In the Kingdom of Apartment 4B, there were two distinct classes of citizens. There was Oreo, the black and white tuxedo cat who believed in peace, quiet, and sharing. And then there was Pearl, the white cloud with sapphire eyes, who believed that everything the light touched belonged to her especially if it was pink.
The day began, as it always did, with The Morning Audit. Pearl slid across the wooden floor, extending one long, elegant leg in a stretch that doubled as a trip hazard for anyone walking by. She wore her pink collar like a crown, the tiny bell jingling a warning to anyone who dared ignore her. She fixed the room with a piercing blue stare that said, I see you have awakened to serve me. You may proceed.
By midday, the sun had moved to the west window, illuminating the coveted Pink Tower. This was the finest real estate in the house. Unfortunately, Oreo had gotten there first. He was curled up in the bowl, enjoying a rare moment of solitude.
Pearl did not believe in first come, first served. She believed in I fit, I sit.
Without a hiss or a growl, she executed a maneuver known only to siblings, The Double Decker Domination. She leaped up and simply stood on top of Oreo. She didn’t curl up next to him, she used him as a stepping stool to get a better view of the birds outside through the blinds. Oreo, possessing the patience of a saint, simply flattened himself beneath her weight, staring blankly past her tail. He was warm, he was squished, and this was his life now.
Once she had sufficiently established her dominance over the tower, Pearl decided it was time for The Royal Tribute. She shimmied to the upper perch and flopped onto her back, exposing her fluffy white belly. This was a calculated move. When a hand reached out to scratch her chin, Pearl gazed up with half lidded eyes, her paws kneading the air. High above the ground, with Oreo snoozing safely below her, she felt truly benevolent.
But ruling a kingdom is exhausting work. As the afternoon light faded into evening violet, the energy required to be both beautiful and bossy finally ran out.
Pearl retreated to the bedroom. She found the softest, thickest pink quilt perfectly camouflaging her white fur and curled into a tight, impossible croissant shape. Tucking her pink nose into her tail, the Empress drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a world where all the birds were slow, and all the cat trees had only one seat hers.
Shannon Willis can usually be found in the company of furry friends. A passionate animal enthusiast, her work is often inspired by her deep love for cats, dogs, and the animal kingdom as a whole.
