mumbled. “I’m actually a little worried.”
“About what?”
“That your brother’s gonna get taller than me! I can’t go through that again!” She shuttered. “Y’know Robert? I was taller than him as a teen! But I had to watch as he grew taller every year.”
“What if I grow taller than you someday?” Avys chuckled.
Michelle smiled and picked her up as she stood from her chair.
“Well, that’s too bad, cause I won’t allow it!” She sang and nuzzled Avys’s cheek.
She laughed at the ticklish sensation and tried to push Michelle away.
“Oh? You don’t love your auntie no more? I’m wounded.” She cried dramatically.
Avys laughed even more.
—————————
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her! She keeps having stomach issues!” A man exclaimed.
Michelle looked at the cat who was laying out on the table as Avys stroked its bloated belly.
“Hm. What diet do you give at home?”
“Well, I give her canned cat food soaked in milk every morning and night.” He explained.
Michelle’s eyes widened.
“What kind of milk do you give her? Goat’s? Whole? Skim?”
“Uh… just regular cows milk.”
Michelle let out a tired sigh and rubbed her temple. This was something she had to explain a lot to people.
“Sir, cats cannot have dairy products. Especially cow milk.”
“Really? But in cartoons they always drink milk!”
“Yes, but that is a cartoon! In real life cats are not made to digest the lactose found in dairy products. There are milks they can have, but cow milk is not one of them.” She explained.
“They don’t have enzymes!” Avys added.
“Yep. What she said.”
The guy looked at his cat.
“So, will she be okay?”
“Yes, your cat will be fine! She’ll just have an upset stomach for a bit. Maybe try kefir instead.” She suggested and wrote some stuff down.
The guy mumbled a thank you and left with his cat.
“How on earth do you know what enzymes are?” She asked Avys curiously.
“It was in one of the books you gave me!” She stated.
“You actually read it? I just assumed you wouldn’t since it wasn’t marine based.” She chuckled and wiped the exam table off.
“Oh! Did you know that cats can live off of sea water?”
“Of course I do! It’s cause their kidneys can process salt water much better than any animal!” She laughed and patted Avys’s head.
—————————
Avys stared at the wall clock and shot up when it struck 3.
“Puppy time!” She yelled and shook her fists.
Michelle gasped and shot up from her chair.
“Puppy time!” She celebrated and flapped her wrists.
A knock came at the door.
“Puppy time!” Her coworker exclaimed and celebrated with them.
They all celebrated for a good minute until her boss came in.
“Puppies are here.”
They shouted again and went to go bring the puppies in.
“And what breed do we have here?” She asked the owners.
“Rottweiler puppies.” The couple explained.
Michelle nodded and Avys helped her carry the puppies to the exam room.
“Okay! Cheese them!” She told Avys.
She nodded and sprayed some whipped cheese onto the table.
“Wait, why do they get cheese?” She asked.
“It helps relax them and it creates positive association with the vet!” She explained and ran through the normal check up procedures.
Her phone rang when she was finishing up with the last puppy and she answered it.
“Hey Kevin!” She greeted as Avys played with the puppies.
“Hey! Just checking in to see how it’s going.”
“Great! I did have to bring Avys with me to work cause a coworker quit.” She explained.
“Really? Damn. Has she been behaving?” Kevin asked.
“Yep! She’s just playing with some puppies right now!”
She heard Kevin groan a bit.
“I sure hope she doesn’t start asking for one.” He stated.
“Yeah I guess. Also Mr Needlemore asked me if Reese died yet, again.” She rolled her eyes. “She is old, but he doesn’t have to ask that all the time!”
“Well, he’s known Reese her entire life. You’ve lived in that apartment for almost 18 years.”
“I know. But I don’t want to think about that! She was my first cat and a gift from Rick! But to be honest, it would be funny if he bit the dust before her.” She laughed.
Kevin snorted on the other line and laughed.
“Don’t say stuff like that. Well, I gotta go. I’ll pick Avys up around 4:30.” He said.
Michelle agreed and hung up.
“Alright, mija. Time to put the puppies back.” She stated.
“Aww! But they’re so cute!” Avys whined.
“I know. But we gotta do what we gotta do, kid.” She said and began to put the puppies in the carrier.
Avys sighed and helped put the puppies back.
Michelle smiled and patted her back.
“We can get ice cream? I’ll let you get two scoops!” She offered.
Avys perked up and nodded.
—————————
Avys hummed happily as she licked her cone and held Michelle’s hand as they walked back.
“How come you didn’t get ice cream?” She asked.
“My cold allergy makes my mouth swell, so I don’t really enjoy ice cream anymore.” Michelle explained.
“That’s sad.”
“Very.”
“Oh! Auntie! Did you know that some lizards shoot blood out of their eyes?” She asked with a smile.
“Huh. I actually did not! That’s cool!” Michelle replied and ate her apple slices. “By the way, how’s your little friend? Uh… Matthew!”
“He’s good! He got a cat!” Avys told her.
“Really? What did he name them?”
“Mittens! Like your Mittens!” Avys laughed.
“Well, it is a very popular cat name, hon.” Michelle chuckled.
“Yeah, but his Mittens talks!”
“Really? That’s… cool I guess.”
They eventually made it back to Michelle’s apartment and she fished out her keys to unlock the door.
“Has she-“
“NO!” She snapped at her neighbor.
He stared at her and went back inside.
She growled and opened the door to which her cats greeted Avys and her home.
“Hey cats!” Avys said and began to pet them.
—————————
Michelle drank her lukewarm coffee as she and Avys watched some TV. Kevin would be by soon to come get her.
“Did you have fun today?” She asked.
“Yeah! I wanna go to work with you again!” She exclaimed.
“Maybe soon, but how about next week I can take you and Elijah to the aquarium? For real this time.” Michelle laughed.
Avys nodded and started to talk to her about the ocean, which Michelle listened to happily.
A knock came at the door and Michelle stood up with a groan.
“Jeez, my back pains are even worse than when I was a teen.” She grumbled and opened the door.
“Hey.” Kevin greeted.
“Dad!” Avys yelled and jumped into his arms.
“Hey! Did you have fun today?” He asked his daughter.
Avys nodded and began talking about everything that happened today.
“Then we got ice-“
Michelle quickly covered her mouth and laughed at the glare Kevin gave her.
“You gave her ice cream before dinner?” He asked with a brow raised.
“What? Psh! No! Of course not… okay yes.” Michelle confessed.
“Seriously?”
“Hey! A little sugar never harmed anyone!” She defended.
“Don’t you remember Sweeties Dip?” Kevin asked as he crossed his arms.
Michelle shuttered.
“Yeah, don’t remind me. Well, it was fun to hang out with you today, mija!” She said to Avys.
“Bye auntie!” Avys hugged her and took her dad’s hand.
Kevin walked away with a goodbye and Michelle shut the door.
She turned back to the couch and sat down with a sigh.
“It’s too quiet.” She sadly mumbled and drank the rest of her coffee.