The post on the local forum read, “Need a guitarist for local band. Pay is terrible, but we’re a fun group. Bonus points if you’re available for a gig at the Carriage House this Friday.” Stu read the announcement a second time, paused, and let out a sigh of defeat - the worst kind of defeat that comes from not even trying. He closed the laptop.
In his socked feet and slumped shoulders, Stu walked into the dark kitchen, mindlessly opened the refrigerator, and stood in the glow of the cold light. His eyes were aimed at the shelf with the yogurt, eggs, and last night’s leftover pizza, but they were not seeing. His faithful cat Charley sat near his feet, watching him curiously for a full minute until finally letting out a meow to snap Stu out of his standing-staring-slump.
“What?! Charley, I just fed you!” Stu snapped.
The cat sprang up, and instead of running to his empty food dish by the door, he ran back into the other room, leaped onto the coffee table, and perched his slightly hefty bottom on the laptop. Stu followed with perplexed annoyance.
Stu stood at the threshold of the room and locked eyes with Charley. The cat sat nearly motionless - the only movement was a methodical tap tap tap from his right paw, patting the laptop. Stu got the message loud and clear, stuffed his doubt away, and typed out a response that evening.
[photo by me. story is fictional.]
Love this!
I hope you didn't think that was a critique. Not at all I was just hoping there might be another story about how he transformed himself into a rock musician!