Free BeSwitched, Paranormal Romance by Molly Snow

leaning out the window, the phone still to her ear.

Chapter 10
    Surla was clipping the points off of her fake nails in Cathy’s bedroom. She decided they were getting in her way. It just wasn’t the same having them as a human. Cathy was reading a paperback book on her bed. Her front paws held the pages down. She was on the most suspenseful part of the story.
    The sound of the doorknob turning startled them. Cathy’s mom caught just a glimpse of the book before Cathy shoved it off the bed. She shook her head, like she imagined it, then said, “Cathy, I’m going to walk to the grocery store. Would you like to come?”
    Surla turned to Cathy to see no response. “Um, actually, I think I should clean up my room.”
    Cat food cans and soda cans were sprawled around the small bedroom. “Okay, I think that’s a good idea.”
    “Okay , bye.”
    “Bye, honey.” The door shut and Cathy dropped to the floor to finish the last page to the chapter she was reading.
     
    This is the perfect place to watch people , Pussface thought as he sat on a bench to the bus stop outside of Revere Park. He was still searching for any suspicious actions which would lead to finding Surla.
    Pretty soon a man with an obvious toupee, carrying a briefcase, sat down next to the cat. He was one of the first people Idis had handed the missing cat fliers to. His eyes glanced to Pussface, then turned once more , staring with interest.
    “Hey there,” the man spoke. “Are you lost? What are you doing here? Hoping to get home this way? First you need some money, little guy. I don’t think pets are allowed on board.”
    Pussface pondered a moment on how funny it would be if he actually decided to respond. Yeah, maybe if you hide me in your jacket the bus driver won’t notice… or I’m just waiting here to pick up some girls, ones with long sexy whiskers and a fluffy tail that will have me running in circles around her all day… or maybe even if I just said ‘hi’ to the guy he would go crazy; then maybe that carcass, he thinks is hair, will come back to life and will run away . But Pussface decided to be a nice kitty and not behave that way.
    A long blue and white bus came and took the man away to his home, but before he left he stated, “If I had the time, I would take you home right now, but I have a job to go to.”
    Pussface continued to watch passersby. One with ragged clothes and scraggly hair stopped in front of him. The guy was obviously drunk by his behavior. “H-hey, I know you.”
    Whatever you say . Pussface didn’t take the man seriously.
    “Yeah, I-I know you. You’re all over the park. Go on home. Be glad you have a home.” With those words, the man hopped the stone wall into the park, which in a way was the strange man’s home.
    More people passing by looked at Pussface with curiosity. Haven’t they ever seen a black cat before?
    Soon a lady holding a grocery bag spotted Pussface also, but she walked over to him, and with a sudden grasp, he was held in her free arm.
    Oh no, not again. I don’t have time to play another tea party. I’m busy trying to find Surla , the cat muttered in his head.
    “Surla? Is that your name?” she said. On e of Pussface’s ears turned, alert. He wondered how this woman knew that name.
    “I guess you are Surla, by the way you responded.” She started walking again. “Your owner has been looking for you. The park is packed with your picture.”
    Pussface looked around, seeing the fliers posted on trees and poles. If only I was taller, I would have noticed .
    “How about I take you to your home?” She smiled brightly. “But first I’ll feed and clean you.”
    A bath! He imagined himself in the sudsy bubbles. I hate baths!
    Surla and Cathy heard the front door open and a ruffling of a bag being set down in the kitchen. “Cathy, you’ll never guess what I found!” her mother called.
    “Probably not,” Surla said while coming down the hall to meet her.
    “Have you seen those fliers