The Cat

“She really isn't a cat.” He says it like he would say the weather is sunny. His wife stares at him.

“Are you alright?” Tim is staring at their cat, who lays cleaning herself, ignoring her strange furless owners.

“She is an alien.” Nora’s laughs, uneasily. He has to be joking, right?

“Good one, Tim.”

“I am serious. Her eyes glow. I have seen it.”

“Tim,” she touches his arm and feels how tight it is, “it is called night vision. Cats are predators. That is why.” He knows this. He has to know this.

“Of course, that is part of her disguise. They study us. They know exactly how species work and our lower species.” His eyes are still fully focused on the cat. She continues to clean herself.

“Tim, please tell me you are playing some sort of game?”

“A game!” Both his wife and their cat, jerk, “Nora, I am trying to protect you. Not that we can get rid of her, now that she knows that I know who and what she is.”

“Ah, let's go have a seat, okay.” Keeping his arm, she leads him over to the couch. He sits but stays tense, sitting on the edge of the couch. His wife is also stressed. Where is this coming from? He has never shown any sign of mental illness, unless it is an elaborate joke. The thought lightens her mind until she looks at him.

He stares into the kitchen, where the poor maligned cat is now eating while keeping one weary eye on the loud human.

His eyes show actual terror.

“I shouldn't have said anything in front of her but, I don't think it would have mattered. I think she can read our minds.”

Nora feels like heaving. He really believes it. Oh no! What is wrong with her husband?

“Why do you,” she swallows back her acid filled spit, “think that?”

“The way she looks at me. You can tell that she is listening to my mind.”

Does she confront him or try to draw him out? “ Why do you think she came here?”

He seems relieved that she seems to believe him. “She is a scout. If they are going to take over the world, they have to have information, beforehand.”

“Take over the world.” Her voice is tuneless.

“Of course. They are conquers, after all.”

“All cats?” He actually rolls his eyes at her.

“Don't be absurd. It is just a disguise they use,” He looks away from the cat who is studying them both with suspicious eyes, “ animals everywhere are chosen. Think about it, does anyone pay attention to a bird on a line or a squirrel in a tree? They can watch us going about our days and nights, gathering information without anyone being aware.”

“Except you?” She is trying to keep her feelings out of her voice to see how worried she has to be.

“I didn't always know…”

“No shit!” She thinks. This is the first time in their three years of marriage that he has ever spoken this way about anything this insane.

“But recently it has been quite evident what is really going on just outside our awareness.”

“How did you come to this awareness?” Her heart is beating so fast she feels physically sick. What could it be? Paranoia? Schizophrenia? A brain tumor?

“A week ago, I was feeding the cat. She looked at me. Eye to eye. I knew. It was like blinders came off and I just knew. Then I saw them everywhere. At work, the squirrels running up the tree, the birds on the power line, it is a way they renew their energy, even a dog being walked.”

“The chemicals he uses in his landscaping job, could they be it?” She thinks.

“I almost said something to the dog's owner but then he looked at me…”

“The owner?”

“No, the dog. He knew I knew. I could tell he saw my thoughts and I was scared to say something.”

“Tim what…”

“I don't know Nora, what we are going to do. It has to be something. Maybe contact someone in the government.”

“You can't Tim!” She is horrified.

“Of course not,” he winks at her, after a quick glance at the cat, “let's go take a walk.”

Nora understands he doesn't want to talk in front of the cat. She gets even more concerned about him. Nevertheless, she goes with him. She must try to talk him out of this craziness.

He remains quiet, looking around at the lines and trees. After half a block, he starts talking again. “Very smart thinking Nora. She knows enough already. We must keep our plans from her.”

“The cat wasn't why I said that.” She can no longer hold her feelings back any longer.

“I thought you understood.”

“Tim, you need help. Our cat isn't an alien, for goodness sakes!” Several people passing by, turn to look at her. She could care less. “Please, go see the doctor!” She is pleading now.

“I am not crazy but, out of respect for you, I will. Then, when you find out it isn't in my head, will you listen to my opinion.”

It is easy to agree. She knows something is very wrong with him and just prays medicine can help.

Meanwhile, in their house

She looks up at the tree where a bird sits perched. Anyone looking would think it was just a cat watching a bird it couldn't get too. That isn't the reality.

Cat: They know. These humans I live with. The male does anyway.

Bird: Not good but none will believe him. We know how they feel about their animals.

Cat: True but it will have to be reported. It may be time to move the plans up.

Bird: We have enough information. We can.

Cat: More would always help but it can't be helped.

Bird: Unless he is eliminated. His spirit removed.

Cat: An interesting idea. She allows me in their bed chamber at night.

Bird: What is that we were taught about your chosen species, that they can remove a human’s breath?

Cat: Yes. Sitting on his face would do it.

Bird: Then you know what you need to do. I will report it.

Cat: We will speak after.

The bird lifts off and flies away. The cat waits for the coming night.