I pried my eyes open the next day to be greeted with a total déjà vu. There was a tawny-striped cat looking at me. A larger, older version of the kitten from yesterday. “You,” I said. “In the fur.” “Where did you go yesterday? I thought you were going to catch up to me but you never did.” “Sorry. Had a couple things I needed to take care of after talking to my brother.” “That’s vague.” “It is, isn’t it?” “I got more clothes for you.” I nodded over at a stack of folded clothes on a chair that I’d grabbed from my brother’s closet. “Cool. Thanks. Your mom already left. She said she was letting you sleep in since it’s Saturday. She talks to herself a lot?” “All the time. It’s bizarre.” Although, not as bizarre as having a conversation with a cat. Luckily, Mom had barely been around yesterday after school so I didn’t have to explain what had happened to my familiar that had seemingly vanished into thin air. He was back. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
