The Lady finished putting the last of the groceries away and looked over to where Leo stood, eyeing her from the corner. She smiled and
bent to scratch behind his ear
murmuring “Hello there, my precious, my pretty kitty.”

He dutifully purred in response but pulled away, contorting his body to stay just out of her reach, and looked pointedly at his food bowl.
His beseeching amber eyes traveled up to meet hers, then across the kitchen to the refrigerator where the fish would be
stored. He added a pitiful little “Meow” for emphasis.

“Oh, are you that hungry, then, poor kitty?”

She reached into the cupboard and pulled out some kibble, pouring
a generous amount into his already
partially full bowl. “Poor dear, has to have fresh”, she mused indulgently, then stood back expectantly.

Leo stared at her coldly, sniffed at the bowl disdainfully, then turned and stalked off. Just out of sight,
around the corner, he laid back his ears and furiously ripped at the carpet with his claws.