The doorbell rang. Estelle groaned. Not another one, she prayed; but it was her sixtieth birthday and that's how it worked.
She opened the door a crack. A small toffee-colored Persian sat on the porch, blinking in confusion. Its collar said KARL. He'd been nice.
She opened the door a crack. A small toffee-colored Persian sat on the porch, blinking in confusion. Its collar said KARL. He'd been nice.
She let the cat in, and followed it as it ran to join the others assembled in the living room. JASON and MARK and LARRY and AVI and QUINT and others whose men's names she hadn't bothered to remember, because why would you?
Sixteen cats so far. That was probably about right.
Sixteen cats so far. That was probably about right.
Estelle paused in the living room doorway. Sixteen pairs of eyes swiveled to meet hers.
"I—" but she stopped. What were you supposed to say? What had her mother said when HER cats started appearing?
"Welcome," said Estelle. "It's good to see you again."
"I—" but she stopped. What were you supposed to say? What had her mother said when HER cats started appearing?
"Welcome," said Estelle. "It's good to see you again."
She had to move Quint out of the way so she could sit in her favorite chair. There was already hair all over it. He curled up in her lap. Mark and Avi jumped up onto the arms. The others, the short-term ones, weren't particularly interested.
"Did you have a nice trip?" she asked.
"Did you have a nice trip?" she asked.
Some of them yowled, but of course your cats couldn't really talk back to you.
"I hope you all managed to get your affairs in order," said Estelle. "And those of you who had other relationships—I'm so honored you chose to come to me."
Larry blinked. He might be trouble.
"I hope you all managed to get your affairs in order," said Estelle. "And those of you who had other relationships—I'm so honored you chose to come to me."
Larry blinked. He might be trouble.
"I bought a lot of Fancy Feast yesterday," she said. "I think, Karl, I have to get something else for you, unless allergies don't carry over. There are five scratching posts and six litter boxes. I think—I know—we'll be very happy."
They were all purring then. Estelle smiled.
They were all purring then. Estelle smiled.
"Thank you again," she said, and her voice actually caught. "We've got some great years ahead."
And she watched the fire for a while with all her new companions.
Until the doorbell rang again.
And she watched the fire for a while with all her new companions.
Until the doorbell rang again.
