Post by Roderich Edelstein on Jan 20, 2011 22:45:49 GMT -5
There were few things Roderich hated more than going outside. Certainly, there was the odd conference, or the simple errand that simply had to be done, but there was no reason for him to enjoy doing so. To put it quite plainly, outside was utterly filthy.
Glancing down at his white socks as he sat on the very edge of the porch, the small brown-and-white cat cautiously lowered a paw to the sidewalk below before quickly snatching it back and licking it furiously. But rules were rules, and very important in his household. One of these rules was that he, the cat, was to go outside when certain important guests were visiting. Certain guests who had an unfortunate allergy to regal beasts such as himself.
...With a sniff, Roderich rose to his feet and stepped daintily off the porch. Very well, it wasn't as if he'd been ordered out precisely. But he refused to be kept in the spare room without any proper furnishing! He did appreciate the idea of keeping memorabilia about, and of course the furniture was still serviceable, but really, come now. One could not expect a cat of his stature to be confined as such.
So, very, very carefully, he made his way from the small walk leading to his house onto the sidewalk lining the street. He took each step gingerly, but he was already out so far -- to sit down and clean himself would prove useless. Growing bolder, it wasn't long before he allowed himself to continue down the sidewalk into the main city itself, keeping his chin up and his tail held high. He wasn't foolish; he kept to the edge of the sidewalk closest to the buildings to keep from being stepped on. If he were gone long enough, surely the family would notice his absence and regret their decision.
Of course, ten minutes later, with soft paws already aching from the harsh grit of the sidewalk, Roderich conceded that perhaps the upstairs room was not nearly so bad, and turned to start returning home. But he couldn't give up so easily, or everything he'd already done would be useless!
Well, perhaps it would be easier just to sit there and wait for his family to find him. Surely he had been gone long enough that they would know to search for him and take him back where he belonged. He knew they wouldn't leave him out like this for long. Backing up, he moved to jump atop a nearby post-office box, metal warmed by the sun, curled up, and waited for someone to help him.
It wasn't long before he fell asleep, basking in the warm flatness of the metal and feeling quite pleased with himself that he'd been so accomplished to go out on his own.
By the time he woke up, the warm, friendly glow of the sun had been replaced by a harsher neon sizzle-and-pop of street signs and streetlamps. Adequately rested now, and confident that his family must be beside themselves, he leapt down gracefully and started to head back the way he had come.
That's when he paused, tail swishing slowly as he stared back the way he thought he had come, and realized that nothing looked familiar at all. Tentively, he moved forward to the four-way intersection he that he must have passed not too long ago, sat down, and contemplated it. Surely this had been the left turn he had taken earlier, which by all means meant that he should go right now... right? Or left?
Glancing down at his white socks as he sat on the very edge of the porch, the small brown-and-white cat cautiously lowered a paw to the sidewalk below before quickly snatching it back and licking it furiously. But rules were rules, and very important in his household. One of these rules was that he, the cat, was to go outside when certain important guests were visiting. Certain guests who had an unfortunate allergy to regal beasts such as himself.
...With a sniff, Roderich rose to his feet and stepped daintily off the porch. Very well, it wasn't as if he'd been ordered out precisely. But he refused to be kept in the spare room without any proper furnishing! He did appreciate the idea of keeping memorabilia about, and of course the furniture was still serviceable, but really, come now. One could not expect a cat of his stature to be confined as such.
So, very, very carefully, he made his way from the small walk leading to his house onto the sidewalk lining the street. He took each step gingerly, but he was already out so far -- to sit down and clean himself would prove useless. Growing bolder, it wasn't long before he allowed himself to continue down the sidewalk into the main city itself, keeping his chin up and his tail held high. He wasn't foolish; he kept to the edge of the sidewalk closest to the buildings to keep from being stepped on. If he were gone long enough, surely the family would notice his absence and regret their decision.
Of course, ten minutes later, with soft paws already aching from the harsh grit of the sidewalk, Roderich conceded that perhaps the upstairs room was not nearly so bad, and turned to start returning home. But he couldn't give up so easily, or everything he'd already done would be useless!
Well, perhaps it would be easier just to sit there and wait for his family to find him. Surely he had been gone long enough that they would know to search for him and take him back where he belonged. He knew they wouldn't leave him out like this for long. Backing up, he moved to jump atop a nearby post-office box, metal warmed by the sun, curled up, and waited for someone to help him.
It wasn't long before he fell asleep, basking in the warm flatness of the metal and feeling quite pleased with himself that he'd been so accomplished to go out on his own.
By the time he woke up, the warm, friendly glow of the sun had been replaced by a harsher neon sizzle-and-pop of street signs and streetlamps. Adequately rested now, and confident that his family must be beside themselves, he leapt down gracefully and started to head back the way he had come.
That's when he paused, tail swishing slowly as he stared back the way he thought he had come, and realized that nothing looked familiar at all. Tentively, he moved forward to the four-way intersection he that he must have passed not too long ago, sat down, and contemplated it. Surely this had been the left turn he had taken earlier, which by all means meant that he should go right now... right? Or left?
