FORTY-EIGHT: Good-mannered Octavius

They were walking the long blocks home and Arous could feel Octavius fuming as the boy in the gray robe and red half-mask led the way.

“Sweetheart,” stopping to pat Octavius on the head, she tried to shift focus to keep from crying. “I think you are a very well groomed cat. That wrinkled old prune had no idea what he was talking about. He certainly hadn’t taken a good look at you.” The tears came anyway.

“I think he’s a beautiful cat. He didn’t try to bite me anyway,” the boy said.

“Really? Well groomed and good mannered? Octavius the day seems to be looking up for you.”

A few moments of silence passed.

“So, can you answer a question for me?”

“I’ll try.”

“Can you explain what he meant by genetically altered?”

“Yes,” said the boy.

“Well?”  asked Arous.

“In simple terms, his cat DNA was melded with other DNA to make him a hybrid cat.”

“Well, yes, I know what genetically altered means – but how could he tell?”

“I told him,” said the boy.

“You?”

“Yes. I saw him outside just sitting on the steps. I had a few minutes and sat with him. I was sitting there, thinking and petting him and realized that we were about the same age. He’s only about two months old which makes him about four. My age.”

“Four? You talk like an adult.”

“People always say that. I’m the youngest altar boy at the Temple.”

“Really? It’s surprising they like boys so young and impressionable.”         

“Most boys are older. Twelve or more, your age I guess. You can call me impressionable; I’m not. People underestimate me and I use that to my advantage.”

“It’s no advantage if you tell people,” said Arous; she was smiling.

“I’m only telling you because you seem like someone I can trust.”

“What if I’m not?” asked Arous.

“You wouldn’t have this cat, then.”

“Why?”

“Genetically altered.  He can read you, will imprint to you in a special way.  He’ll be like you in some ways.  If you were prone to disloyalty I figured he would’ve bitten me.”

“Can’t argue with that kind of logic,” she said.

“I suppose not,” he said. “I know you too. But I don’t think you recognize me.”