Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
But where is she? I check under my bed and see nothing. But when I glance at her favorite window, expecting to see her curled up on the ledge snoozing away, I see it then. The pane is cracked open just a bit, but I know my cat. She’s like a contortionist and would be able to squeeze through that three-inch gap.
My heartbeat speeds up as I begin panicking. I’m not even thinking straight, so I try to push the window open wider and climb out myself before remembering that I can’t fit through the tiny crack. Clearly, I’m losing it. I have a front door that I’m perfectly capable of opening and walking out of, so I need to do it.
I run out of the door and out onto the lawn of our apartment complex. It’s a gorgeous day, and the sun beats down on my head as I scramble over the green grass.
“Calico, Calico!” I call, not caring if I sound like a crazy woman. “Where are you?”
Worst-case scenarios start streaming through my mind. My cat is never going to survive out here. Look how big that tree is. Look at that person walking their humongous dog. Calico’s never been outside a day in her life, so what if she runs into the street and gets hit by a truck, or gets jumped on and eaten by some wild animal?
I guess the odds of either of those things happening aren’t that high since this is suburban New Jersey, but still. My apartment complex is a low-slung, two-story building with nothing but a bit of lawn and trees around it, so there could be a wild animal lurking in the bushes. Or maybe not.
I try to remind myself to keep calm, but my heart’s pounding in my ears as my pulse races. Where is she? I race around some more, getting hot and sweaty, when I finally round a corner and hear a quiet mrow from up above. Where is that coming from? I cover my eyes with one hand and squint upwards. Is she stuck in a tree?
“Calico?” I call a few times, trying to spot her among the leaves of an enormous oak. The meows continue, and finally, I see my damn cat on the roof of the apartment building. “Calico! What the heck?” I gasp. “What are you doing up there? How did you even—Calico, get down right now!”
Despite my stern admonition, Calico doesn’t budge even a little bit. She continues looking down at me, tail whipping from side to side as she meows. Here I was thinking that the little shit was scared, but this is probably just one big game to her. Then again, I guess I’d think it was fun to be up on the rooftop too if I had nine lives, but I don’t, so what’s the appeal?
“Calico, please!” I nearly beg. “You could get hurt if you fall from there! If you could figure out a way to get up there, can’t you figure out a way to come back down? Hmm? Calico, sweetheart, honey bun, bundle of joy, come down now!”
She begins prancing around the roof as if she can understand every word that I’m saying, but she’s taunting me instead of doing what I say. I huff as I slap a hand to my forehead and try to think. I grumble to myself as I wrack my brain to come up with a solution, and the first thing I think of is the ladder that my superintendent keeps down in the car port.
“That’s it!” I say, the proverbial light bulb going off in my head. “Perfect. Okay, you stay right where you are, Calico, and I’ll be back. I mean it! Stay there,” I admonish even as I sprint off in the direction of the car port.
I’m glad nobody else is around because I know I look ridiculous running like a madwoman with my hair on fire. I get to the covered parking spots, and see the enormous aluminum ladder right away. Perfect. I grab hold and struggle with the weight, but then manage to hoist the thing over my shoulder. Staggering a bit, I make my way back to where my cat’s still perched, peering over the ledge of the roof at me. By now, I’m bowled over and out of breath, but I still feel accomplished because I’m one step closer to getting her down. I set up the ladder, propping it against the side of the building and then take a moment to recuperate. My lungs are burning slightly and my biceps are sore, but it’s fine. I can power through.
With a deep breath, I begin climbing up the ladder. The metal steps tremble ever so slightly with my slow ascent, and nerves are beginning to get the best of me. My knees shake, and my body feels weak. But I tell myself to keep going, and soon enough, I’m at the very top and step onto the roof, grateful to have something solid beneath my feet once more. Then I look around, surveying the vast emerald lawn and the parking structure off to the right. To be honest, despite this being only a two-story complex, it feels like I’m up really high. Honestly, I’m getting a bit of vertigo and nausea churns in my stomach.