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Shane and Ilya were sitting in the backyard of their house in Ottawa eating lunch when Shane could feel something fluffy around his ankles. He looked down and saw a little orange cat searching for scratches.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“There’s a little cat down here,” Shane answered.
Ilya also looked under the table.
“Oh it is so cute, Shane.”
Shane was hesitant. He had always been a little wary of animals. Even with Anya he had to warm up to petting and cuddling. But the little cat was swishing around his legs and he could hear her purr. So he bend down and scratched its little head. The cat instantly pressed her head into his hand. Ilya watched them both with a fond look in his eyes.
“I think it likes you.”
“I don’t know. Maybe it likes everyone.”
Then Anya came running to the table. When she catches sight of the little cat she slowed her steps, started sniffing and wiggling her tail. The cat was unperturbed and pressed her head still in Shane’s hand. After Anya finished sniffing the cat, she ran back into the backyard to bite on her toy.After a few minutes of scratches and purring the cat decided it had enough and made her way to the next backyard.
This scenario happened a few times over the next few weeks. When they were outside the cat walked up to Shane for scratches. It stayed for a while and then went on her way. Ilya and Anya were always ignored.
One evening Shane and Ilya were laying in bed.
“The orange cat only likes you, Shane.”
“Hm… I don’t know. I think it’s just coincidence.”
“At this point it’s no coincidence anymore. It’s a pattern. She chose you, Shane.”
Shane started blushing.
“I’m just a random person for it. And besides, I don’t like cats.”
“You like this cat just fine. I see it in your face when the cat comes visiting.”
Shane shrugged his shoulders.
“Maybe. But it doesn’t change anything. It’s not my cat.”
Little did he know that the cat had already decided otherwise.
The weeks went on. The cat visited almost every day to cuddle with Shane and Ilya tried to bribe the cat with treats. But it only took the treats when they were handed over by Shane. Shane got more relaxed in dealing with the cat. Sometimes he would pick her up so it could cuddle in his lap.
The moment when it became clear to everyone that the cat had chosen Shane as his human was a Thursday in September. Ilya came home with Yuna on his heals deep in discussion about some NHL gossip. When they entered the living room they stopped in their tracks. Sleeping on the couch was Shane. On his chest rolled into a ball was the little orange cat. Shane had one hand in her fur and he was snoring slightly. Ilya melted on the spot because of the cute picture they made. He pulled his phone out and took 20 pictures. From this day on everyone was decided that Shane and the little orange cat belonged together.