Review – A Kitten
I like A Kitten, and I think it’s one of the cuter short stories I have ever written. At some point, I would love for it to have a home… somewhere. But I imagine it may not. So, it is entirely possible it will become a free giveaway.
Background
I wanted to write something which would be sweet and very all-ages friendly. But because of the kind of writer I am, I could not resist a little surprise…
Plot
This story has very little plot. Rather, its charm and its uniqueness come from the twist ending.
But the story is, essentially, that Suzy will be turning six years old very soon. So, the entire plot essentially revolves around deciding whether it is such a good idea. And, when it is decided that it is a good idea, getting Suzy her heart’s desire.
It is a gentle story, and the surprise is nothing in the vein of jump scares in the dark, or anything.
Characters
The characters are Suzy, and her two friends who she associates with. Oh, and there’s also Smoke.
One thing a reader who is paying attention may realize is… something is odd here. Who are these people? Why are they in charge of whether Suzy can get such a gift? They are clearly not her parents. So, how do they fit in with her? Why are they even necessary in her life at all?
Also, everyone uses American Sign Language. There is only one scene where people are actually speaking out loud to each other.
Memorable Quotes from A Kitten
We entered Suzy’s room and she came over. Ever the gracious hostess, she signed, “It is good to see you, Scott. Do you want a cup of water? Do you?” she turned to me.
“I’m good.” Scott asked, “Suzy, do you know how to take care of a kitten?”
“I think so,” Suzy replied after a while. “You feed and give water and play and they get a comfy place to sleep.”
“There’s a litter box, too,” I explained. “A kitten will need a place to poop.”
“I understand,” Suzy replied.
“That’s very good,” Scott praised. “Do you think you could be responsible enough to care for a kitten?”
“Oh yes! Oh yes!” Suzy got excited and started jumping a little.
“Do you understand, Suzy,” I pointed out, “that a kitten will grow up to be a cat? And that a cat might not want to play as much?”
“I understand,” Suzy replied. “I will be sure to remember and be careful. And I will love a kitten just as much when it grows up to be a cat. I promise!” To emphasize her point, she crossed her heart.
“We will think about it,” I stated cautiously.
Rating
The story has a K rating.
A Kitten – Takeaways
Suzy is one of those characters that I have no future plans for. But I sometimes think I would like to. After all, how does she get along with Smoke? Does it all work out? In all honesty, I do not truly know.
Doesn’t every vaguely described child want a kitten? #amwriting”