There She Goes Again

Grandma rocked back in her rocking chair. She pushed the needle through the fabric finishing the little 'x' to complete the stitch in the cross stitch she was working on. She looked up as Mouri walked into the living room. "Oh hello, Dear," she said setting the project down in her lap. "How are you feeling today?" Mouri fell back onto the couch and curled up without a word. "One of those kinds of days?" Mouri did not respond as she slipped her hands under her cheek. "How about a story then."

~*~

"Hey, Daddy!" Mel exclaimed as she ran out the back door. "Whatcha doin'?" The older katragoon turned and smiled at his daughter. He put a finger up to his lips to signal her to be quiet. Mel blinked at him as she continued to approach him before glancing over to the fenced-in area that he was standing by. Once she was next to him, he pointed to the shelter in the center of the area. She put her hands on the chain links and peered in.

"They're called Sikeri," her father said quietly as he got down to her level. He pulled her close and pointed. "Do you see the smaller ones there?" Mel nodded. "Those ones just hatched."

Mel gasped putting her hands to her face. "Really?" she exclaimed.

Her father lightly chuckled. "Yes. They hatched this morning," he said. He grabbed her, lifted her off the ground as he stood, and got her up on his shoulders. She grabbed onto his horns while he held onto her legs.

"Hey, wait! Can we play with them, Daddy?" Mel asked as her father turned to walk back to the house.

"Not right now Sweetie," he replied as he walked across the yard.

"How come?" she pouted. She rested her chin on one of his horns.

"They need to rest now," he answered. They reached the door. He ducked down slightly so he could keep Mel on his shoulders as they went inside.

Mel pouted even more. "But I wanted to play," she whined.

"I know Sweetie," her father said. "How about I teach you about Sikeri in the meantime?"

Mel straightened up almost tipping herself off balance. Her father reflexively tightened his grip on her legs so she wouldn't fall. "Really?!" she exclaimed.

He chuckled. "Yes really," he said. "I have some books in my study. We can read them together. How does that sound?"

Mel nearly threw herself off balance again as she threw her hands up. "That sounds like fun!" she exclaimed.

Her father laughed leaning forward to keep her from flopping back off his shoulders. "Well then let's go," he said. He walked through the kitchen and down the hall to his study. He opened the door and walked in. He pulled Mel from his shoulders and placed her on the chair sitting next to the door. He walked over to one of the bookcases and pulled a book from the shelf.

"What book is that, Daddy?" Mel asked watching intently.

"Its a book on Sikeri behavior patterns," he replied as he walked back over to her. He sat down on the floor in front of her. She moved to the edge of the chair as he opened the book.

~*~

"Grandma," Mouri said interrupting the story.

"Yes, Dear?" Grandma asked looking up from the cross stitch that she had resumed working on as she spoke.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked.

"Is the distraction not helping?" Grandma asked in response.

"No. I mean yes. I mean but why this story specifically?" she asked pushing herself up so she could look at the elderly kat.

Grandma placed the piece of fabric in her lap. "Well. I was thinking," she started. She rocked back in her chair. "I'm getting older. And you've been having a lot of rough days lately. I think having a Sikeri around the house would do you some good."

Mouri's eyes lit up and then she looked down. "But Grandma," she started sounding disappointed. "We need to have a permit to be able to own one."

Grandma lightly chuckled rocking in her chair. "Your great-grandfather was a Sikeri trainer," she said.

~*~^~*~

"Grandma? Why did you never tell me that Great-Grandpa Kaveh was a Sikeri trainer?" Mouri asked as the two of them walked up to the Sikeri Adoption center.

"You never asked, Dear," Grandma replied. Mouri opened the door for her. "Thank you." She walked in with Mouri following behind.

"But I've asked about your parents and you've told me about your Baba," Mouri started.

Grandma turned smiling at her. "Well, now you know, Dear."

"I could have had a Sikeri months ago!" Mouri exclaimed. "My therapist has been telling me for a while now that I should probably get one for emotional support!"

Grandma put a hand on Mouri's shoulder causing her to flinch. "Mouri," she said calmly trying to look her in the eye but Mouri wouldn't meet her gaze. "We can't change the past. But we can change what we do in the present. We're here to get a Sikeri now. Better late than never." She smiled at her when Mouri finally looked up at her. "Come on. I'll even let you pick your favorite."

The two of them turned and walked up to the counter. "Welcome!" the katragoon behind the counter greeted. "Are you here to visit or to adopt?"

"Adopt," Grandma said pulling her craft bag down off her shoulder.

"Wonderful!" the kat said. "First we will need to see your Owner's Permit to begin the process."

Grandma set her bag on the counter. "Now I know I have it in here somewhere," she said as she reached into the bag.

~*~

"Now just remember what I taught you," Kaveh said as he put a hand on Mel's shoulder. Mel nodded. "You can even take my Sikeri. You two have grown quite close."

"Why couldn't you be the one to give me the exam?" Mel asked as she continued to watch the Sikeri that were playing in the backyard.

"I know you know this stuff," he said. "But they could claim that I coached you through your test." He rubbed her shoulder. "I believe in you. You've been working on this stuff for years."

"Doesn't mean that I'll pass," Mel shot back.

"You will," Kaveh said. "Now go on or you'll be late."

Mel nodded. She walked out into the yard and up to the playing Sikeri. "Come on, Aqua," she said. "We need to get going." The Sikeri stopped playing and all looked up at her. "Please?" The Sikeri named Aqua gave a nod. She looked back at the other two Sikeri and gave a quick chirp. Mel turned and started walking toward the front of the house. Aqua followed behind her.

They rounded the house to find another Katragoon standing in the driveway. "You're late," the kat said to Mel.

"I-I thought I was on time," Mel stammered. She looked over at the Sikeri next to her who just looked back up at her with a shrug.

"I have been waiting here for 10 minutes," the kat said narrowing her eyes. Mel shrunk back. The kat sighed rolling her eyes. "It's whatever at this point. Now, guide the sikeri down the street and have them find the necklace that I hid. Then have them bring it back to me."

Mel nodded. "Come on, Aqua," she said. The two of them walked down the drive to the road. They stepped out onto the road and headed towards the trees. The Sikeri kept close to Mel. Then after a few moments, the Sikeri chirped up to Mel. The kat looked down at the Sikeri. Aqua pointed at something that was glimmering in the sunlight. "Bring it here." The Sikeri ran over to it and then brought it back to Mel. The kat smiled at the necklace she was carrying. "Now let's go back to the examiner." The two of them turned and walked back home.

~*~

Grandma pulled the permit out of her bag and handed it over to the kat behind the counter. "And that's how I earned my permit," she said.

Mouri sighed in embarrassment. "Just because I love hearing your stories doesn't mean everyone wants to hear them," she said hiding her face in her hand.

The katragoon behind the counter laughed lightly with a wave of her hand. "Oh it's alright," she said as she took the permit. She started typing as she input the needed information. After a few moments, she handed the permit back to Grandma. "And there you go! The Sikeri are right through that door." Mouri turned to look at the door that the kat had indicated. She took in a deep breath as she steadied herself. She couldn't believe that she was finally getting a sikeri.