Bohemia Village Voice

As the Tiger Prowls

Amy
Amy runs swiftly down the stairs. Her excitement pulsing through her as she sits on the arm of the big, green chair and throws the curtains open and carefully lifts up the net and peers outside. There she is. In the plants. Moving around, swiftly. The tiger. Amy gasps as the tiger turns with a mouse in her grasp. She is confused. She thinks the mouse should be dead, but it is still kicking. Hoping for freedom. Suddenly it is flung into the air and is batted by the tiger’s paw. Amy smiles; she likes it when the tiger is happy, even if she is feeling a bit sorry for the mouse.
Esme
The squeak alerts Esme. She grabs at the mouse as it runs off under the fence. She is upset she had enjoyed that game; she sees a butterfly gracefully flying across the grass. She makes herself as small as possible and waits. The butterfly lands onto a flower; she jumps and traps it under her paw. She can feel its wings trying to fly away. The happy gleam comes into her emerald, green eyes and stays there until she lets the butterfly leave her realm unharmed.
Amy
Amy smiles to herself. She’s glad the tiger is happy and too occupied to notice her looking through the window. She glances at the room around her, hunting for something. She knows it’s here. But where? Not the cupboard. Or the album. Then she sees it. Across the room in the glass cabinet. The photo. She opens the door, her heart beating like mad. The picture is of her, Amy, about two years ago, when they first got her the tiger as a birthday present. She sits back down on the arm of the chair and taking out her art book, begins to draw.
Esme
Her ears prick up as she senses someone watching her. But there’s no-one looking at her. She decides to check the windows again. Then she sees it. A face. At the lower window. Esme blinks. A bit confused. Then it’s gone replaced by the creamy coloured net. She strolls towards the door eager to investigate. She steps through and instantly feels the warmth of the heating.
Amy
She hears the cat-flap open and close as the tiger enters the house. She hears her mewing for her food. Amy laughs and moves her book just in time as her best friend and cat, Esme runs over to her and flops on her lap.
Esme
As she lies there, on her owner’s lap, in a perfect circle, she tells Amy all about what she’s been up to and with a flick of her tail falls asleep. As she finally thinks ‘Where’s my food?’