The Chronicals of Alaraf

    “Please, be my friend,” said Leo, whom did not live up to his name, the black and white cat.

    He was not quite a tuxedo, however, the most remarkable thing about him was his very slight resemblance to the actual school mascot, an allegedly temperamental Pallas Cat named Sraosha, kept entirely near the football fields with his own high level enclosure.

     That Pallas cat also could escape anytime he wants, wander the campus casually, obtain headpats, and go home.  [ Sometimes he did, but when he did, he honestly got less notice than any other cat on campus except when he stepped on his own tail for warmth.]

      “You ignore me, you block me from the library, you won’t even listen to what I have to say.” complained Leo, pretending he earned Calico’s time & attention.

       “I do not know you, and the first time you met me, you said I was only useful in the classroom, euthanized and dissected, to discover the source of my inferiority to you.” Calico replied,   “No need to go that far, Leo- I’m neutered.   May Allah Guide you.”…and he turned away.

     “But what if I agree with you now?”

      “Then, if so, why bother me and not those who actually require care.  Lion seems bored, but it seems he is far too important for the strays & mixed breeds. Perhaps you can keep him company”

      “I already live with him.”

       “Considering his chief complaint is ‘loneliness’, that is not an endorsement in your favor, Leo.  Salaams.”

        “What if I tell you Muezza is in love with you?” suggested Leo.

         “I understand that this is a human school; however, I am quite certain if that were true he could pass that information to me directly. Good day.”

         “Are you not even curious why I keep following you?”

         “No.  You telegraph poorly.  If you want to be put on the extraction list, ask your Master and leave me alone. …Leo, How can I trust any cat who agrees experiments, suppression, enslavement, and silencing others of ours kind just to keep your own self fed and well groomed by your handlers?”

      “You aren’t being fair.” scuffed Leo, frowning through his grey chin hairs.

       “I’m not God.  If you want fair, ask Sraosha.  Why are you asking this ‘Useless Waste of Life’ when you have the audience of both the Golden King & actual Persian Shah of this campus? “

       “Your heart is closed”

        “You are blessed that I even wrote you as a cat at all you dirty feds without adab.  Who failed to case me, time and again, to the point where your failure insults me with the unmitigated and unapologetic harms you cause by normalizing this institution.”

      And although Calico Jack wanted to puff up and hiss, he was able to keep his coat smooth as he trotted by the self important idiot from the high office who had nothing to offer. 

Because if he did, no one would still be living on campus, they would be free…or, Leo would be fighting on his own to free them rather than enjoying Cavier in the evenings from soft hands, to chasing cats worthless to the university donors in his free time while wired.