Evermore pet

The warm sunlight streaming through the window was far too joyful for a day like today. Phelan and his sisters sat at the kitchen table, or rather, he and Nico did. His youngest sisters were playing on the floor, quieter than usual, because even they could feel that something was wrong. He had snapped at the bubbly toddlers earlier. Cecile and Elodie didn’t understand, he knew that. But it didn’t matter to him. Their mom was dead. At barely seven, Nico understood. He could see it in the way her head was bowed, long brown hair a curtain hiding her face. He knew his sisters needed him to be there for them- he was the oldest. But it was hard, when he needed someone too.

A strange noise was coming from outside. A soft sound, Phelan barely noticed it through his ringing thoughts. He listened as it got louder.

“Is that…?” Nicolette trailed off. Phelan got up from the table and opened the front door, Nico a step behind him. A tiny kitten stared up at the two of them, the smallest ball of scraggly black fur littered with leaves and small twigs. He had wide golden eyes that were just beginning to change from their kitten blue. Phelan’s numb feeling didn’t budge- it couldn’t. But somewhere in a small corner of his broken heart- a little something got through.

The kitten was all alone.

Just like him.

He scooped up the little cat. It didn’t protest, and he exchanged a look with Nico. She gently scratched its chin, and the cat let out a soft purr. By the look on her face, Phelan could tell Nicolette was very much attached.

“Nico… dad isn’t going to let us keep him.”

“He will,” she said calmly. “He doesn’t really have a choice, not today.”

Their father had never let them have pets, other than his owl Gabrielle. Though she took her job delivering the mail very seriously, she wasn’t the cuddliest of creatures. But Nico was right. Phelan doubted his father would make a big deal of this today.

Later, the cat played on the floor with the two oldest Emile children, rolling around on the carpet in the living room. They had brushed him, and picked the bits of plant out of his fur, and gave him some milk. He had odd tastes, this cat. He’d hissed at Cecile, making the poor girl cry, their father, and the maid holding baby Aine, but didn’t mind the other sisters or Phelan. Phelan’s father had seen the cat, glancing briefly at it with distaste, and gave Phelan a quick look to let him know it was his responsibility. The boy had stared right back at him.

“I suppose he needs a name.” Phelan remarked. He and Nico tried many out on the little guy- Ocean, Lawrence, Kilian, Blackberry- but none were quite right.

“How about… Mumford,” Phelan finally said.

“After Mumford and Sons?” Nico said softly.

Phelan nodded. It was their mom’s favorite band.

“It’s perfect.”

Phelan brought the kitten to his face, feeling the soft warmth of the fur on his cheek. Last night his world had come crashing down. Ever since, he could feel himself spinning out of control. But if he could just look after his sisters and take care of this cat- maybe everything would be okay.

Word count: 559