Sarah stood outside Mrs. B’s door, knowing she had to go in but a little more than hesitant to do so. She slung her purse across her chest. It was uncomfortable, but it wouldn’t fall off in battle. She looked inside for something to fight the cats. Finally, she pulled out her keys and closed the bag up again.

When she opened the door, she saw Tommy balancing himself on the back of an armchair. The mean orange tabby was leading the pack to climb up the chair.

“You came back!” Tommy said. “Where’s Simon?”

“He had to take care of something,” she said.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to interrupt his busy day.”

“Relax,” she shook her keychain. All the cats looked up at the jingling sound. She started towards the kitchen, cats trailing after her.

“The mean one’s not going,” Tommy called out.

“Getting the other fifty out of the way.”

In the kitchen, she found a full box of cat food. She opened the door and tossed the entire contents in a thick line in the yard. The cats pounced on it gleefully.