Promptings from Valhalla - 18. The Cat Crusades

Prompt character: person with a tail who’s a liar

Story words: pregnant, declaration of war

“Ow! Stop it, you jerk!” Sam wailed and yanked his tail out of Hank’s hand.

“Oh gimme a break. I didn’t hurt you, you freak.” Hank rolled his eyes.

Sam cradled his black, furry tail close to his chest. “My tail is very sensitive.”

Hank grabbed for Sam’s ears, but the boy had been anticipating the move and ducked away. Unfortunately, he hadn’t accounted for Hank’s minion, Tom, who grabbed him and held on to the struggling boy with a vice-like grip.

Sam howled and flailed his legs, stopping only when Hank approached. He looked at the towering boy with moist, brown eyes. He bit his lower lip to stop it from quivering. Hank grinned and snatched the soft, inky cat ears from Sam’s head. He held up the headband in triumph, like the winner of a sporting event brandishing a trophy.

Sam’s eyes widened in horror, then he screwed his face up into a ferocious scowl. “Give those back!” he shouted.

“Finders, keepers!” Hank taunted. He waved the ears in front of Sam’s reddening face and laughed.

“Those are mine! Give them back!” Sam emitted a keening cry that drew a large crowd of their fellow fourth-graders.

“Shut up!” Hank drew his arm back and landed a punch to Sam’s stomach. The boy doubled over in pain and Tom released his grip. Sam knelt on all fours, gasping for breath.

“If I lose my kittens, I’m going to kill you,” he panted.

“Kittens? Man, there’s something wrong with you.”

Sam collapsed to his side in a fetal position and caressed his stomach. “I can’t feel them….” He sobbed, making it even more difficult to draw breath.

Hank raised an eyebrow and scoffed. “Freak.” He started to walk way, followed by Tom.

“This… is… war…,” Sam declared, glaring at the retreating bullies.

“War, huh?” Tom taunted. “Oooo, I’m so scared.” He bumped his shoulder against Hank’s and the duo burst into laughter.

“What are you going to do? Scratch us? You really are a pussy, you know that?” Hank puffed out his chest, proud of his play on words.

“You’ll see. You’ll be sorry,” Sam muttered as his tormentors disappeared down the hallway, along with the dispersing crowd.

*****

“Take your hood off at the table, Sammy,” his father stated as he set a plate of burgers on the table.

“I don’t want to.” Sam crossed his arms and slouched in his chair.

“It’s not up for debate. We use good manners in this house. No hoods or hats at the table.”

Sam huffed out his breath and slowly pulled his hood back. His black hair fell around his face, hiding his chocolate brown eyes.

“Where’s your ears? You don’t go anywhere without them.”

Sam shrugged and picked at the bun on his plate.

“Did something happen, Sammy?”

“They were getting ratty, so I threw them out.” He stared at the table. “Can we get new ones tonight?”

Sam’s father exhaled. Money was tight that month, but Sam asked for so little he hated saying no. His son wasn’t always truthful, but he decided not to press the matter. He didn’t believe for one minute that his eccentric son threw out his beloved kitty ears. “Sure thing, kittycat. As long as you eat all of your dinner.” He handed Sam the plate of burgers. “Like a human,” he added.

“Fine.” Sam grabbed a burger and assembled his dinner. He didn’t have much of an appetite, so only ate about half of his meal before heading to his bedroom. He had a battle to plan.

*****

“Hi, Sam. How are you today?” Lilly asked. “I see you got new ears. Hank’s a jerk. He shouldn’t have taken them.” She walked next to Sam as they entered the school.

Sam shrugged. “I needed new ones anyway. He can have them. Besides…”—he looked around—“I brought some weapons with me today. Hank is going to pay for hurting my kittens.” He patted his belly.

Lilly stared at her friend. Sam was strange, but harmless. Or so she thought. “What do you mean, you brought some weapons?”

“I meant it when I declared war. Hank needs to learn a lesson. Hurting me is one thing, but messing with my babies… he deserves what he gets.”

Lilly had never seen the strange boy look more determined. She swallowed. “What did you bring?”

“You’ll see. Second period. I’d stay to the back of the room, if I were you. You’re my only friend. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He smiled at her and skipped to his locker.

Sam entered his second period classroom and stopped in the entryway. Lilly stood next to their teacher, wringing her hands. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and she stepped behind Mr. Stephenson.

Sam narrowed his eyes and yelled, “Betrayer! Judas!” He quickly removed his black, cat-shaped backpack and undid the clasp.

Two police officers who had been standing next to the teacher ran toward him and drew their weapons, but stopped when they saw what the boy had withdrawn from his pack.

“Go forth, my minions, and wreak havoc upon my enemies!” he yelled. He gently prodded three small kittens in Hank and Tom’s direction.

The three balls of fluff flopped onto their backs and rolled on the floor, twitching their tails.

“Awww! He brought in kittens!” one of his female classmates said and squealed. She left her chair and knelt in front of the little animals. She stroked the one closest to her—a ginger kitten with yellow eyes.

“Get away from them! They’re supposed to attack!” Sam yelled.

The class erupted in laughter. The police officers looked at each other and raised their eyebrows. They then sheathed their guns.

“We had a report of a student with weapons. Want to tell me what’s going on here?” the male officer asked.

The kittens trotted in different directions, exploring their new surroundings. A black kitten with a small white spot on its chest tottered over to Hank and rubbed against his leg.

“Get him!” Sam shouted.

Hank reached down and picked up the kitten. He held it against his chest and stroked its fur while the animal purred happily. “Nice kitty,” he said as a smile spread across his face.

Sam stared at the spectacle, his mouth hanging open. “Benedict Arnold!”

“Son, what in God’s good name are you doing?” the male officer moved in front of Sam.

“Waging war,” Sam replied.

“Let me see your backpack.”

Sam picked up his discarded bag and handed it over. The officer searched its contents, then looked at his partner and shook his head.

“You mean to tell me your ‘weapons’ are these kittens?”

Sam sat cross-legged on the floor with his arms crossed. Tears streamed down his cheeks. “They were supposed to avenge me.”

The officer sat next to him. “Avenge you for what?”

“Hank punched my stomach and made me lose my kittens. I wanted to make him pay.”

Lilly ran over and sat on the other side of Sam. She put her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. “I’m sorry, Sammy, but I was afraid of what was going to happen. We hear about school shootings all the time. I couldn’t let you ruin your life,” she cried.

“It’s OK,” Sam muttered. “It didn’t work anyway.”

“Tell me what happened,” the officer stated.

“Yesterday Hank stole my ears and punched me. Now I can’t feel my kittens anymore.” Sam placed his hands on his stomach and sobbed.

“Sam thinks he’s pregnant with kittens,” Lilly explained.

The two officers exchanged worried looks. The male officer rose and held out his hand. “Why don’t you gather up your minions and we’ll go call your parents?”

Sam sniffled and nodded. “Poppy died last year so it’s just me and daddy now.” He took the officer’s hand and stood.

Lilly looked at the female officer and stated, “The cat thing started after his poppy died. They were very close.”

The female officer smiled sympathetically. “It sounds like Sam might need a little more support. Let’s get these kittens rounded up.”

Lilly and the officer each grabbed a kitten. Sam walked over to Hank. The bully continued to cradle the little furball and pet it.

“You like cats?” Sam asked in a surprised tone.

“Yeah. I have two,” Hank replied.

“But you make fun of me all the time. How can you like cats and make fun of one?”

“Because you act like you’re five. We’re ten years old. That’s too old to dress up like a freaking cat.”

Sam narrowed his eyes. “That’s no reason to be such a dick.”

Hank shrugged. “Stop being a freak and I’ll stop being a dick.”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “Somehow, I doubt that will happen.” He held out his hand.

Hank scratched the kitten’s ears, then handed the animal over.

Sam held the kitten close and muttered in its ear, “You were supposed to attack him, but I forgive you. You’re too nice to be an attack cat.”

With the three kittens secured in the backpack, Sam and the officers headed to the school principal’s office to call Sam’s father.