Amor

The MatchMaker

In my whole 33 years of living, I've been trying to get Martha and Max together. Ever since I've stopped drinking my mama's milk, I've been focused on trying to get them to like each other without them knowing. Leaving Max's arms and jumping into Martha's. Leading Martha into the basement where Max was working on his apartment's light switches, asking for food from both of them. They don't see it, and they certainly don't want to see it, but they'll be good for each other. One can cook, clean the house, knows how to fix things and take care of them, and the other works hard, and usually overexerts herself. Yes, Max can take care of things and cook and clean the house, while Martha is this good, hardworking woman who is always tired but still loves me and her family. Humans are so complicated. don't they see they're best for each other?

This morning, I put into action my plan meow meow meow. That's the number of times I've tried to get them together. It's simple. As soon as Martha goes home, walks up the stairs to her apartment, I'll be rolling my balls of yarn and trip her up so that Max, who lives just beside the stairs would hear her and come running to the rescue. I know, I'm so romantic, right? I may be small, but I can be good at these kinds of things. Wait, I think I hear her coming. She's talking to someone on that tellyphony and that distraction together with those heavy things she carries will be enough. I get my yarns ready and as soon as she reaches half of the stairs, I push them one after another.

"Hey, Liz, I'm almost at my apartment. I'll put you on hold to get my AAAAHHH!" she screamed, stepping on one of my balls of yarn and slipping. She tried to grab hold of the banister but missed and hit her knee on a stair. Oops. Immediately, the door opened and Max went out.

"What's going o-" He started, and saw the groaning Martha at the stairs with her things scattered and me at the top with my balls of yarn, some of which already at the stairs. He stared at me incredulously, and I just stared back.

"Meow?" I mewed innocently. Yes, I'm a cat. My name is Doxy. Enough about me. After sizing up the situation, Max told Martha to stop moving and wait there for him and picked up all my balls of yarn before going back to his apartment. I followed him to see where he put my yarn and what he would do. He just set my yarn on the sofa (I'm getting those later) and quickly prepared a bowl of milk for me before saying "Seriously, what were you doing there? And why am I even trying to talk to a cat?" and picking up a white box with stuff in it and going back to Martha. I ignore the milk and follow him back.

He sets the white box down before picking up all of Martha's scattered things. I bounded down to Martha and pressed my head against her cheek. She didn't recoil but it was obvious she was surprised. "I guess you're sorry then," she said, then scratched my ear. Ohh, there, there! More! Wait, that's too much! Too much! "Ow!" she pulled her hand back. I didn't realize I'd scratched her already.

"I really don't understand this cat," Martha shook her head. "Sometimes he seems to like me, then sometimes he does things like this." I hopped off her lap and slid between Max's legs.

"I don't understand him too," Max laughed. "I don't even know what's up with this cat." See, my plan worked! They agree on something! Max starts to reach towards me but I swipe his hand away. Talk to her you fool! I gave you this chance!

"Ow! See, sometimes he doesn't like me too. He didn't even drink the milk I just gave him," He said, helping Martha stand up. She stumbles, and he lets her sit down again. "This thing's gonna bruise," he kneeled, checking on her knee. "Wait here, I'll get you an ice pack," Max went back to his apartment. I followed him to the kitchen and started drinking the milk he gave me.

He looked at me weirdly and just went back to Martha. I left them on their own. Max knows what to do. It wasn't until long after I finished my milk that he returned, smiling. By that time I have already tangled up in my balls of yarn again, messing up his living room. He seemed to be in a good mood and just laughed, helping me out of my stringy prison and rolling them all up again for me.

"I bet that was your plan all along, wasn't it? You wanted me to talk to her. Now, I did and we're meeting up for coffee tomorrow. You happy now?" He said and rubbed my head. I meowed and went to chase off some shadows.

-----TIME SKIP-----

"I bet this was what you wanted eh, old buddy?" Max said as he scratched my ear, then placed me in the very front pew. I'm sleepy, so sleepy and so cold. But I want to see this. All my hard work for 64 years is finally paying off. The man at the side starts playing his instrument. What was that again? Oh, right. a piano. It was so soft and melodic, It made me sleepier. I was ready to curl up and sleep just right there. But the humans started walking in. Max's parents stood beside him, right in front of me. They had tears in their eyes, and I don't know what for.

The humans started filling up the chairs, one by one. When Martha appeared, I meowed. I knew they were perfect for each other, and it took some more convincing after the yarn incident for them to finally be together. It makes me sad that I won't be able to see their kittens anymore, but at least I saw them through. She was led by her parents until they reached Max, where they left her. She patted me on the head before they walked to the human in front and sat on the chairs there.

Throughout the thing, I kept on falling asleep, but I force myself to wake up, at least until they finish. When they kiss each other, I knew it was finally time. They both walk towards me, but I'm already too weak to stand up. I meowed at them weakly, before closing my eyes. I could still hear the last words they said.

"Thank you, Doxy. It's okay, you can go now," Max said weakly.

"I can't- after everything he did for us, Max, I can't" Martha cried.

Then I heard them no more.