Monitor Man

Dobby runs into High Command, (the room with the computer in it) “Mom Mo-om!”

“Yes kitty.”

“What are you doing?” Dobby asks.

Writer Lady switches windows. “Nothing. Just starting this week's post.”

Dobby jumps on the desk and peers at the monitor, “Really? What are you writing about?”

“Nothing.” Writer Lady says, covering the screen with her hand.

“Let me see, Mom.”

“No.”

“Come on. Move your hand!” Dobby says nipping her hand.

“Ouch!” Writer Lady yells, moving her hand. “That hurt!”

“Don't hide things and you won't get bit.” Dobby says.

Writer Lady looks at her war wound. “I'm a grown woman. I can do what I want. Did you have to draw blood?”

Dobby looks at Writer Lady's hand. “It's nothing. A mosquito wouldn't want such a tiny meal.”

“It hurts.”

“You're only saying that because you didn't want me to see what you were looking at. What is it shoes? Dresses?” Dobby says looking at the monitor. The small window Writer Lady had pulled up was covering a picture that filled the screen behind it. “Oh. It's just that guy you like without a shirt on.” Dobby takes a closer look. “Mom I hate to tell you this but your eyesight is going. These pictures are of three different men.”

“No kitty my eyes are fine.” Writer Lady says, looking up at the monitor.

Dobby looks at Writer Lady, looks back at the screen, looks back at Writer Lady. “Mom...are you okay?”

“I'm just fine kitty.”

“Mom?” Dobby asks, Writer Lady continues to gaze at the monitor adoringly.

“What do you think kitty? Which one?”

“Which one, what?” Dobby asks.

“Which one would you pick? TP says he can get me one of them. I get to keep him too.”

“Mom. I really don't think this is a good idea.” Dobby says.

“What do you mean it's not a good idea?” Writer Lady says, leaning in close, her eyes are a strange reddish purple color her voice has deepened considerably.

Dobby's eyes widen and the ginger tabby takes a few steps back. “Nothing Mom. I can't wait to see how TP does this.”

Dobby exits High Command quickly and quietly leaving Writer Lady gazing at her dreamy future. He searches the house looking for TP.

“TP. TP. TP!” Dobby calls. On his second pass by the utility closet, Dobby hears something.

“Shhhh! We are not here.” TP whispers.

“I hate to break it to you little guy but we are.” A distinctly deep voice says.

“No one can know.” TP says. “Not yet. It's a surprise.”

“You told me this wasn't going to take long. If you don't let me out of the closet soon I'm stealing that invisible copter of yours. Because guys like me don't hang out in closets.”

“TP?” Dobby calls walking into the utility closet. The closet is dark and TP refuses to give up his location until he is sandwiched between the floor and one of Dobby's paws.

A snap is heard and the closet is illuminated with light. “Over here.” TP says in a muffled voice.

Dobby looks at his right front paw. “There you are.”

“Shhhhh! Talk softly. We're hiding.” The man on Writer Lady's monitor says.

Dobby looks at monitor man. “Do you know who you are hiding from?”

Monitor man looks up, thinks for a minute. “No, we didn't get that far.”

“You're hiding from me.” Dobby says.

“Oooops.”

Dobby looks back down at TP. “Take him home. He doesn't belong here. She can't keep him.”

“Of course she can't keep me.” Monitor man comments. “This was a just a special appearance. I was going to do a favor for my new friend here.”

The closet gets very quiet.

“You didn't tell him what you told Mom did you?” Dobby asks TP.

“Mom? I came all this way to see a cat?” Monitor man asks.

“No. Mom is a person like you.” Dobby answers.

“How can a human be a cat's mother?” Monitor man asks.

“Here is another one that can't understand adoption. Where do these guys come from?” Dobby asks TP.

“Silly human.” TP giggles.

“Stop.” Dobby says pushing on the faerie like a squeaky toy. “This isn't funny.”

“You have to put him back.”

“But I promised.” TP says. “Magical creatures have to keep their promises.”

“What happens if he doesn't want to cooperate?” Dobby asks.

“Yeah...what if I don't cooperate?” Monitor man says.

“Then I didn't break my promise.” TP answers.

“Okay, let's do that.” Dobby says.

“Dobby kitty, come here. It's time to eat.” Writer Lady calls from the kitchen.

“It's Mom! Get him out of here!” Dobby orders, walking over to the door on the opposite wall, opening it a bit and peeping through the slit to see how close Writer Lady is.

“That's her?” Monitor man asks, he creeps up behind Dobby to take a peek.