Raul, the rat, is in Jason´s backyard, staring at the back door of the house.

From above, Rafael, the bird, flies over and spots his rodent friend down on the floor.

As Raul is about to turn and leave, he watches a shadow approach him from up above and spots Rafael, his friend, about to land.

Rafael: Look out!
Raul (startled): what the…?

Rafael lands near Raul, but trips over his own feet and ends up rolling over past him.

Raul (concerned/rushes to his aid): are you okay?
Rafael (head upside down/eyes still rolling inside his head): not so much…
Raul (tries to help Rafael get back up): What happened?

Rafael: sun glare…

Raul: oh…

Rafael shakes his head as if trying to put his pieces back in place.

Rafael: wrooo…

Raul (holding up his arms to help steady his friend): Are you sure you´re okay?
Rafael (still a bit dizzy): I´m good (not really)…

Raul: okay…
Rafael (changing the subject): how about you?
Raul: I´m good.

Rafael: yes, no. I mean, what are you doing here? Looking for Francis?

Raul: I haven´t seen him in a while.
Rafael: neither have I.

The two remain silent for a minute until Rafael starts to smile.

Rafael (grinning): maybe…
Raul (interrupting): he wasn´t abducted by aliens.
Rafael: And how would you know?
Raul: really? Why would a so called “superior race” come down to earth and abduct Francis?

Rafael: yeah, you´re right.
Raul: I know.
Rafael: but maybe, they wanted to experiment on him.
Raul: for what?

Rafael: I don´t know. To find out where all that stupid comes from.

Raul: And if they wanted to know that, why in all the world they would want to experiment on Francis of all cats?
Raul (holding back is laughter): … because he´s a very special kitty…

Raul breaks out laughing and Raul joins him.

They both fall to the floor laughing like crazy.

Raul/Rafael: HA! HA! HA!

Suddenly the back door opens and out comes Francis, running.

The two friends immediately stop laughing and just watch as Francis rushes towards them.

Rafael: He´s not stopping!
Raul: He´ll stop….

They hug each other, afraid that the running feline might just run them over.

Raul/Rafael (fearful): AH!

They close their eyes and hold on for dear life.

Francis comes to a halt inches away from them.

Cat: Hey guys.

Rafael (still holding on to Raul/eyes still closed/ignoring the cat): we dead?
Raul (also with his eyes closed/fearful): I don´t know…

Cat (curious): what´re you guys doing? Are you cold or something?
Raul (opens one eye and peaks): are we dead?
Cat: what?

Rafael opens both his eyes and as he sees Francis standing there watching them he pushes Raul away.

Raul (surprised): hey!
Rafael: what?
Raul: nothing…

Francis watches them, amused.

Rafael (to Francis): what´s with the grin?
Cat (still smiling like an idiot): nothing. I´m just happy to see you guys.
Rafael: why? You´re hungry?
Cat (widens the grin): I could eat.

Rafael stumbles back, fearful.

Raul: Francis, don´t do that. He´s going to believe you and one of these days you´ll give him a heart attack.

Rafael: Hey!
Raul: what?
Rafael: I´m not that weak, you know?

Raul: You nearly just pooped your pants just now, when he smiled like that.

Rafael (looks to make sure): I don´t wear any pants you idiot.
Raul: it´s an expression, you fool.

Cat: I missed you guys.
Raul: we missed you too Francis.
Rafael: speak for yourself. I didn´t miss him.

Raul (ignores the bird): ignore him. He did miss you.
Rafael: no I didn´t!

Cat: that´s okay Rafael. I didn´t miss you either.

Rafael: why the hell not?
Raul: you just said you didn´t miss him. But you get upset when he tells you he didn´t miss you?
Rafael: well, that´s… (throw his wings up in the air in a tantrum) ah shup up!

Raul and Francis look at one another and then break out laughing.

Cat/Raul: Ha! Ha! Ha!
Rafael (clueless): why are you two idiots laughing?
Cat: no reason.
Raul: no reason what so ever.

Rafael: idjits!

With his last remark Rafael flies off.

Raul (nears Francis): you good?
Cat: I´m good. You?
Raul: I´m good too. I´ll see you latter.

Cat: Bye.

Raul: bye.

Raul leaves and goes home. From above, Rafael watches is friends and grins.

Rafael (flying over): God, I missed arguing with that retarded cat.
Cat (smiling/walking back home): I missed arguing with that stupid bird.
Raul (walking home): I really missed those two idiots.

The end!

Joana Teixeira_2021