Puss in the Wrinkly Skin

"Hey Paul, what are YOU up to?" asked Sally.

"Oh, nothing much," said Paul. "I was just helping out a friend who is moving. I brought over my hoverchair and we used it to carry some of the larger items."

"That's nice of you," said Sally. "Maybe I can borrow it sometime."

Sally's cat Puss was in her arms at the moment, so she placed him gently on the couch next to her before using a handkerchief to wipe his face. He let out a soft mewl before opening one eye and looking at Sally.

"Why? What did you need it for?" asked Paul. "You never use it."

"Well, I'm thinking about taking Puss outside today," explained Sally, "and I was hoping that Puss could ride in my new hoverchair with me."

"Puss is really dirty right now," said Paul, "and he smells really bad. Can't you wait until after he's been given a bath?"

Puss opened both eyes as if he understood what Paul had said. This caused Paul to chuckle a little bit. After all, Paul knew very well that Puss understood human speech; he was just playing along like he always did when Sally spoke with him.

"I suppose you're right," said Sally, "but I don't think I can wait that long." She looked down at poor Puss again and saw that an especially large piece of dirt covered his chest and stomach region before sighing and shaking her head slowly from side to side. "Puss has been trying to catch butterflies in my apartment for the past week but he keeps falling into my fish tank! So then when I try to clean him up, half the time I end up getting water on myself instead!"

"Poor kitty," sympathized Paul. "Maybe you should get a kitten instead--you know, one that is more adventurous!"

"Oh no!" said Sally quickly, almost jumping out of her seat at this idea. "I love Puss too much! I wouldn't trade him for the world!"

Paul laughed at this statement while Puss looked down at his paws and began licking them after hearing his name mentioned by Sally. The way she talked about him always made him feel warm inside; it reminded him of all the adventures they had gone on together over the years--adventures where they would explore all sorts of places together or even go visit other people's homes! It warmed his heart just thinking about these memories... Memories of days when he was just a small wet ball of fur rolled up in a box under Sally's bed... And how she had taken care of him there for quite some time before taking him outside with her! *Those were good times* thought Puxs nostalgically as he continued licking himself clean.