Marking Territory

Flash Fiction by Karen Pierce Gonzalez

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Penn sweet-talked his way into Cleo’s life, landing securely between the sheets; his car tucked in her tiny carport while hers was parked around the corner beneath the fading glow of a streetlight.

Bailey didn’t like that Penn slept most of the day while Cleo was at work. The grey and white tabby said so with dirty paw marks on the faded blue threads of Penn’s shirt that had been slung over the sofa’s arm.

The cat daily hacked up slimy hairballs as Cleo’s lover settled in for his mid-day nap.  Quick on his feet, the feline always managed to run out the cat door before the guy could throw anything at him.

We don’t need him Bailey thought as he sat on the porch before going back in for another round. We’ve been fine on our own for years.