The man walked into his home and was stunned…
Six months ago, he was given a little kitten named Whiskers. His niece, who occasionally visited him with her family, found the kitten on the street. Handing the kitten over, she said,
“You live alone. Still haven’t found yourself a partner. Your job is stressful. Being a bus driver is no easy ride. But when you come home, at least someone is happy to see you. Cats—they bring coziness and calm.”
How true, he thought. It might work. You return home all frazzled by unruly passengers and drivers who refuse to give way, and there he is, lying peacefully on the sofa. Meowing and purring. Happy, climbing into your arms for a cuddle.
But, ladies and gentlemen, this was a naive assumption. The cat did not meet his expectations. Instead of staying the lovable little kitten, it turned into a mischievous adolescent. Sitting in laps and being stroked wasn’t his thing—playing was his forte!
In his inexperience, the man had bought a fly swatter to deal with flies, both the little nimble ones or the large ones he inexplicably referred to as horseflies.
Whiskers watched the man, swatting at flies with keen interest, probably gathering information. One day he decided to please his human. And he succeeded…
So, let’s go back to where we left off.
The man entered the house and was dumbstruck. Everything! Absolutely everything in his flat was askew. It looked as if two rival gangs had a showdown in his living room using bats!
Chairs were toppled. Vases, glasses, and everything else on tables, window sills, and cabinets were strewn across the floor, a mosaic of shattered glass, clay, and plastic…
The curtains looked like some fashionista’s shredded skirt, and in the kitchen… Ketchup had mingled with pickled tomatoes and jam. Salt, sugar, and pepper were sprinkled in neat little piles. Forks and spoons were in disarray. The kitchen curtains were torn down with the rods and lay amongst this carnage, and on the completely deserted dining table sat a very satisfied Whiskers, with in front of him, a fly. Enormous, like an airplane. Whiskers gazed at the man with a victorious look and purred contently.
Surely, the man would praise him. All day long, tirelessly, he’d chased that brazen fly around the flat and caught it! Now he could proudly present his catch and expect a deserved reward.
From such pleasant thoughts, Whiskers started kneading his paws.
The man picked up a chair and sank into it. He was at a loss for what to do first—clean, eat dinner, or scold Whiskers—but he wasn’t left pondering for long. There was a knock at the door. He stood and went to answer it, only to be even more surprised.
In the hallway stood three police officers, flanked by about ten neighbors. The officers had their hands resting on their gun holsters.
“We got a call…” began one of them.
“Several, actually,” added another. “They said there’s a ruckus in your flat. Furniture toppling, plates shattering, and horrendous screeching. Could you allow us to come in and confirm everything’s alright? And, just in case… please raise your hands and place them on your head, stepping to the far corner of the room.”
The neighbors eyed the man with a mix of fear and judgment.
“Ohhh… I see,” the man said with a resigned tone. “Well, please come in!”
He moved to the far corner, hands on his head.
The officers walked through the flat, surveying the mess and looking for something from room to room.
“What are you looking for?” the man inquired.
“A body,” replied one of the officers. “And an explanation.”
“A body, right! Let me show you,” the man said.
The police immediately stiffened, hands reaching for their weapons. Carefully, he moved along the wall toward the kitchen. With a flourish, he threw open the door.
“There you are,” he announced. “Here is the body.”
The officers pushed past him into the kitchen.
On the table sat the ‘body,’ smirking smugly, clearly enjoying the spotlight. In front of it lay the fly.
For a few moments, the room was silent as the officers pieced things together. Then the first officer broke into laughter, soon followed by the others.
They laughed so hard they couldn’t stop, and Whiskers looked at them and then at the man with a look that said, “See? Everyone’s pleased. It means my efforts weren’t in vain!”
The officers spent another thirty minutes taking photos with the fly and Whiskers amidst the chaos. Everyone was amused and pleased. Most of all, Whiskers. After all, everyone appreciated his effort.
When the police and neighbors finally left, the man sank back into his chair.
“I’ll lend a hand,” he heard a voice and turned.
Next to him was a woman from the first floor.
“I have the day off,” she said with a smile. “You’re going to be at it all night alone, but together we can make quick work of it.”
“I feel bad imposing on you,” the man admitted awkwardly.
“Not at all!” she chirped back. “It’s fine. I don’t have much to do otherwise. It’s just me. No one else. Just my mum. She lives close by. Now, are you planning to punish the little rascal, or at least scold him a bit?” she asked, nodding toward Whiskers.
He was on the kitchen table, lazily swatting at the monstrous fly.
“Scold him?” the man sighed. “I suppose I should…”
He approached Whiskers and picked him up.
“You little troublemaker! Is this any way to behave? No, it is not.”
Whiskers kneaded his paws. Dad was scolding him. But so gently and lovingly that he couldn’t help himself and stretched up to lick his person right on the cheek, and the man… kissed him on the nose.
“Alright then, good boy,” he said to Whiskers. “I trust you understand. Don’t do it again.”
He set the cat down. Whiskers flicked his tail up and rubbed against the woman’s legs. She laughed.
“You gave him such a lovely talking-to,” she chuckled. “Why haven’t I noticed you before?”
“Not sure,” he replied. “Maybe because I was unhappier before, but since Whiskers showed up, there’s more joy in my life.”
He gestured to the devastation caused by the cat.
The woman called a handy friend, and the next day, the man had fine mesh screens installed on all the windows. Whiskers could now lounge on the sill safely, watching the birds and hefty flies.
The woman and the man cleaned the mess, threw out broken dishes, washed the floors, and took down the torn curtains. Then they headed to the stores to pick out new ones.
Later that evening, the man bought snacks, a delicious cake, and a bottle of champagne. You see, ladies and gentlemen, it’s for a little housewarming party. In the old flat. With the woman.
They sat at the kitchen table, eating, drinking, and chatting. They were happy, and Whiskers was especially delighted. He rested on the woman’s lap, plotting… new help for dad.
Overall, it turned out splendidly. Whiskers, of course, zealously helps them both now. Dad and the new mum. The one who came to their flat solely because she recognized Whiskers and saw her own beloved kitty in him.
Now mum and dad together manage the aftermath of his help.
What do you think?
How else could it turn out?
There was no other way.
