Fiction Friday - Scaredy Cat

OK...I don't have a lot of time to write a post today, so I'm posting a flash fiction story I wrote in 2004. Despite the temptation to change a few parts, I'm leaving it as is, as a reminder to myself of how far I've come in my writing journey. :-)

Scaredy Cat
By Lynda Schab

"You wanna piece of me?" Misty stood on her hind legs and held up both paws in boxing position.

Butch lay in the corner several feet away, curled up on an old green army blanket, a blank expression planted on his pug face. He stared at her, and Misty was sure she saw fear in his eyes. Although Butch made no effort to get up, he kept his distance. Misty knew he feared her! Just look at the way he watched her, prepared for any sudden moves indicating she was ready to pounce!

"You're no fun," Misty proclaimed, dropping down on all fours. "No fun at all.." She yawned dramatically. She would pretend she was going for her catnap and then... WAM! She'd make her move.

Misty watched out of the corner of her eye as Butch followed her warily with his own.

She stretched, yawned again, lay down and closed her eyes until they were slits..she waited patiently to make her move. Butch's eyes were getting heavy. One, two, three...POUNCE!

Misty had never seen that bull dog move so fast! But he wasn't fast enough for her! She landed smack dab on the middle of his back as he was making his getaway and she clung to him like the hunk of mud he'd dragged in with him yesterday. Misty's claws dug into his fur and she smirked as Butch made sounds vaguely resembling a yelp.

BAM! Butch knocked into an end table and a glass vase came crashing down to the floor, shattering into millions of pieces. Misty reluctantly let go, watching as Butch went hightailing out of the room, probably going outside to finish the business he started on the rug...heh heh…

She dusted off her paws. What a wimp! He was twice her size and he was scared of her! "Scaredy-Cat" was the nickname she had given him. He hated that! Exactly the reason she kept on with it. Everyone knew cats were supposed to be afraid of dogs - not the other way around! The neighborhood cats all had dogs in their houses that actually chased them! What a riot! The only thing Butch chased was his own tail! It was probably the only thing he wasn't afraid of!

Well, at least she was here to create a little excitement. She loved watching Butch peek around the corner every time he entered a room, cowering when he saw her. She would take a few steps toward him just to see him back away, his tail between his legs. "Little Puppy… Scaredy Cat…" she would sneer. Hissing was even better. He had been known to go into hiding for days after a good hiss.

Hmph. What a wuss.

Misty heard a noise coming from the basement. Must be Butch found a new hiding spot. Maybe I'll go rile him a bit, she thought.

She sneaked through the door to the basement and made her way down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, a creaking noise startled her and she looked back up to the door at the top of the steps. Butch stood there with what Misty perceived as a grin on his ugly mug. He nudged the door closed.

Huh?

Misty looked around, glad one of her many talents was seeing in the dark. Something smelled fishy. She heard a small sound and jerked her head to the right. Movement. What was it? Her hair stood on end as she realized the source…

Mouse!

Misty tore up the stairs and scratched at the door, her claws digging into the wood. And even through all of her scratching, she faintly heard a smug little pug voice on the other side, "little kitty...scaredy cat...heh heh…"


Lynda Schab
Copyright 2004