Page 101 of Cats Never Fly

“Yes?”

“It’sa new moon so the sky is dark and we’re going to fly toward the mountains, away from all the towns and houses.Noone will see us.Itis the perfect night to fly.Iwant to share this with you.Pleasecome with me, kitty cat.”

Hewasn’t playing fair.HeknewI’dgive him anything he asked.Just…Whydid he have to ask for this?

“Areyou sure this contraption is going to work?”Itugged at the collar of the strange bodysuit he’d found for me online.Ithad fabric sewn between the legs and under my arms.WhenIspread my arms and legs,Ilooked like the flying squirrelClivehad tried to emulate all those years ago.

“Ofcourse.”Ogden’stone was patient, but sure. “Andremember, it is only a third failsafe, nothing more.Thefirst and most important safety measure is thatIwon’t do anything to make you fall, and then we have the harness.It’scinched tight across my belly and isn’t going anywhere.Thewingsuit is only an extra precaution.You’vebeen practicing your position all week.Ifyou somehow get separated from me, you’re going to hold your arms and legs away from your body like a starfish and slow yourself down.Buteven without your wingsuit, you knowIwould catch you.Thisis just to give you a little more peace of mind.”

“Right.Iknow.Okay.”Ihuffed out a couple of quick breaths and jumped up and down.

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

“Then, come over and climb aboard.”

Iscrambled onto my dragon and slid into the harness beforeIcould talk myself out of this.Again.Thiswas the third time this week thatOgdenhad tried to get me into the air.Thiswas the first timeI’dmade it as far as getting into the harness.Theharness was custom-made forOgden’sbody and was essentially a bucket seat that wassecured toOgdenwith thick straps wrapped around his torso.

“Okaynow, buckle up.”

Withtrembling hands,Itugged the safety harness over my shoulders and across my chest.Thebuckles were the hardest to snap into place—my fingers didn’t want to work.Wheneverything finally clicked into place,Iwas ready to throw up all over him.

“Done?”

Igulped. “Uh…I…”

“Simon?Areyou strapped into the harness?”

Inodded.Ofcourse, he couldn’t see that. “I… yes.I?—”

Hiswings flapped.Hisbody undulated.Iscreamed.

Thenwe were in the air.Myfingers shifted to my cat’s claws asIclung to the harness.Iwanted to grab ontoOgden, but what ifIhurt him?Ididn’t want to hurt him.AndIdidn’t want to distract him.

ButImight puke on him.

Therewas like a ninety percent chance.

Iclosed my eyes and pretendedIwas on a wobbly carnival ride.Ora horse.Yeah.Thatprobably made more sense.Iwas on the back of a horse.Yep.Thiswas me, moseying along like a cowboy.Downa trail.Onthe ground.

“Doyou see it,Simon?Doyou see how beautiful it is up here?”

Myimaginary horse evaporated.

“Simon?”

“Mmhmm?”

“Doyou have your eyes closed?”

“Uh… maybe?”

Ogdenlaughed. “Openyour eyes, baby.Lookaround.Ipromise,I’vegot you.”

Iforced my eyes open.

“Oh, fuck.”Islammed my hand over my mouth.