Cat in the Box

Oliver was trapped in the confines of Casey's room when he heard the jingling of keys at the door. It was too late to run anywhere else. He just had to hope that her bedroom was not the first place she needed to go. Then he could slip out. Race to the laundry door and find his freedom.

Oliver lay beneath Casey's bed as the hallway filled with light. He was an idiot. He had decided to take a quick nap while he was in her room. The morning sun had been so lovely, recharging him after a night of no sleep. He never slept at night anymore. Not since the baby started to walk. Night was the only time he really had peace. Now it was afternoon and everyone was returning home. And he was trapped. Fool. Idiot.

The door slammed and the hallway was once again cloaked in darkness. Casey walked straight passed, not once glancing into her room. He would have felt relieved except for one thing. She was carrying an enormous parcel in her hands, wrapped in brown paper. What could she possibly be doing with such a large box? He had to find out.

He sauntered down the hallway, passed the laundry, toward the kitchen where Casey was busy opening and closing drawers, removing all sorts of objects and putting others away. The noise was frightening, but at least she would be distracted while he slipped into the room. When her back was turned he crept beneath the alcove of the kitchen island bench. The parcel was rested on top of the stone counter, directly above him. He pressed his nose into the air and sniffed. All he could smell was cardboard and dead bugs. Wherever this parcel was from, it had been there for a while.

He stilled as Casey moved to the side of the kitchen bench and he came face to face with her knee caps. If she took one step to the side, she would see him. If she caught him prying - he didn't even want to think about the consequences. He was a fool for coming to investigate.

He felt so exposed under the island bench. The alcove didn't offer much cover, so he was vulnerable from the sides and the front. If she dropped something and bent down or walked into the lounge room, she would catch him. He shouldn't be here. He should have made his escape when he had the chance. But his curiousity had gotten the better of him. And now it was the reason he was in danger of being caught. To try and feel more secure, he pressed his body against the bench in an attempt to blend into it.

A ripping sound, something scraping against cardboard. Bang. The cardboard box slapped the ground. Oliver jumped and almost cried out. His eyes snapped to the box laying on its side, the gaping whole facing him. It was huge. So long that the inside of the box was shadowed. It looked like it ran on forever and ever. What could it have fit?

'What are you doing under the bench?' Oh no, no, no. She was bending down. This was it. He had to run now or she would catch him. He ran passed her, down the hallway and to the laundry. He narrowly missed her grasp and almost burst out with a cry of success, but he had to keep running. He had to be quick because he could hear her charging after him.

'Where do you think you're going, Oliver? Come here.' He reached the tiled floor of the laundry. This was it. The home stretch. He was almost free. He reached the glass door and went to run through it. Bang. His nose smashed into the glass. He stumbled back, pain radiating through his face and clouding his brain. The flap in the door didn't budge. Someone had locked it. Laughter sounded behind him and he turned around to take in Casey's looming figure.

'Nowhere to go.' As she approached, he cowered in the corner of the laundry, pressing his body against it. He was done for. This was it. Casey bent down and wrapped her hands around his ribs.

'Come here, baby boy.' She lifted him into her arms and cradled him against her chest. His stomach turned as he left the floor. Claws drawn out in anticipation. She squeezed him to her chest and swung her body around. He couldn't breathe. The motion made him feel disoriented. He let out a cry.

'You know you love cuddles, don't pretend you don't.' He dug his claws slightly into her clothes. A little out of protest. A little out of the concern of falling. He cried again, this time more drawn out.

'That hurts, Oliver.' She slightly loosened her grip on him, his ribs feeling relief. He breathed deep and cried again, kicking out his feet this time. She smacked him on the nose and threw him to the ground. He landed on all fours, the shock of the landing vibrating through his paws and legs.

'Nasty boy.' She hissed and kicked him with her foot. He took off. Away from the laundry. Away from Casey.

Oliver rounded the corner and scuttled toward the kitchen. He was free. But not for long. The garage door began to screech as it lifted. Rachael and the baby were home. He needed to hide, now. If he didn't, he would fall victim to the baby's sticky hands. Her incessant tail pulling. Before she could walk, he used to hide under the beds. But she was the perfect height to see under them. Crawl under them. He shuddered and his fur stood up on edge as the car doors slammed.

He had no time. Spotting the cardboard box still on its side, he bolted for it. It would have to do until he could think of better. He ran into the dark recesses of the box and quietened. Not even Casey had seen him run here.

The door to the garage clicked open. Casey and the baby both cooed to each other and Rachael and Casey exchanged kisses. Then footsteps. Two sets of feet, solid and spaced out. One set light and quick. There was giggling.

'Kitty.' The little thing called. Casey and Rachael laughed.

'She is so obsessed with him. It's gorgeous.' Oliver didn't think so. She stole his toys. Grabbed at his fur. Covered him in food. Slapped him. And he wasn't allowed to retaliate, otherwise he would feel worse pain from Rachael and Casey. His heart was beating rapidly as the baby's feet approached.

The baby walked in front of the box and he sunk his claws into the cardboard.

'Kitty?' Her head was just above the height of the box. She couldn't see him. It was marvellous. He wanted to cry in relief.

'Kitty.' She began to cry and Casey picked her up to soothe her.

He was invisible. Safe on all sides. No one could grab him from above, pull his tail or sneak up behind him. He could view all those who passed by him and attack anything that entered. No one would touch him again without permission. He felt on top of the world.