A Green-Eyed Cat

Since Peggy Winters was a "cat person," she couldn't understand how she had become part of the eternal triangle, a man, a woman and a cat. How could she be jealous of a tiny kitten with big green eyes?

Missing Scooter, her black, sleek tom, who had taken on a mama possum, Peggy had been the one who had brought the minx home from the Humane Society. However, when she set the cat down in the living room, it surveyed the comfy recliner with Harry Winters sprawled out in front of the TV sleeping and ran full speed like a pole vaulter and leapt into his lap. Harry woke up.

"Well, well," he said, "What have we here?" He began petting and rubbing the kitten under it's chin. The bonding had begun. Peggy was demoted to the maid who should have kitty's food and fresh water dish filled and the door opened promptly for outside feline forays. After two weeks, Peggy realized the situation was permanent.

"Aren't you going to name your cat?" Harry asked, one evening.

"My cat?" she thought. "Why don't you pick a name?" she said, aloud

"How about Marilyn, after Marilyn Monroe?"

Peggy pressed her lips together. She hated Marilyn Monroe even if she was dead. Probably it had something to do with that old pin-up Harry had in his workshop.

"Ok," she said, and walked back into the kitchen.

Harry put down his paper in disbelief. He'd only been teasing to rise out of her. Maybe she wasn't jealous anymore.

"Face it, Winters," he said to himself, "You've let yourself go and lost all that curly hair she was so wild about."

When Harry came home the neXt evening, Marilyn scampered out to meet him.

"Hello, pretty baby," he said, as she circled his legs.

"Hi Peggy, what's for dinner?"

"Meatloaf with strychine sauce.

"M-m, sounds good."

Harry pulled something from his pocket, bent down and showed it to Marilyn. "Look what I got you. See, its even got your name engraved on it."

Harry was holding a rhinestone studded red collar with a heart dangling from it.

Peggy stomped into the kitchen and slammed an open cupboard door. She wanted to be "Pretty Baby" and recieve random gifts without any occasion. She wanted Harry to listen to what she said.

The next morning she called her beautician, Margy. "Can you get me in today?"

"Sure, Sweetie, one o'clock ok? What you want done?"

"The works, cut, hair color, facial, whatever you have to create a miracle."

"I'm writing down miracle for one o'clock," Margy said, laughing.

By four o'clock, Peggy looked in Margy's mirror and saw the redhead she used to be. The color was a bit softer and the short contemporary style flattered her small face with jagged wispy bangs. The eyeliner, which she never wore, made her brown eyes look huge.

"Wow," the customer in the adjacent chair said, "I want whatever she got."

The Humane Society closed at five. She could still make it.

While she listened to the attendant, the Vanna White of the cat world, reel off the virtues of each cat, Peggy felt a claw snag the back of her blouse. A tiger striped tom had claimed her.

Back home, Harry called from the kitchen. "You're a bit late, I don't suppose you've had time to cook anything."

When Peggy didn't answer, he came out munching a cracker, "Got kinda' hungry. so I..."

He stopped. "What have you done to yourself?"

"You don't like it?" She touched her cropped head.

"No, I mean its not I don't like it, its just so different, you look so...well, sexy."

Peggy's bright red lips stretched into a smile. He hadn't even noticied the cat.

"This is Pierce," she said, holding up her languid bundle of relaxation, "after Pierce Brosnan."

Pierce glared at Harry, stiffened and hissed. "I don't think he likes me. Should I be jealous?"

"Well, maybe now you can understand how I've felt about Marilyn."

"You've been jealous of Marilyn?"

"Yes, I'm embarrased to say so, but you've given her so much attention, I've felt neglected."

"I'm sorry, I had no idea. How about if we go out to dinner? That is, if a fox like you wants to be seen with an old balding guy like me."

"You're feeling a little insecure too?"

"Yep, men just don't talk that much about their feelings."

Peggy put Pierce down and put her arms around Harry. "I love you just the way you are, Hary Winters."

Just then, Marilyn sauntered in. Staring at Pierce, her back arched and her fur went electric.

Later, when Peggy and Harry snuggled on the couch watching a movie, the two green eyed cats vied for space and attention.