Penny's Tales

My cat was pregnant and I was really excited about it. I really looked forward to the kittens! Before they were even born I wanted to play with them.

It was hard waiting for the kittens to come, especially because Hissy was even grumpier than usual.

Mom said that was normal, making babies grow in your belly makes moms tired. Hissy didn’t hate me now, she just wanted to sleep.

I came home from school one day and mom ran up to meet me at the door, smiling wide.

“The kittens are here!” She announced, running back into the living room. I ran too, excited to meet the new kittens. There was a cardboard box in the room, which we’d put our old towels in so Hissy would be comfortable.

Mom bent over the box and picked up one of the kittens, cupping it in her hands and beckoning me closer. I leaned in to see, but there was no kitten. There was a blue slug thing in her hand instead.

“Mom what’s—”

The slug jumped from her open palm and jammed itself into my mouth before I could ask what it was, wet and slippery it slid down my throat like foul Jell-O.

I stood there for a moment in confusion, then smiled wide, bursting with excitement. Mom was still to smiling too, this was a happy day.

That’s when I heard Dad come home from work. I walked over to the box, Hissy was lounging comfortably on the towels, three more babies squirming beside her.

“Dad! Dad!” I called, cupping one of the tiny babies in my hands. “The kittens are here! Come see!”