Chapter 4

In her dream, a hammer was hitting her nose. The hammer had spots and it was fuzzy. Paxine woke to a tail tapping her nose.

“Hey,” she said, complaining.

Tache pawed at the covers.

“I’m getting up. Why you so excited about the show? Cuz you’re doing well?” she said, yawning as Tache led her to the bathroom.

“Paxine,” her grandma said, calling from the stairs.

“I’m up,” Paxine said.

She dressed in a hurry, but didn’t remember Tache leaving, but he was already done with his breakfast and doing his last minute grooming.

“We’re early,” Paxine said, checking the clock.

“I’d like to get there a little early today. Things to do,” her grandma said, already finished with her morning tea and packing her handbag.

Paxine poured cereal, spying Tinder sitting under a chair looking sour. She was wearing a leash.

“A leash today?” Paxine said, sitting to eat her cereal.

“I want her to follow me around. She can’t be loose at the show.”

“Meer,” Tinder said with a growl.

“No, Tache won’t be wearing one. He’ll be in a cage,” her grandma said.

“Yelp,” Tache said, looking important.

“And no rubbing it in that you’re doing well or I’ll give Tinder permission to shrink that big head of yours,” her grandma said in a gruff manner.

“Mew,” Tache said, looking humble.

“That’s better. You done with that cereal? Let’s go,” her grandma said, heading toward the cube.

Paxine picked up Tache. “See, he does have to be carried, he can’t roam freely,” Paxine said to Tinder.

That still didn’t make Tinder feel better and soft growls and meeps escaped out of her during the whole cube ride.

***

“Wow. We’re an hour early and so many people already,” Paxine said.

“Meet up with your later,” her grandma said, disappearing into the jumble of people.

JayLee was at her table with EJ in her cage.

“Morning,” Paxine said to JayLee, figuring she could at least exchange pleasantries being table neighbors.

“Good morning,” JayLee said.

Tache refused to go into the cage, making Paxine lift him in.

“Only one more day, Mr. Show Cat,” Paxine said, checking her pocket to see how much money she had. “I’m going to check out the tables. Want a new toy?”

She didn’t wait for an answer, heading for the vendor tables. The first table featured cat trees that looked like real trees. Tunnels led to different branches.

“These are designed to fit a whole wall and can be a piece of art as well. They aren’t really expensive…” the clerk said, talking to a man coming up from behind.

Paxine moved onto the next table. The cat trees looked too expensive, despite what the clerk said.

Toy wands tipped with feathers or fluff or foil filled the racks. She thought of getting one so Garon could look at it. He liked making weapons out of things that didn’t look like a weapon. None of them looked promising.

The next table featured the pet food her grandma always bought. She picked up a sample to stock her backpack. The clerk didn’t look too happy, probably thinking Paxine was just grabbing samples without knowing what they were.

“My grandma likes this stuff,” Paxine said. “We buy it all the time.”

The clerk didn’t look impressed.

“You know, my grandma,” Paxine said in an offhand manner, pointing to her grandma who was two rows away, chatting. “Mrs. Pondoulee.”

The woman’s face changed. “Mrs. Pondoulee?”

“Yep. Hi grandma,” Paxine said, waving.

Her grandma looked up, waving back.

The clerk almost bowed toward her grandma. “Here, give her this sample,” the clerk said, handing her a full size bag of food.

“That’s okay. A small sample is all I can carry,” Paxine said.

“I’ll drop it off at your table. What row?” the clerk said.

“Ah, fifth. In the middle. Bengal in the metal cage,” Paxine said.

“I see I see,” the clerk said.

“I know my grandma will stop by to talk. I’ll let her know about the food,” Paxine said.

“Thank you. Take care,” the clerk said with a little too much energy.

Paxine almost laughed at the change of behavior. She caught her grandma’s eye, indicating the sample. Her grandma’s eyes looked beyond her. The clerk was carrying the package of cat food to her table. Her grandma nodded as if she understood. Paxine wasn’t sure she did, but when the clerk came back, her grandma walked over to her.

“Meow.”

A cat pawed at its cage as she passed.

“Hello. Sorry, I can’t let you out. Now what are you?” Paxine said.

“That’s an exotic short-hair,” Beth said, standing next to her.

A woman, the owner, walked up. “Hi girls.”

“Hi, what his name?” Beth said.

“Her name is Tiffany,” the owner said.

“She’s cute and fuzzy,” Paxine said. “Can I pet her?”

“Sure. Clean your hands.” The owner brought out hand sanitizer.

Beth extended her hands for some too, keeping an eye toward her mother.

“She is so nice. Thank you,” Paxine said.

Beth gave the cat a quick pat before the owner put the cat back.

“That’s a Sphinx. They don’t have hair,” Beth said, pointing to the cage across the aisle. There was no owner nearby.

“Another Sphinx. Oh, and that’s a Havana. Those are rare,” Beth said, wiggling her fingers at the kitten. “I haven’t seen one in a long time.”

The solid brown kitten looked up at Paxine. “Meow.”

“Hello. We meet again. This one got loose the first day of the show. I think his name is Browniepie,” Paxine said.

“Did he tell you that?” Beth said.

“No, I heard the owner call him that,” Paxine said, wonder if Beth knew that she could understand cats.

“They like to talk to you,” Beth said with a giggle.

“All cats do, you just have to listen,” Paxine said.

“Your dad must be important,” Beth said in an off-handed manner.

“Why do you say that?” Paxine said, probing to see if it was her mother making her ask.

“My mom wants to know stuff. She’s nosey. She wants to know where you got that cat and how a kid could have a cat like that,” Beth said.

“He was a birthday gift,” Paxine said, finding the simplest and truthful answer was the best.

They were back in Paxine’s aisle. Tache was cleaning his paw.

“Oh, can I pet Tache again when my mom’s not looking?” Beth said, keeping her voice low.

“Sure. You can hold him too if you want. How about during the first ring? Looks like their starting with short hair cats first and your mom will be up there,” Paxine said.

Beth looked like it was Christmas morning. “I like Tache,” she said.

“Too bad your mom’s fussy about other cats. I could come over and let you play with Tache,” Paxine said, hoping to plant an idea into Beth’s head.

“Oh, but our cats don’t live with us. So, that would be okay,” Beth said.

“Where do your cats live?” Paxine said, wondering if her mission was going to be this easy.

“In a special building. I’ve never been in there. I’m not allowed,” Beth said with a frown.

Mrs. Talassee stormed by with her cat.

“Oh no. The show’s already started. I’ve got to get Tache up into the ring. Which ring?” Paxine said in a panic.

JayLee, brushing past to take EJ up to her ring, didn’t seem to notice Paxine’s panic.

“Ring 1 will be starting short-haired kittens,” the clerk said over the speakers.

“Whew. I didn’t miss the call. They just started,” Paxine said, scooping out Tache. Beth was gone, back over by her mom.

“You behave yourself,” Paxine said, putting him into the show cage.

Tache did behave until the judge took him out of his cage, then he played, showing off.

Everyone laughed, including Paxine as she felt more comfortable knowing what was happening and what to expect. Before she knew it, the judge was done and Paxine was back at her table. She let Tache hangout in her lap as she checked the schedule for the day.

“My mom says you can come next Saturday,” Beth said, sitting in a chair next to her, smiling.

“What?” Paxine said, not expecting to be successful so soon.

“Next Saturday,” Beth said with confidence.

“No show next weekend?” Paxine said.

“Yeah, there is, but my mom found out that the other Abyssinian is going to be there. You know the one that keeps beating her. So she’s not going,” Beth said, swinging her legs and stealing pets of Tache when her mom wasn’t looking.

“Oh, I didn’t know she was getting beaten,” Paxine said, lying through her teeth.

“She’s not happy,” Beth said, checking in her mom’s direction as if making sure she wasn’t overheard. “It’s the finals that are really important. She always gets a final, but not so far.”

“Oh, I see. I didn’t know that,” Paxine said even though she did know, but she sat listening to Beth explain how the judging worked and how cats earned titles.

“Titles are really important, according to my mom,” Beth said, looking like she thought differently.

“What time should I come over,” Paxine said?

Beth rattled off a time and the address as if she was reciting, then rushed off as if her mom was looking for her.

The show seemed less important now that Paxine had accomplished her mission, but she had to keep up appearances. Beth kept following her around when she could avoid her mother’s watchful eyes, and Paxine couldn’t tell who was staking out whom. Was she getting to know Beth in order to find out more about her mom or was Beth getting to know Paxine so Mrs. Talassee could find out more about her dad?

“See you Saturday. My mom’s leaving,” Beth said.

“Oh, but there’s another hour,” Paxine said, checking the clock on the wall.

“She’s mad,” Beth said, rushing off to join her mom’s entourage as they left the show hall.

Mrs. Talassee’s tables were empty.

Paxine took Tache out of his last ring. She let him sit in her lap as she waited for the show to wind down.

“Ahem,” JayLee said with a cough, waving her hand toward her ribbon. There was one plastic plate for ninth best cat.

“Ahem,” Paxine said with a cough back, waving her hand toward her ribbon. There were five plastic plates.

JayLee smiled, winking, but EJ, sitting on her shoulder sang as loud as she could, telling everyone about her ninth place. Tache ignored her.

Her grandma rushed over. “What is all this noise?” she said.

“Someone placed ninth in Ring 4,” JayLee said.

“And you have to tell everyone about it?” her grandma said to EJ.

“Meow,” EJ said, saying yes she did.

Tache smacked the side of the chair.

“Yes, Tache, I do see you have five plates,” her grandma said, pulling up a chair. “All done?”

“Yes. There’s a few Rings still judging, but short-haired kittens and cats are all finished. And so is…” Paxine said, jerking her head toward Mrs. Talassee’s empty tables.

“Excellent. I don’t see any reason for hanging around,” her grandma said, helping pack everything up.

“I am going to Beth’s on Saturday,” Paxine said as she stepped from her grandma’s cube into her grandma’s living room.

“I’m having tea with Mrs. Talassee on Wednesday,” her grandma said.

“Garon’s,” they said together, laughing, both thinking they needed to visit Garon for new gadgets to help them in their tasks.

“Wait until my dad finds out how well Tache did,” Paxine said.

“He’s finding out Tache’s not so bad,” her grandma said.

“Not after what he did at the Ball,” Paxine said, referring to the Gala Ball they had attended not too long ago, where Tache had saved them from Mr. Huntsboro who had two guns and wasn’t happy that they had ruined his Child Protection Act project. He was getting lots of money for it. His wife was trying to push her grandma out of her Director position and had tried to attack them at the Gala Ball as well. The result was that both of them ended up in jail. Tache, each time, had played a role in protecting them all.

“A Tail and a Champion show kitten,” Paxine said with pride, but Tache wasn’t in sight. She figured he headed to take a nap.

“We have a busy week,” her grandma said with a sigh.

“You’re telling me. I have finals at school to finish. Dad’s treating me to a virtual reality game on Thursday for doing so well in school. And we have to fit in a visit to Garon’s. I also have to plan out the strategy for Saturday,” Paxine said, counting on her fingers.

“I wish I had your schedule,” her grandma said.

“I wish I had a personal cube,” Paxine said, making her hint obvious.

“Not until you’re old enough,” her grandma said.

They both sighed for different reasons.

“I’m sending you home tonight. I’ll get back with you soon on Garon. He’ll probably come visit, since he has to put Tache’s Aural ring back on, and the sooner the better. Keep me notified if anything else fills your calendar,” her grandma said.

A ding announced the arrival of another cube.

“Hi mom,” Paxine said. She waved goodbye to her grandma. “Hold on, Mom. Tache,” Paxine said, realizing he wasn’t around.

Tache trotted in holding a paper bag that had Paxine’s name on it.

“Cookies from Marietta,” Paxine said with excitement, not having to open the bag, smelling them through Tache’s nose. “Thanks, grandma, tell…”

“I’ll tell her thanks for you,” her grandma said, laughing.

“No cookies before dinner,” her mom said, taking the bag.

“Mom. I’ve had a long day,” Paxine said, hunching her shoulders, making herself look worn out.

“You sound like your father,” her mom said with a laugh.

“Ya know, if I had my own cube, I wouldn’t have to bother you,” Paxine said as the cube door closed.

“That would be nice. You are such a bother,” her mom said with a chuckle.

Paxine rolled her eyes at her mom’s sarcasm.

“I seem to recall I don’t pick you up much at all. Security does. I don’t mind when I have to take you places or pick you up. That way I know where you’re going. So how was the show?“ her mom said.

“Tache did really well. Look. You get a ribbon and then you can fill it up with these little plates that show your finals. See how many Tache got. Next Saturday, I am going over to Beth’s. She’s the governor’s daughter,” Paxine said.

“Isn’t she a little young for you,” her mom said as the cube dinged, revealing their own living room.

“She’s nine. Anyway, it’s good to know people in high places,” Paxine said matter-of-fact.

“I see. This is one of those times I need to be quiet and know you’re working with your grandma,” her mom said.

Paxine knew her mother didn’t understand cats like she or her grandma did. However, she knew her mom trusted Tache and that he would protect her as he had already proven himself.

“Don’t worry. We’re not doing anything dangerous. Besides, the governor has lots of security and I’ll have Tache. When’s dad coming home?” Paxine said, dropping her backpack on the sofa.

“He’s staying in town. He has some critical project he must finish,” her mom said, pointing at the backpack. “Put that in your room.”

“Oh, darn. I wanted to show him my ribbon,” Paxine said, picking the backpack back up and heading toward the stairs “Can I go to dad’s office tomorrow and see him for lunch?”

“I’ll check with his assistant and see if that can be arranged,” her mom said, heading for the kitchen.

“Thanks mom. Oh, and Garon may stop by.”

***

“Mom,” Paxine said the next morning, rushing down the stairs, pulling her shirt on as she went.

“Yes, Paxine, you can have lunch with your dad,” her mom said, anticipating her next question. “I spoke with your dad last night, and he would be delighted to hear all about the cat show.”

Paxine giggled at the way her mother spoke about her dad being delighted about the show. “I’m sure he would rather do something else than hear a cat show report,” Paxine said.

“I’d agree, however, his daughter is another matter,” her mom said, placing milk on the table beside the box of cereal.

Paxine felt so excited, looking forward to lunch with her dad. Ever since they had moved back to her mom’s favorite house, they had a direct cube link between the house and her dad’s office. Her dad’s office was downtown and within walking distance of a huge entertainment complex called BoumaBounty. Her favorite was the virtual reality games.

“You ready for your tests?” her mom said pouring coffee.

“I’m going to study this morning. I think I’m ready. I can’t wait. Three whole months off,” Paxine said, thinking of how much of it she could spend at BoumaBounty.

“I have a message from your grandma that you have a meeting this morning,” her mom said.

“A meeting? I didn’t hear about it last night,” Paxine said.

“Just came in. Greta to come pick you up at 8:30,” her mom said, reading from her phone. “You have ten minutes to eat your cereal.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Paxine said, pouring milk onto her cereal.

“Because the message just came in. Something must have changed,” her mom said.

“I have studying to do,” Paxine said with a moan.

“You let her know that,” her mom said.

Paxine shoveled in her cereal, but found she still had time to brush her teeth, and her hair, and make sure her backpack was ready; including locating Tache’s sleeping spot. He was under her covers in bed. She arrived in the living room just before…

Ding.

“Morning Greta,” Paxine said, waiting by the cube landing in their living room. Greta was her grandma’s assistant.

“Hi Dalia,” Greta said with a wave to Paxine’s mom. “Hi Paxine. Tache.”

Tache yawned.

“We won’t be long, just a security briefing,” Greta sai.

Paxine’s mom nodded, waving them off. Security briefings were getting to be common these days. Her dad was stepping up his security, working with Garon. Garon, of course, promptly reported everything to Paxine’s grandma, ho made sure Paxine was just as well informed.