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All three of the Queen children, six-year-old Mia, eleven-year-old Tom, and seventeen-year-old Liv, were playing in the backyard of the Queen family mansion. Liv was doing target practice, while Mia and Tom were practicing their forms in karate for an upcoming tournament.
“Wait!” Tom called out stopping his little sister cold. “Did you hear that?” All three children held perfectly still. A barely audible meow came from the hedges. Mia started to run for where the noise was coming from, but Liv quickly grabbed her sister’s arm and stopped her.
“Wait Mia! If you run, it will probably run away because you scared it.” Liv explained letting go of her sister’s arm.
Tom slowly moved toward the hedge, and then softly called out, “Come here, kitty. We won’t hurt you.” A little black and white kitten peeked out from underneath the bushes and when Tom made some kissing noises it came right out and over to Tom meowing the whole time. He quickly scooped the kitten up and darted for the house with Mia and Liv hot on his heels.
“Tommm! I wanna to hold it!” Mia cried trying to catch up to her older brother.
“Mom!” Tom called as soon as he stepped foot into the house. “Mom! Mom!”
“What? What?” A frantic looking Felicity burst into the room followed closely by Oliver.
“What happened? Is somebody hurt?” Oliver asked looking over his children for any sign of injury.
“Awwwwww,” Felicity said spying the kitten in her sons arms. “They found a kitten.”
“Uh-huh,” Mia said nodding. “We were out there and I heard a meowing.”
“No, I did.” Tom said fiercely, clutching the kitten close to his chest.
“Anyways, Tom called it and it came straight to him.” Liv finished, impatient with her younger siblings squabbling.
“Can we keep him?” Tom looked up at Oliver and Felicity pleadingly. The little kitten had settled into his arms and was purring contently, happy to be held. “Please?”
Oliver and Felicity looked at each other unsure as what to say, when Moira and Walter walked in to see what all the yelling had been about. Upon seeing the kitten in Tom’s arm Moira sighed. “Your Aunt Thea was always bringing home strays. At least this one looks to be friendly.”
Sensing an opening and a possible ally Tom turned his pleading eyes to his grandmother, “Can we keep him Gran? Please?”
“Please? Gran, please!” Mia added, not wanting to be left out.
Moira hummed and crouched in front of Tom, petting the tiny kitten’s head. “You know that cats are a lot of work. They have to be fed every day, you have to clean their litter pans, and most importantly keep them out of trouble! And cats do like to get into trouble.”
“I promise to help! Mia can clean out the litter pan and I’ll make sure he’s fed everyday.” Tom nodded with hope in his young eyes.
“Uh-huh, wait! That’s not fair!” Mia cried and she would have shoved Tom if Liv hadn’t pulled her back.
The four adults looked at each other and Oliver stepped forward, “Let’s get this little fellow examined by the vet and see what she says. Then if he’s old enough and in good health if it’s alright with your Mom, Gran, and Gramps then we can get the supplies needed and bring it home.”
Moira and Walter both nodded their consent and Felicity stepped over to her son and petted the little kitten’s head before turning to both of her youngest children. “Of course, but you two will be responsible for it and SHARE the work of taking care of it, both the fun stuff and the not so fun stuff.” The children nodded their consent.
Tom and Mia both went with Oliver to the vet’s office. Oliver had called ahead and the vet had agreed to stay open a little bit longer so that they could be seen. The kitten had worms and some fleas but besides that he was given a clean bill of health, and according to the vet, he was just old enough to be away from his mother. So, to the local pet supply place they went.
Back at home Oliver unloaded everything that the vet had recommended that they purchase like a cat bed, litter box, litter, food bowls, cat toys, a collar. Tom had insisted they get the red one with lightning bolts on it, and as well various other things him and Mia thought that the new kitten needed. As Felicity and Oliver set up the kitten’s area she asked. “Have they picked out a name?”
Oliver sighed as he poured litter into the pan. “Look at the collar and then take a wild guess as to what our son has named the kitten.”
Felicity giggled, “Judging from the disgruntled look on your face I’m assuming his current obsession with Barry is still holding firm.”
“Um-hum.” Oliver agreed tight lipped.
“Sooo, we have a kitten named Flash?” Felicity asked, still laughing.
“Unfortunately,” Oliver sighed and looking very put upon when Felicity pulled out her phone and started typing. “You’re telling them, aren’t you?”
She grinned at her husband, “You know me so well, I’m putting it in the group chat. Cisco is going to be over the moon, and don’t be surprised if Barry doesn’t pop in to visit his namesake.”
That night and most of the nights thereafter, Flash the kitten would sleep with Tom in his bed, and would become his constant companion.