Funk-N-Fiction

Continuing today’s unintentional “seasonally sweet” theme — Minerva Howe shares a little bit of mischief that’s a whole lot of cute with this peek into her Secret Springs world.

Black Cats and a Mini Witch
by Minerva Howe

Chapter 1

Tim hummed along with Monster Mash, which was on his little conduction headphones. He always wore them instead of ear pods so he could hear the kids if they needed him. He was delivering laundry to the kids’ rooms, and he was really going to have to talk to Gawain about the state of his underwear. He really didn’t want to have to bleach things and wash them in hot water every single time.

Merlin was a little bit easier. He was still very much under the watchful eye of his dads. So his little stack of clothes went on his bed, and that was that.

When he got to Gwennie’s room, he started to put the laundry on her bed and then jumped back at least a good three feet when he realized there was an animal curled up in the middle of her comforter.

Tim blinked.

They had cats. He’d started out his life with Lukas and the kids with cats.

As far as he knew, they didn’t have any inky black cats who stared at him like this one did with its golden yellow eyes.

“Where did you come from?” he asked.

Kitty yawned, staring. Hard.

He looked around the room noting that while this cat was laying on the bed, there was also a pile of little blankets arranged in one corner with a name tag sewn on in Gwennie’s expert embroidery. It said Ebony. There was also a little cat box off in one corner of the room where it wouldn’t stink up things too much. She must be emptying it daily, or he would have noticed the smell.

“Well, Ebony, welcome to the family. You just hang out right there. I’m going to go talk to Gwennie.”

The kitty’s teeth showed in another yawn, and his tail twitched once in what Tim was fairly certain was annoyance.

Just about the time he was going to go down to the family room to check up on where Gwennie was, Lukas came breezing by with another basket of laundry.

“Lukas, babe, come here and check this out.”

“Sure, let me just put this in the bedroom.” Lukas took the laundry to their room and then came back, peering into Gwennie’s room. “Huh. Where did that one come from?”

“No idea. I think we should probably ask her.”

“Yeah, I think you’re probably right.” Lukas’s shook his head. “Look at that, there’s even a litter box.”

“I know. I wonder how long she’s been quietly pilfering kitty litter.”

“We need to find out.”

Together, they headed downstairs, making their way to the finished basement the kids used as their playroom. Gewnnie was playing dress up with her brothers, making them try on their Halloween costumes.

“Gwendolyn…”

She glanced up, her gaze wary. Tim had used her full first name, so that was an issue, and he knew she knew.

“Hi, Da.”

“Can we talk a minute?”

“Okay.” She looked so put upon, but she walked over to them, her little witch wand in hand.

“Where did Ebony the kitty come from?”

She sighed. “You went into my room.”

“Laundry,” Lukas murmured.

“Where, Gwennie.”

“Halloween town,” she stated.

He and Lukas looked at each other sideways, then as one, scowled at Gwennie. She needed to tell the truth.

“Seriously, dads. He was behind the boxes that hold our Halloween village in the garage.”

“Ah.” Tim grinned, and Lukas let out a relieved breath.

“Can I keep him, Da?”

“Yes. But, sweetie, we can’t just take cats in and put them in the house. We have a couple of really old kitties. Ebony needs to go to the vet and get shots and make sure he has no diseases.”

“Then can I let him loose in the house?”

“Of course.” Tim said a little prayer to the universe that the other cats liked Ebony…

“Yay!” He serious face split in a smile, and she hugged him tight. “This will be the best Halloween ever!”

“Next time, please just ask me. He almost gave me a heart attack.”

“I promise.” She turned back to her brothers, sheer determination on her face. “Now, I have some magic I have to work, Da. Papa. Love you.”

“Love you too, kiddo.” Lukas steered him out of the room, laughing. “Knowing our luck, she’ll turn them into toads.”

The End