I Never Told You But

The Soft Touch

Simone struggled to hold back the two Dobermans. “Trevor, come help me,” she hollered.

Simone watched the two cats leisurely sashay toward the food bowls like actors feeling their audience and loving the attention. She heard the heavy steps as Trevor raced downstairs. He hooked his hands around the larger of the two, Caesar. Their long noses twitched with stares fixated on the images through the front windows, whining to get at the targets.

Both dogs quivered from nose to tail, with the kids restraining the beasts from testing the strength of the transparent barrier — glass window.

Simone yelped. “Caesar, that hurts. Get off my toes with your big pizza feet!”

“Sheesh!” Trevor groaned. “These two get wound up when they see Lemmon Drop and Jacobo.”

Simone clung to Sadie’s neck and stroked her head to calm her. “Which one is which, Trev?”

Breathing hard, Trevor replied, “Lemmon Drop is the orange one, and the calico cat is Jacobo.”

Simone rocked her head to one side, eying her brother. “Why is the tabby called Lemmon Drop if he is orange?”

Trevor huffed, and Simone saw he tightened his grip on Caesar, and so did the same.