"Please mom." The thing cried.
"I already said no Louisa! Having an animal in the house just spells trouble! Especially a black cat!" Louisa's mother yelled. "But mom she's not completely black! Look she has a white tummy and paws! See doesn't she look so cute after her bath? She was so good in her bath too and she's super quiet." Louisa cried.
"I'm a boy." Charlie meowed softly. "Shh kitty." Louisa whispered. "Louisa Maria Marroquin for the last time it's a no. Now enough! I need you to come with me again to learn how to set up traps for food." Louisa's mother snapped. Louisa cuddled Charlie closely against her body as her eyes started to water.
"When daddy comes back I'll ask him. He'll let me keep the kitty." Louisa said with a small, shaky voice. Louisa's mother hesitated. She looked at Louisa and then the small thing she called a kitty. "For the love of-wh-y-y-y-y?! Sigh, yes your daddy would let you keep the kitty but your daddy..." Louisa mother started to say as her facial expression changed from furious to frustration then to gentle.
"Let me see." She said as she held out her hand. "No mommy! You'll take her away." Louisa sobbed as she turned her small body away. "Sweety, love of my life, mi mundo. I want to see if the kitty will be strong enough to live. I don't want to say yes until I know the kitty is willing to stay with you forever." Louisa's mother said in a calm voice.
Louisa looked at her mother's hand and hesitated. "You pinky promise?" Louisa asked as she looked at her mother with tears in her eyes. "I super pinky promise. Now can I see her?" Louisa's mother asked. "I'm a boy." Charlie meowed as Louisa gingerly presented him. "Thank you sweetheart." Louisa's mother said as she took Charlie.
"Scrawny." Louisa's mother said with a not so very well hidden scowl. "She hasn't had her growth spurt yet. She needs milk to grow." Louisa said as she stomped her foot. "I like to see you after not eating for a while." Charlie said with a single meow as he glared at Louisa's mother. "Pretty eyes though." Louisa's mother said with a shrug.
"I think so too. It kinda looks like the sun." Louisa said proudly. "Honey the sun is a grey pink colour, this little guy has a pretty shade of yellow." Louisa's mother said as she handed back Charlie. "Daddy showed me pictures. The sun was really yellow before." Louisa said as she puffed out her cheeks.
"Alright, alright. He has sun coloured eyes then." Louisa's mother said with a laugh. "Mommy you're wrong." Louisa said as she glared at her mother. "I just agreed with you! He has sun coloured eyes." Louisa's mother said in defense. "You said he!" Louisa said angrily. "Well ya he's a boy." Louisa's mother said as she pointed at Charlie. "Thank you." He meowed.
"No mommy! All kitties are girls!" Louisa said as she glared. "Louisa." Louisa's mother groaned. "Cats can be boys or girls just like people. You are a girl, I am a girl and your father.... your father is a boy." Louisa's mother explained. "No your wrong kitties are girls, that's why they are so cute!" Louisa said as she stomped.
"Then how do cats have babies? You need a boy and girl to have a baby." Louisa's mother said with a smirk. "I wanna know too. I never met my father." Charlie meowed. "Dogs." Louisa said without hesitation. "Excuse me?" Louisa's mother said with a high pitched voice. "Dogs, dogs are boys and cats are girls. When they want babies," Louisa started but Louisa's mother raised her hand. "Stop. Done. If you want to keep the cat you will have to accept it as a boy." Louisa's mother said.
"So I can keep the kitty if I say he's a boy?" Louisa asked as she looked at her mother doubtfully. "Yes." Louisa's mother said with a heavy sigh. "Okay!" Louisa shouted then spun around with Charlie. "Louisa be careful he's still small!" Louisa's mother shouted. "Yes mommy I know! Mommy thank you, I love you so much." Louisa said with a giant grin. "For the love of all that is good! Child did you just play me?!" Louisa's mother shouted. "No mommy I would never!" Louisa gasped.
"You did! Your cheeky smile says everything! Come here!" Louisa's mother shouted but Louisa ran away laughing. "Oh you're so lucky you're so cute." Louisa's mother said as she scowled at her but her eyes shone with happiness. Her mother happily chased her daughter as Charlie just clung to Louisa for dear life.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Louisa's mother stopped chasing Louisa and looked at the door. "Who is it?" Louisa's mother called out. "Gerald." A loud voice called out. Louisa's mother turned to Louisa with a panicked look. "Go hide." She instructed.
Louisa scurried away taking Charlie with her to the closet. Louisa's mother then dusted herself off and walked to the door. "Gerald." Louisa heard her mother call out.
"Xiomara." A male voice answered.
"What do you want Gerald?"
"Where's Louisa?"
"I don't see how that is any of your business."
"Xiomara your neighbours said she left the compound with a cat."
"Oh please Gerald! Louisa may only be five years old but she is Alexander's daughter. That man has educated her on everything,"
"And that's why we must keep a closer watch on her."
"No that's why I need to keep a closer watch on her. Why do you think she's been going on more hunting trips? Just to give the team moral support? My daughter knows what is out there and wouldn't risk the lives of the people in this compound."
"Xiomara, you of all people should know what happens to people who think they are smarter then the rest."
"What are you trying to say Gerald?"
"Your husband and his team still haven't come back."
"Ya I know."
"It's been 3 months. He said he would be back after 2."
"Gerald why are you really here?"
"Xiomara! Hey girl! You doing okay?" A new voice called out loudly.
"Gloria! I'm doing fine! Hey if you see Louisa playing outside tell her I need her to prep for our next round."
"You got it girl!" Gloria shouted.
"Xiomara this isn't over." Gerald said in a low voice.
"Goodbye Gerald." Louisa's mother said before she closed and locked the door. "Mommy?" Louisa called out as she opened the door. "Am I in trouble?" She asked.