Stories Plus

Emma could barely sit still in her seat, practically vibrating as she stared out the window, watching the familiar houses pass by. A beautiful soft blue sky smiled down on her as thin wispy white clouds glided leisurely across the endless expanse. Small brick houses with dark gray shingles and white or green doors flew by as the turned through the small residential streets. Soon enough, the vehicle slowed as they neared a familiar home with a dark green door and a black mailbox with the numbers 1205 written on the side. She bounced gleefully in her seat as the car halted to a stop and her father turned off the rumbling engine. She looked out of the window to their small house. Dark red and brown bricks stared at her as she unbuckled and left the car, stepping onto the pavement underneath the tires. The green grass almost glistened under the sunlight, small white wildflowers just barely peeking out. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, she smiled. Finally home.

Giggling excitedly, she grabbed a plastic grocery bag from the car and ran into the house, her shoes tapping against the wooden floors. Throwing open her bedroom door, she stepped onto the soft purple carpet. She dropped her bag onto the floor next to a small shelf as she pulled out a small black basket she had emptied out. Dumping the content of the bag onto the floor, she grabbed scissors and tore off the cardboard and plastic ties that bound the small toys to their packaging. The toys crinkled and jingled as she tossed them one by one into the basket until she finally had all of the cat toys ready.

“Emma!” her mother called out.

“I’m here!” she answered excitedly.

“Where’s here?”

“My room!”

“Okay! I’m coming!” The voice grew a little louder as footsteps echoed down the hall.

Emma took off her shoes, bouncing excitedly as her mother entered the room with a medium carrier. She giggled excitedly as her mother closed the bedroom door and opened the carrier. A little brown head immediately peaked out, black stripes leading from his nose to the back of his head. Staring wide-eyed, they both watched as the cat slowly walked out of the carrier purring.

“Oh! He’s so cute!” Emma cooed as the cat meandered his way to the small basket of toys. He sat down and placed both paws into the basket, staring intently at the small plastic balls and feathery mice. His ears were perked up in two rounded triangles, his entire face disappearing as he looked at the toys where his soft paws rested. Pawing at the little toys, he finally pulled out a stuffed fish with both paws and fell onto his side as he chewed on the toy. Emma giggled again, reaching her hand out to pet the large cat.

There was a soft knock at the door before Emma’s dad popped his head into the room. “Hello, Ladies,” he laughs as he squeezes into the room and sits down next to her mother. “Look at the little guy go!”

“Not too little,” her mother laughed.

“What are you going to name him, Emma?”

She looked back to the happy cat, now ignoring his fish to rub his head against her hand. He purred loudly, closing his eyes and kneading his brown paws on the soft carpet.

“Um… what about… Pierre! Or… or Max! Or… um… Henry!”

“I like Max!” the dad said as he looked at the big cat. “Hello, Max, welcome home!”

“I haven’t settled on Max yet!” Emma huffed.

“Oh, but look at him! He looks like a Max!” he laughed.

She turned back to the cat before pulling him into her lap. He looked up at her before rubbing his chin against her face and licking her chin.

“Stop!” she laughed. He continued to rumble softly against her settling comfortably in her lap as she pet him. “Yeah, he kind of does look like a Max.”

“Max it is then!” her mother said joyfully as she scooted a little closer so she could pet him.

Max started making biscuits in the carpet beside her as she continued to gently rub the top of his head, slowly making her way down his back, his soft fur between her fingers. Max jumped from her lap and rubbed up against her mother. Emma quickly stood up and looked through the small basket of toys before taking out a little octopus on a string. As she started waving it on the floor, Max immediately stopped to stare at the toy, following it intently as it danced. He took off in an instant, bolting for the toy before grabbing it in his little paws and chewing on it as he kicked it with his back paws. Everyone laughed as the watched him play, Emma taking the toy to repeat the process.

The room slowly grew darker as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. Her parents decided it was time for dinner and opened the door. Max immediately ran out of the room and began exploring the rest of his new home while her mother cooked. They set up a small food dish and a water fountain in the kitchen. As soon as they shook the bag of feed, Max came running, snatching up the food immediately. Emma laughed as they sat down at the table to enjoy their own dinner. She watched him until he finished and made his way to the table, climbing into the empty chair and purring as he sat with his new family. She was glad he seemed to like his new home. He was already going to be the best cat ever.