All Cats Do Too
A dog visits his best friend after work.
The dog turned the doorknob. The door was heavy. He had to use his weight to push it open. He stepped inside. The lights were out, and it was very dark in the room. There was a large window on the wall opposite the door that let in sunlight. The curtains were open, and he could hear cars and people on the streets far below.
"Why is it so dark in here?"
"I like it this way."
"Fuckin' weirdo."
The cat was lying on a large bed in the center of the room. Wires were poking into her white fur. They led to a pair of machines on the left side of the bed.
The dog grabbed a wooden chair from the corner of the room and brought it to the bedside. He slipped out of his jacket and draped it over the seat. He sat. The chair was very stiff and uncomfortable against his back. He fidgeted.
"Enjoying yourself?"
She was looking at him now, smiling.
"You know me. Lovin' life."
"I'll bet."
"Would've thought with how much people pay hospitals they would be able to afford nicer chairs."
"Beggars can't be choosers."
"I guess so."
He pawed a loose hair from his snout.
"So how are you?"
"I'm good. Tired, but good. You?"
"Fine. Have you told your parents?"
"Really? That's what you wanna start with?"
She laughed a warm, spirited laugh.
"Do I still look like a teen to you?"
"No, but they might wanna know."
"Do you really think I should?"
"I don't know. It was just a thought."
"Do you think they'd care?"
"Maybe. I don't know."
"Nah. They wouldn't care."
She turned her head and gazed out the window. The sky was a pale blue. In the air were puffings of paper-white clouds. There was a plane flying through the sky. It left behind long, parallel lines of water vapor as it flew.
"How's my class without me?"
"It's fine."
"Cassy doing all right?"
"I think she's getting it. Slowly."
"Liam giving her trouble again?"
"Yeah. Some."
She grabbed his wrist and squeezed tightly. She let go.
"I called that little shit's mom a dozen times last semester."
"Yeah. I remember. I've been helping her. It's just been… slow."
"Your class been treating you better?"
"It's good. It's fine."
He shrugged.
"The whole school is going to make get-well-soon cards for you next Monday."
"That's so sweet. You're idea?"
"Maybe."
"You know that-."
"I know. I know. I just thought you might reconsider. Even for a little while."
The room was quiet for a long time. The dog sniffed the air. There was the faintest hint of lavender. He knew she liked lavender. He scraped his paws together in the silence.
"You wanna tell me how you harangued the doctor into letting you do this?"
"Not really, no."
"No?"
"No."
"Because last I heard, it's illegal. Here at least."
"Don't lecture me."
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"I'm not. It's just… I'm frustrated."
His shoulders slumped. He rested back against the chair.
"The last one said you might have another couple months. We could wait."
"Do you really think I want that?"
"Don't you?"
"I've already waited long enough. I've accepted it. I've still got another eight, after all."
"And what if that's the wrong choice? What if we would've gotten a call next week? What then?"
"Then I'm sure whoever's after me will be very happy with my choice. Not like I would have any regrets then anyhow."
The dog stood up from his chair. He was getting angry now, and he didn't want to be angry. He scratched his face as he walked past the bed.
"It's not your decision to make, Olli."
"I know. I know that. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry."
"I know. It just feels like I want this more than you sometimes."
"I'm telling you how it is. But I understand. I'd probably feel the same if we were switched."
"You would?"
"Of course."
She was grinning again.
"Although, it's not like you would have to worry. All dogs go to heaven, right?"
"I guess so."
Through the window and to the left he saw the highway. Traffic had backed up the entire four-lane road heading out of the city. The cars were barely moving at all. Their exteriors were shiny and bright in the afternoon sun. From this angle, they got less shiny the farther away they were. Less reflective. There were so many. So many people and cars all the way up and down and over the horizon.
"How's it look out there?"
"Traffic's backed up good."
"Rush hour will do that to ya. People wanna get home."
Far away to the right, there was a park. Children were playing in jungle gyms and on swing sets. He thought some of them looked like his students, but it was hard to tell from up here. They were all dots. He could hear them. He could hear them yelling and laughing and playing.
"Got a lot of parents and kids in the park today."
"Don't blame 'em. There's supposed to be another cold snap over the weekend."
"Another one? It just started to warm up a little."
"It's Missouri. What do you expect?"
"True."
"They sound like they're having fun. It makes me miss the classroom."
The cat rested her head deep within the pillow. She sighed.
"I used to imagine us together, you know."
"What?"
"You and me. A couple."
"Are you bullshitting?"
"No. I'm being serious. And don't act like that. You knew."
"I didn't. I genuinely didn't."
"Genuinely?"
"Genuinely."
"You're a genuine fuckin' liar is what you are."
"I'm not. I'm not!"
They were both laughing now. Laughing and chuckling and hiding their faces behind their paws. The cat coughed suddenly and clutched the left side of her chest. She sucked her teeth.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. It just takes a lot out of me to laugh like that."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It feels good. It hurts, but it feels good."
He looked at her. The light from the window tinged her white fur with a hint of indigo.
"So me and you then?"
"Don't flatter yourself. It was a long time ago."
"How long?"
"Really fucking long."
They started laughing again, and she had to stop herself.
"I don't know. Back when we were in high school or something. You know. Back when we were shitheads and didn't know who we were."
"Still don't."
"Speak for yourself, asshole."
She picked up her pillow and threw it at him. It bounced harmlessly against his shoulder. He knelt down and tossed it back to her. She caught it and placed it gently back under her head.
"So, kids?"
"Oh yeah. We'd have an entire litter. Cheaper by the dozen."
Back in the park, he noticed many parents. Some sat on benches and watched and some played. Some were on their phones and some were pushing children on the swings. He wondered which ones the two of them would have been if they'd been parents.
"Really? An entire litter?"
"Why do you say it like that?"
"Mmm. No reason."
"Oh, Hell no. Tell m-."
"Knock knock."
The door to the room opened and a small fox stepped inside. Her scrubs were a chalky purple. She flicked on the light. The dog and the cat lifted their paws up to their eyes.
"Ope, I'm sorry! I didn't think there were any visitors."
"Oh, no, you're all right. I was only stopping by anyway."
He crossed back to the other side of the bed. He grabbed his jacket from the chair and put it on. Then he lifted the chair and returned it to its spot in the corner. The fox had taken the chair's place at the bedside. He stood at the end of the bed looking down at the cat.
"I'll stop by again next week, all right?"
She looked at him and smiled, but she didn't speak.
"Have a good night."
"You too."
The dog nodded. He grabbed the doorknob. It squeaked as he pushed the door open. It was very heavy. He stepped out into the hallway. It was shiny and white in the hallway. Before the door closed behind him, he snuck his hand back into the room and flicked the light off.
The backyard was cold and dark when Oliver brought the bag outside. The frozen grass crunched against his feet. There was already a fire going in the small, steel fire pit. Smoke blended into the night sky as it rose. He stooped down low beside it. The bag rested beside him.
He watched the fire. Watched the shapes of red and orange. Yellow heat. Smoky ash.
He opened the bag and turned it upside down. The cards fell out into a messy pile. The construction paper made gentle taps as they hit the grass. He shook the bag hard until it was completely empty. There were so many cards. He set the bag behind him.
He grabbed the nearest card. His eyes closed, and he took a deep breath. Then he tossed it into the fire. The fire sputtered and coughed as it wrapped around the delicate paper. The paper shriveled into a tiny, blackened mass at the base of the flame. When he was satisfied he grabbed another.
After finishing with all the cards, he stood and grabbed the bag. A final card tumbled out. He reached down and grabbed it. He held up to the fire. There was an angel drawn in blue crayon on the front. He opened it.
"DONT WORRY MS ELLIS MY MOM SAYS ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN BUT I KNOW ALL CATS DO TOo - FROM LIAM"
It was starting to rain in the backyard. The card was getting wet. He tossed the card in the flames quickly and watched it burn in the dying embers. He threw a handful of dry dirt into the pit. The embers died instantly, and he hurried back inside.