Mittens Part 4

Sorry it's taken me a little while to get this part up. I hope you enjoy where this story is going. I want it to be a love letter to 'The Cat Returns' by studio Ghibli 

Mittens Part 4

Following behind my family, we enter the hotel's conference room where dad’s company shindig is taking place. The room was full of massive round tables and decorations hanging from the ceiling. It reminds me of a wedding, not so much a company party.

Trying my best to hide behind mom and Kerry, I couldn’t help but feel envious of the countless suits worn by the other boys I could see. Watching them as I stood still in my dress and heels made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin.

I feel so out of place, and that’s not even mentioning the cat ears on meow head. Meow was already wanting to leave!

Dad instantly struts deeper into the room and greets another group of dull-looking men in suits. Mom hangs onto his arm and follows behind. She’s clearly a bit of a pro at these events, but it leaves both Kerry and me in the deep end, not really knowing what to do.

“Psst Liam….,” my sister whispers, beckoning me over to her.

Trying to act natural, I nervously walk over to her in my heels. Standing beside her, she links her arm around mine to hold me steady.

“Yeah…?” I reply, allowing myself to lean my weight into her.

“What did dad mean about acting more professional?” she questions, conveying the room as we speak. “I know we’ve been to these before, but I’ve never had to pretend to be you.”

Pulling at the sash of my dress, I look up at Kerry and frown.

“I wish this wasn’t happening,” I say, touching the suit she’s wearing. “Dad wants you to act like him and his idea on how a ‘man’ should act.”

“What?” Kerry groans, pulling a sarcastic smile. “That sounds boring.”

“I wouldn’t question it,” I answer, giving her a smile. “That’s a point…hows your handshake?”

I hold my hand out in front of Kerry to test her. She looks down and eventually shakes it.

Shaking her hand with confidence, her hand goes limp. I winch, knowing that dad would be so upset at how soft and floppy her handshake is.

“Not like that,” I hiss, holding out my hand again for another shake. “You’ve gotta almost pretend you hate the person and that you want to break their hand!”

“Are you serious?” she says, puffing out her cheeks. “Like this then…?”

Kerry then proceeds to grab my hand and crush it with her vice-like grip. Never have I squeaked in pain so much. When did I get so feeble and small!?

“Yes—yes—yes—yes—yes,” I cry in pain, trying to pull my hand away.

“Oh, sorry!” Kerry laughs, letting go. “Was that more like it then?”

Glaring at her, I rub my sore hand. “Just like that….yes!”

“Awesome!” Kerry grins, looking more confident. “So I just go around and try to break people's hands?”

I nod, and hair falls in front of my eyes.

“I like this!” Kerry continues as I swipe the hair from my face.

Kerry then lets go of my arm, and she turns to face me. Looking me up and down, she lets her shoulders sag and sighs.

“I guess I better fill you in about being a girl at these things…huh?” she says with a gentle smile.

I look down at the pink dress hanging from my body.

“If you wouldn’t be so kind,” I say, rubbing my arm as I slowly look back at her. “I’m feeling so out of my comfort zone right now.”

Kerry turns and secretly points over at mom. Looking over, I see she’s almost hanging from dad as they chat with other groups. She’s not usually like that.

“Why is she hanging off him like that?” I ask, narrowing my eyes as I continue to stare.

“See all these old and stuffy-looking men,” Kerry explains, pointing them out secretly so we don’t arouse suspicion.

“Yeah….,” I reply, remembering the last time we came to one of these and how boring the conversations are. “They all wanna talk business- you'll have to wing it with that, by the way.”

Kerry frowns.

“Well, anyways,” she continues, pointing back at mom. “She’s hanging off him like that because dad needs to project a happily married family man. We want him to get his promotion right—so we have to help him project that.”

I give Kerry a confused look. Is she telling me I have to hang off dad like that?

“I don’t get it,” I grumble. “I don’t wanna do what mom is doing!”

Kerry covers her mouth and chuckles.

“No, silly!” she giggles. “I’m saying you must play to the typical family stereotype. As his daughter, you just need to act….cute, pretty—sweet, and innocent. Like the sort of girl you’d wanna marry one day.”

“Really….!?” I hiss,” flapping at one of my cat ears. “That sounds just awful. I’m none of those things you just said!”

Placing a hand on her hip with a look of attitude, Kerry shakes her head at me.

“Are you searching for compliments or something,” she moans, making it evident that she’s looking me up and down.

“I don’t think so….,” I bashfully reply.

“I’m a little jealous of you,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Let me show you how to stand like a cutie.”

Kerry then grabs both my hands and brings them together in front of me.

“Like this,” she says, making me twist my arms as I hold my hands together in front of myself.

I do as she asks, and it feels wrong. If I’m standing to attention, I’d usually have my hands behind my back, not in front of me.

“So adorable!” Kerry chirps, stepping back from me. “Now, all you have to do is stand tiptoe on one foot and open your eyes as wide as possible.

Furrowing my brow, I do as she asks. As I do, I look up at her with the widest eyes. I know I must have done it right because her smile quickly turns to a toothy grin.

“Perfect!” she says, giving me a big thumbs up. “You’re a natural!”

Looking away from her smug face, I wonder if that’s something to feel happy or sad about. Judging by my sister's reaction, I should be pleased

“What now then?” I ask, brushing hair from my face as I look around.

Before Kerry can answer me, a waft of tuna floats over the airways and tickles my nose. Gently brushing my nose with the back of my hand, I turn my attention to the table of food being brought out

Almost instinctively, I stroll over to the table at speed—sniffing the entire time, trying to find the tuna!

“Psst Liam!?” Kerry whispers as I move away. “Where are you going!?”

I don’t even look back at her—I just gather up some of my dress and rush towards the smell. Almost running into the table on which the food is displayed, I sniff out the tuna salad. Having to fight the urge to push all the other food onto the floor, I stand over the tuna dish with a smile.

All I want is to bury my face in its sweet and savory saltiness. I wanna eat it all up!

Stopping me from committing social suicide—slamming my face into a bowl of food like an animal—I feel something padding at my feet from under the table.

I freeze and tense up for a moment as it feels sharp and soft simultaneously.

“Princess in the making,” a tiny, soft, but regal voice calls out from under the table.

Eyes wide, I take a step back to look down at my feet.

Almost causing me to jump back in a blind panic is a cat poking its head out from under the table. I glare down at the ginger Tom cat smiling up at me

“No way that cat just spoke to meow,” I groan with disbelief, rubbing my eyes.

“Oh, but I did, my darling girl.” The ginger Tom cat continues, now pulling a smirk.

Rubbing harder at my eyes, my mouth drops as my body responds with sheer terror.

“d-did y-you….j-just talk…?” I mutter, still fixated on the cat grinning at me.

“Is that so strange…darling girl?” the cat answers, slinking under the table cloth and out of sight.

Not caring about all the people around me in the room, I get onto my hands and knees and quickly follow the cat under the table. No way is this cat getting away from me like the last one!

“Oi cat,” I shout, crawling under the table awkwardly in my stupid dress.

“Darling…?” the cat says, sitting patient with his tail wagging as I join it under the table.

“Who are you calling, darling!?” I hiss, getting up close enough to grab his stupid grinning face.

“Oh…yes, sorry, how rude,” the cat replies with a long purr. “I should be calling your princess to be.”

Narrowing my eyes, I can’t help but feel this ginger cat is trying to push my buttons

“Am I going crazy!” I ask impatiently. “Why can I hear you talking, and why do you keep saying, princess!?”

“Would be very awkward If you couldn’t understand your kin,” the cat scoffs in reply, snuffling its nose.

“Kin?” I sneer. “I’m no cat.”

The ginger Tomcat grins wider and purrs softly as one of its paws points at my ears.

“Darling,” he replies ecstatically. “That’s just not true. Your transformation is coming on so very well.”

I grit my teeth.

“Did you do this to me!?” I growl angrily, acting more like a lion.

The ginger Tomcat looks away, then chuckles with a soft smile.

“No,” he says with a straight face, stretching out his claws.

I stare at the cat as it puffs out its fury chest.

“I wouldn’t have got the wrong child,” he continues smugly. “Your sister was due to be the next princess of our kingdom, but we only get one shot, and you’ve become quite lovely.”

“WHAT!?” I growl in response, wanting to get to my feet but instantly regretting my decision as I slam my head to the underside of the table with an almighty thump.”

“My sister?” I ask bashfully, rubbing my sore head with embarrassment.

“Yes, darling,” the cat laughs, clearly enjoying my mishap. “But that doesn’t matter now, we’ve got our new princess, and you share your sister's bloodline….so no harm, no foul.

“Please stop saying princess!” I gripe, glaring at the cat's stupid smiling face. “I’m a boy, y’know!”

“Hmmm…that is but a technicality at this point,” the cat replies quickly, getting to its feet. “We must go now and meet your prince-to-be.”

“No way!” I answer, folding my arms tight. “I’m not going anywhere with a talking cat!”

“Ah,” the cat says, sitting once more. “How rude of me again. I’m Sir Lars Eden, and I’m your personal knight and protector.”

“A knight?” I reply, giving him a stupid look. “You’re a cat!”

“Indeed,” Lars says, standing once more as he quickly moves to stick his head out from under the table. “Please, follow me.”