Francis, the cat, is at home bored out of his mind when he decides to go outside.
In his backyard, he finds Rafael, the bird and Raul, the rat having a heated argument.
They both get quiet when they notice Francis.
Cat: Hey guys, what´s up?
Raul: Hey Francis.
Rafael: Pussycat…
Cat: what´s going on?
Rafael: Nothing. I was just talking to Raul here on how three birds and at least five rats have gone missing in the last couple of days.
Cat: really?
Rafael doesn´t respond, just stares at Francis.
Cat: wait… what? You guys think I have something to do with that?
Rafael: I don´t know. Do you?
Raul: I told him there´s no way you´d harm another living being.
Cat: I wouldn´t.
Rafael: yeah right! Word on the street…
Cat (interrupting): what street? I didn´t hear anything.
Rafael: Agh! Shut up! As I was saying…
Francis just gives Raul a wtf look.
Raul shrugs.
Rafael (cont.): there have been some rumors of creatures…
Cat (interrupting, again): what creatures? Like monsters?
Rafael: please be quiet and let me talk.
Cat: Okay! Geez… you didn´t get your pills this morning, did you?
Rafael: what pills? Will you shut up and let me finish answering your question?
Cat: fine, go ahead.
Rafael sys loudly, in annoyance.
Rafael: as I was saying, some animals from around the neighborhood…
Rafael pauses to make sure Francis doesn´t interrupt him again.
Francis remains silent and puts his hand to his mouth signaling zipping it shut.
Rafael (cont.): … have been going missing and well, we think you did it.
Francis looks at Raul and then back at Rafael, confused.
Cat: I did it?
Rafael: yes.
Cat: did what?
Rafael: killed the missing animals.
Cat (dumbstruck): are you high?
Rafael: Pussycat, rats and birds are disappearing at an alarming rate.
Cat: and what? You think I kidnapped them and stashed them in my basement or something?
Rafael: did you?
Cat: My house doesn´t have a basement.
Rafael: Agh! You´re impossible! I think you ate them.
Cat (turns to Raul): Is he serious?
Raul stays quiet. He doesn´t know what to say or think.
Cat: Really? You think I´m guilty too?
Raul: I don´t know what to think.
Cat: wow… you two are amazing friends.
Rafael: pussyc…
Cat: did you ever think that there could be other cats in the neighborhood?
Rafael: I don´t know, are there?
Cat: how the hell should I know? I´ve seen a few cats come and go, but to you that´s just an excuse. You already think I´m guilty. Missing animals, the cat did it!
Raul: No one is saying you´re guilty Francis…
Cat: Oh no? He seems to think I did it and judging by the look on your face, you think I did it too.
Rafael: wrecked cat, some of my relatives and some of Raul´s friends have gone missing. What do you want us to think?
Cat: I don´t know. But want to know what I thought?
Rafael: what?
Cat: that you were my friends too.
Francis turns his back on Raul and Rafael and walks away.
Raul: told you.
Rafael: told me what?
Raul: he didn´t do it.
Raul: You really think so?
Raul: I´ve said it before Rafael, he´s harmless. And now he´s mad at us.
Rafael: you say it like it’s a bad thing.
Raul: Rafael, Francis is our friend. And just now, by suspecting him, we hurt him.
Rafael: Agh! I know… Then who? Who´s been abducting and very likely killing the missing rats and birds?
Raul: there could be a million reasons that explain the missing animals. Blaming Francis without any proof was a mistake.
Rafael: you trust that cat way too much.
Raul: He saved my butt a couple of times. He could have eaten and or killed me on several occasions and he never did. He´s always been very friendly.
Rafael: yeah, I know.
Rafael flies off and lands right I front of Francis.
Cat (surprised, albeit still angry): what?
Rafael: I´m sorry. I shouldn´t have thought you were the one responsible.
Cat: No, you shouldn´t have.
Rafael: Friends?
Cat: I thought you didn´t trust cats.
Rafael: I don´t.
Cat: I´m a cat.
Rafael: You´re a fake cat.
To be continued…
2017_Joana Teixeira
