Multiple humans walk through the pet shop as the day progresses. Some alone, some in pairs or groups, some stopping by my play pin to admire or more likely, judge me. I appreciate the people who reach in and playfully taunt me, they never stay for long. Especially, when my mouth makes contact with their hands. They tend to move along to view the other animals when that occurs. The pleasant sensation of biting onto squishy things just feels too amazing on my gums and teeth to refrain from doing it. I feel my teeth growing stronger every time though it’s most likely in my best interest to bite into my toys instead.
I examine every humans’ facial features and body language so I’ll hopefully remember if they happen to come back, but as the numbers of them increase; they all fade together in my memory. The only clear mental image I have of any of these strangers is the mini human’s grimy face and hands. I twitch as I imagine how the ‘turd’ is doing with its new family. I think about those sticky fingers grabbing around its shell and I start to become thankful that it wasn’t me when it clearly could’ve been.
As the traffic slows, I see human dude’s feet drawing near the bars of the play area. I look up at him towering over me with a bowls in each hand. Without delay, the aroma of my wet food passes through my nostrils. I’m suddenly feeling starved. I back my body up keeping my eyes on the two bowls. A significant amount of water splashes up from the side of the bowl to the left, landing directly on the spot I was just at. “Whoops!” Human exclaims with a laugh. I’m not exactly happy about him finding humor in my fur potentially getting soaked but I can’t hold a grudge when he’s giving me food. Human dude finally makes contact between the bowls and the floor. I walk around the puddle of water and begin to scarf down the delicious food gift.
Human dude groans in what I believe is pain as he stands and straightens out his back, not that his back was straight to begin with. I do my best to not acknowledge him and only indulge in my food. It feels like he used warm water to wet the hard bits of food down, I love it. The human lady who took care of us would do the same thing, it makes the food delightfully more flavorful. I relish the warm feeling it leaves in my mouth and stomach, also leaving my stomach plump.
I go back-and-forth from my food to my water leaving somewhat of a mess in my water bowl until my stomach is satisfied. I walk to the other end of the barred play area and plop my body down with a huff. It still feels like I’ve only just left my cage but already, I’m feeling the midday exhaustion set in. The pet shop grows quiet as everyone is enjoying their food or nap. My eyes follow Zelly as she comes into view, she calmly strolls along side of the bars then disappears from my peripherals. I let out a long, full stomach sigh and allow my eyelids to fall. A floating sensation comes over me as my consciousness peacefully drifts away.
I awaken, unaware of where I have been moved to. Shortly, I remember falling asleep in the center of the store though I don’t remember dreaming or having been moved at all. It must have been why I felt that I was floating at one point. My eyes adjust to the slight darkness, there’s hardly any movement going on in the store. I lift myself from wood chips and it becomes clear that I’ve been returned to my cage, though it’s cleaner than the way I’d left it. I nuzzle my face through the fresh wood chips and sneeze some dust from my nose. I look in the direction of Lion’s kennel. He’s curled up in his bed with his back to me. “Hey. Hey. Lion,” I call out in a whisper. He shifts onto his back and lets out a sharp breath but still, no reply. “Okay.” I roll my eyes and play with some toys human dude left for me.
I examine every humans’ facial features and body language so I’ll hopefully remember if they happen to come back, but as the numbers of them increase; they all fade together in my memory. The only clear mental image I have of any of these strangers is the mini human’s grimy face and hands. I twitch as I imagine how the ‘turd’ is doing with its new family. I think about those sticky fingers grabbing around its shell and I start to become thankful that it wasn’t me when it clearly could’ve been.
As the traffic slows, I see human dude’s feet drawing near the bars of the play area. I look up at him towering over me with a bowls in each hand. Without delay, the aroma of my wet food passes through my nostrils. I’m suddenly feeling starved. I back my body up keeping my eyes on the two bowls. A significant amount of water splashes up from the side of the bowl to the left, landing directly on the spot I was just at. “Whoops!” Human exclaims with a laugh. I’m not exactly happy about him finding humor in my fur potentially getting soaked but I can’t hold a grudge when he’s giving me food. Human dude finally makes contact between the bowls and the floor. I walk around the puddle of water and begin to scarf down the delicious food gift.
Human dude groans in what I believe is pain as he stands and straightens out his back, not that his back was straight to begin with. I do my best to not acknowledge him and only indulge in my food. It feels like he used warm water to wet the hard bits of food down, I love it. The human lady who took care of us would do the same thing, it makes the food delightfully more flavorful. I relish the warm feeling it leaves in my mouth and stomach, also leaving my stomach plump.
I go back-and-forth from my food to my water leaving somewhat of a mess in my water bowl until my stomach is satisfied. I walk to the other end of the barred play area and plop my body down with a huff. It still feels like I’ve only just left my cage but already, I’m feeling the midday exhaustion set in. The pet shop grows quiet as everyone is enjoying their food or nap. My eyes follow Zelly as she comes into view, she calmly strolls along side of the bars then disappears from my peripherals. I let out a long, full stomach sigh and allow my eyelids to fall. A floating sensation comes over me as my consciousness peacefully drifts away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I awaken, unaware of where I have been moved to. Shortly, I remember falling asleep in the center of the store though I don’t remember dreaming or having been moved at all. It must have been why I felt that I was floating at one point. My eyes adjust to the slight darkness, there’s hardly any movement going on in the store. I lift myself from wood chips and it becomes clear that I’ve been returned to my cage, though it’s cleaner than the way I’d left it. I nuzzle my face through the fresh wood chips and sneeze some dust from my nose. I look in the direction of Lion’s kennel. He’s curled up in his bed with his back to me. “Hey. Hey. Lion,” I call out in a whisper. He shifts onto his back and lets out a sharp breath but still, no reply. “Okay.” I roll my eyes and play with some toys human dude left for me.
*****
Thanks for reading!
-Jade └(^o^)┘
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