The Cat God's Game (6)

She awoke early the next morning, just as she did the same before, and repeated a similar regime. Some stretching, a jog around the area, ending with her down at the creek again where she hoped Mr. Keensley was there to offer some coffee.

Lucky for her, he was, albeit in the middle of reeling in a fish when she arrived.

“Hey! You caught something!” she cheered him on.

“Yup. They sure are biting a lot today,” he replied. He pulled in the fish and put it in a bucket to take home later.

Kat peeked inside the bucket, which held numerous fish. “Dang. How long have you been out here?”

“Got started about twenty minutes ago.”

“T-twenty minutes?! And you already just about filled your bucket?!”

“Looks like I’m gonna have to call it early today,” Mr. Keensley said, putting down his fishing pole. “Got too many fish as it is.”

“I could take some off your hands!” Kat smiled.

Mr. Keensley chuckled. “Is that the cat part of you talking?”

“I meant to give it to my mom later to cook for dinner,” she laughed. “Should’ve seen that jokecoming. Are ya heading back now?”

He pulled out his thermos and a cup and filled it with coffee. “I’m in no rush,” he said, handing the coffee and sugar packets to Kat.

“Nice!” she said, thanking him.

She sat down on a rock across from him as he got to work putting away his fishing rod. The two sat in silence, listening to the ambient sound of nature until the sun peeked over the horizon.

The arrival of rays of sunshine was the cue for The Cat God to appear. “And today-ee is day three-ee!” it said.

Kat handed the cup back to Mr. Keensley and stood up.

“Let’s do this!” she shouted.

***

The day came and went just as it had on day two, with Kat failing to grab the tail yet again. Messes were made by Kat, new snacks were tried and reproduced, and the event wrapped up with The Cat God going around to hand out blessings to those affected by the challenge.

Kat returned home, ate dinner, and went to bed early.

On the morning of day four, Kat arrived at the creek the same as she had the past several days, only to find Mr. Keensley with only a lawn chair and coffee for Kat.

“Not fishing this morning?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Not today, but I thought you might come by again.”

Kat sat in silence as she enjoyed her morning coffee while watching the sunrise. When The Cat God arrived to begin, she handed the cup back to Mr. Keensley and got started.

The day ended with zero progress yet again.

Day five came and went, with the only thing to change was Kat’s increased frustration.

On day six, Kat was completely worn out. By lunchtime her spirits were low, and her efforts were getting worse and worse.

The Cat God tapped its chin as it stood over Kat, who was sprawled out underneath the shade of a tree. “It appears with each passing day you have become worse.”

“You don’t have to remind me!” Kat yelled between pants.

Leaning its head out from underneath the shade, The Cat God shielded its eyes as it looked up at the clear sky. “Today sure is going to be a hot one. What says you about taking an early lunch? Hm? Oh! Maria! Just in time to join us!”

Maria approached the two; a parasol in one hand and an ice-cold water bottle in the other.

“Lunch at Pop’s again?” Maria asked.

The Cat God nodded with a giant smile on its face. “I want to get my paws on one of those breakfast platters this time! And with this heat, I think I will partake in an ice cream sundae as well! Mm, mm, mm! I can already taste the sweet vanilla ice cream, dripping hot fudge, and peanuts galore!”

“With all the food you’ve been packing this week, I’m surprised you haven’t exploded,” she said while handing the water bottle to Kat.

“It is a benefit of being a deity! No need to fear the consequence of what one intakes. Weight gain? Clogged arteries? Heart disease? Irrelevant! By the way, Maria. Please give my regards to your brothers and sisters. They have been quite generous in their offerings to me. I have never had the pleasure of trying so many different snacks in such a short period!”

“I’ll say,” Maria said. “And I take it the reason my siblings have been hopped up on sugar and too full to eat a proper dinner is related?”

“What is offered to me is repaid with interest,” The Cat God winked.

Maria glared in annoyance, then turned her attention back to Kat, who was busy chugging the water bottle.

“Anywho,” The Cat God said. “Come, Kat! Let us make our way to the diner for another delicious meal!”

“Can’t,” Kat said. “Food might be free for you, but I’m just about broke. I’ll eat lunch at home today.”

“Ah! I am sorry to hear that. Then shall we meet up in an hour? That shall give us plenty of time to rest and enjoy ourselves.”

“Sure,” Kat answered.

The Cat God bowed. “Very well! I will see you in fifty-nine minutes and fifty-seven seconds!”

With that, The Cat God teleported away.

“How’re you holding up?” Maria asked.

“Not holding well,” Kat replied. “I’m starting to think I might not be able to pull this off. It was stupid of me to accept the challenge to begin with.”

Maria kept silent, as she knew there was no point in adding insult to injury. “I think it’s about time we talk to your mom.”

“No way!” Kat shouted. “I don’t want her knowing that I literally put my life on the line for this challenge!”

With a swift motion, Maria smacked Kat on the top of the head with her parasol.

“Ow!” Kat cried out in pain. She gripped the top of her head where Maria had hit her. “What was that—”

When Kat looked up, she saw that Maria was furious with her.

“Did you already forget what your mom said at the start of the summer about asking her for help?!”

Kat recalled the day after she had transformed into a catgirl when her mom said she was disappointed how Kat was reluctant to come to her for help in fear she’d get mad. She told Kat that she would never be mad with her if she needed help.

Yet there Kat was doing it again.

“Does your mom know the details of the challenge?” Maria asked.

“Just that if I win I can change back. Not what happens when I lose.”

“Okay,” she said, standing up and dusting the bits of dead grass from her dress. “Let’s go tell your mom.”

“But—” Kat started to argue, only to suffer another beating from Maria. “Okay! Okay! Stop hitting me!”

“I’m hitting you out of love.”

“Well, your love hurts!”

“It only hurts because you make it hurt!”