"Lawrence Watt - Evans - Something To Grin About" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

"I'll ask around," she said.
"And for now?"
"You can stay for now, I guess," Melody reluctantly conceded.
"In that case, might I trouble you for some more food? Fish, perhaps, if there's no liver to be had?"
Melody shuddered. "I hate seafood," she said. "Look, I'll go down to the market and buy some cat
food, okay? Liver flavor, if they have it."
"Being a cat, I can't honestly say I would be grateful, but I would very much enjoy being properly
fed."
"All right, then," Melody said.
When she returned to the living room, Melody noticed the now-empty cat carrier and took a
moment to tuck it away out of sight in the coat closet before she prepared to go out.
She didn't want Todd seeing it when he came back; he hated pets. He might hit her again; he hadn't
lately, but if he found out she had a cat, he might.
As she put on her jacket and collected her purse she had the distinct feeling that she had lost her
debate with the catтАФbut that was hardly new; she lost arguments with Todd and with her mother all the
time, and she'd probably have lost arguments with her boss and her coworkers at the shop if she'd ever
had the nerve to argue with any of them in the first place.
Losing to a cat seemed somehow a bit worse, though, and in retaliation she slammed the door on
her way out, which did not trouble the cat at all. It watched her go, then washed itself and settled to sleep
on the kitchen counter.
It was awakened a moment later by a loud ring from the telephone. Annoyed, the cat uncurled and
glared up at the device.
It rang again.
The cat got to its feet, stretched up a paw, and knocked the receiver from its hook. It fell rattling to
the counter, then lay still, the receiver directly in front of the cat.
"Hello?" a voice said. "Melody?"
"I'm afraid Melody isn't here," the cat said into the mouthpiece.
For a moment there was silence, and the cat considered resuming its nap; then the voice said, "Who
am I talking to? That's not Todd's voice. Who are you?"
"I'm Melody's new boarder," the cat replied. "Most people just call me Cat."
"Boarder? You mean a roommate? Melody didn't tell me!"
"I've just arrived," the cat said.
"Oh! Well, IтАж well, that's wonderful. I'm Melody's mother, and I've been telling her for months
that it wasn't safe living there alone, that it was too expensiveтАж Are you splitting the rent?"
"I expect to do my share, Mrs. Duke," the cat answered.
"AndтАж well, what about Todd? I know Melody denied it, but I thought he was living with her, and
there isn't room for three, is there? Todd never paid any rent, of courseтАФI think that's why he kept
coming back."
 "I haven't met Todd, Mrs. Duke. I believe he's left."
"For good, I hope. I know I shouldn't say such things, but really, Melody can do better, I'm sure, if
she'd once get rid of him!"
"I wouldn't know. I do know Todd isn't here, and I am."
"Well, that's wonderful. You have such a lovely accentтАФ is it English?"
"I'm from England, yes. From Cheshire."
"What an interesting coincidenceтАФmy mother-in-law lives in Cheshire!"
"Yes, I believe Melody mentioned that."
"You said your name is Catherine?"
"Just Cat will suit me fine, Mrs. Duke."
"Melody isn't there?"
"She stepped out to the market just now."