“Ohhh, I have a lot of questions,” the black cat said as she paced back and forth on the counter. “Number one: how dare you?”
Ellie clicked her tongue as she let her arm slap against the table. “I dare because I own this house.”
Cleo slowly eased to a sit, wrapping her tail around her legs. “Don’t get me started on the unfair laws about animals not being able to own property.”
“I don’t understand,” Lola said as she glanced at Ellie.
“There’s a surprise,” Cleo shot back.
Ellie gave her an unimpressed stare. “That’s uncalled for. I thought you were going to be nicer to Lola.”
“That was then. This is now. And now we are faced with a crisis of epic proportions. I don’t understand how you expect us to live through this.”
“But people are coming to see us.” Lola wagged her stubby tail, causing her entire body to quiver all over.
“That’s the problem, idiot.”
“Don’t call her an idiot,” Ellie answered with a wag of her finger. “Lola, I feel the same way you do. I’m excited, too. And I’m excited for the masquerade ball.”
“I’m excited for the ball,” Cleo said. “Because you will be gone for hours, and I can actually get some sleep. Unless Lola barks all night.”
“I will, too. I’m the only one to watch the house.”
Cleo narrowed her eyes. “Unless I pop a claw in your a–”
“Stop,” Ellie said with a wave of her hand. “No one is popping claws into anything. Why is violence always your first response?”
