The taxi to Tempe broke down because of course it did.

Atticus, although a flame point was raised in snowdrifts and had passed out stretched out with his full tummy exposed to dissipate heat as Garrett and Seattle Pilot, who also owned the Taxi, sat on the roof. Air Marshall Pilot Just thought restoring a Gladwyn Taxi would be cool to have in Tempe.

A taxi made for Gladwyn was not designed for Tempe.

Atticus dreamt from overheat.

It was Atticus very first class at Sufi University long before he was known to other Muslims as Atticus. In the dream, Yesterday, he did not even know Sufi University existed. It was as if Allah picked the worst city on Earth for anti-Muslim hostility and then bought land right next to it by divine decree.

He was there because Antony was losing fur on camera each week while pointedly drinking out of a mug covered in yellow flower patterns labled ‘Aqua Tofana’ and speaking on non-violent resistance to tyranny in Persian and no one was helping.

Not the human scientists of Alaraf, not the others of their own race of cats.

So. He found a Mosque nearest Alaraf back then and when they saw his paws under his robes, they quickly rerouted him to what is now known as Mango Madrassa.

Atticus had only remote apprenticeship for years in hostile territory, he was taught Sufi were rare and even meeting one in a lifetime was a blessing. Being educated by two? Unlikely- an entire University?

Impossible.

But true.

Mango was just Mr. Butler then. A literal humble servant with a neat little mustache teaching Mr. Butler things while relating times of horrific privation in deserts as positive experiences as they noticed his smile, but not the strain around his eyes.

And So, on the first day of Sufi University that no one in 2011 in the region could possibly fathom existing, Dr. Garrett Butler…

… taught all the Murīd how to properly wipe after using the toilet.

And so. Atticus knew Dr. Garrett Butler was as Real as he was.

Atticus felt self conscious as not everyone had ears and paws, and knew that’s why shoes must be removed in the Masjid.

[To see who walks on furry toes through fuzzy socks verses the humans with with their soft soles & souls.]

“What is your name,” asked Mr. Butler at the end of class.   They were the same age and through Garrett’s sleeve, light orange fur could be seen.

Atticus was so stressed trying to keep his tail and ears hidden he hadn’t thought that far as a human name. ‘Mr. Fish’ wasn’t going to cut it. He couldn’t give his operational names, either. Oh Fudge.

“Calico Leto” sounded like a nice, human name to Atticus.

Mr. Butler looked at the strange jinn in mismatched animal prints with streaked kohl, one green eye, & one red and green eye from nonstop crying.

“No. Your real name.”

“Marchosias.” replied Atticus as if compelled.

“Oh Fudge,” replied Mr. Butler. “You need Bayat.”

“I have one, merci. I actually have ijaza already. Anyway. Can you help me fix the bayat I have…? My Molana is getting hurt on camera, see?” Marchosias replied- shoving a cell phone in his direction with several pictures of the same rapidly thinning Persian.

“He can’t possibly be a real Shaykh if he’s in that state,”

“You cannot possibly be a fully trained Shaykh if you are trying to poach a Murīd. ” Marchosias retorted.

…poof…

Atticus woke up.

“…and three years later they had bayat and Mr. Butler has another Pir. The end.” Narrated Garrett with his extra scarf layed out like a beach towel on his side of the roof.

“What the heck was that!? WHY ARE YOU IN MY DREAMS” exclaimed Atticus

“You are wired like a radio, raised in Philadelphia and the car is a modified Crown Victoria with a magnetic sign and three antennae.

This was clearly a cop car. I used frequencies from my iPad interfaced with the vehicle software…. and your sensitivity to frequency. “

“You MkUltra’d my flashback”

“Afwan. Just following tradition.”

Mango then saluted as a fluffy Mango Cat and promptly rolled around in the sand as great abaddon.