Amber: "Alright, mister—do you have your savings with you?"
Jon: "Yeah."
Amber: "Yeah?"
Jon: "Yes, ma'am."
Amber: "Good. We're going to the pet store now. If you decide to adopt a cat, you need to understand that it will be your responsibility."
After helping Jon get dressed, Amber paused at the door and looked back.
Amber: "Leave the cat."
Jon subtly shook his head. Despite her repeated instructions, he remained quietly resolute.
Amber: Sighs "Fine, but make sure it doesn't run off."
As she headed to the car, she turned and realized Jon wasn't following. A flicker of panic crossed her face—until he reappeared, cat securely wrapped in a blanket.
Amber lifted both Jon and the cat into the car seat. Only then did her anxiety ease.
Amber: "Honey, please don't scare Mama like that, okay?"
Jon: "Okay." His distracted tone suggested his thoughts were elsewhere.
Jon clutched the cat tightly in the backseat as they drove.
(That was reckless. I didn't think this through.)
(How would I even explain a half-cat? Pretend it's a toy?)
(Whatever. I'll deal with it.)
At the pet store, Amber placed Jon and the cat in a cart. Overhead, a recording played: "From dog, cat, and fish food to beds and toys—we've got everything a pet parent needs!"
Amber: "Alright, honey, what does a cat need?"
Jon: "A bed."
Amber: "That's right. They need a bed, food, and…?"
Jon: "Toys."
Amber: "Good job. You're so smart."
(Of course I'm smart. I'm an adult in a toddler's body. Shouldn't I be?)
(But why are my parents okay with me acting older at home?)
(Maybe not my best cover. Something to fix later.)
Amber: "Here we are. Let's see what we've got. You have $200 in savings, so spend wisely."
Jon examined the shelves of cat supplies—beds of various sizes and colors, scratching posts, litter boxes. He chose a gray bed, hoping it would camouflage the cat, a perch-equipped scratching post, and a matching litter box.
Amber: "Next up: food and toys."
(What do cats even eat? I've never owned one—ever.)
While pondering, a distant meow snapped Jon's attention forward.
Meow
(Huh?)
The cat wasn't in the cart—it was strolling ahead, then turned a corner and vanished.
Jon: "Cat!"
Amber: "What, sweetie?"
Jon: "Cat!"
Realizing the cat was gone, Amber picked Jon up.
Amber: "Which way?"
Jon pointed, and she hurried that direction, nearly bumping a customer.
Amber: "Sorry! Seen a gray cat?"
Stranger: "Yeah—aisle 6, near the food."
Amber: "Thanks!"
They found Josie batting at something under the shelves. Amber scooped her up with a disapproving look, which the cat ignored. Josie nuzzled into Jon's arms.
Jon: (What was she after?)
Looking from above—first spotting a cockroach's head, then a rat's paw.
(Huh?)
SCP information
Name: SCP-1550-8
Age: Unknown
Effects/Side Effects: Unknown
Property: Dr. Wondertainment's
SCP information
(Another SCP? Seriously?)
(Fine. I'll destroy it.)
Jon squirmed free from Amber. He fell farther than expected—but landed on his feet. Next second loud a splat echoed down the aisle, followed by an explosion of translucent red fluid.
Sweating, he wiped his brow and checked his status—his energy was drained, no points left.
Amber scooped him up again, nose wrinkled.
Amber: "Ugh, I hate bugs. Even as a doctor, they gross me out."
She noticed Jon's shirt soaked in red liquid. She reached into her purse for a napkin, intending to wipe it, but Jon slapped her hand away.
Amber: "Sweetie, let Mama wipe it off."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
He refused every attempt until Amber relented. Jon removed his shirt, setting it aside to burn later.
After informing the staff, they resumed shopping. Cat food, toys, and necessities totaled $143.48. In the car on the way home, Jon is lost in thought.
(That was unexpected. Do I get points for that?)
He thought about the mutated pest—part cockroach, part rat, teeming with disease, and possibly hazardous.
Let alone all that, he did not know if eating an SCP is even safe.
(Grandma said I'm a magnet. Maybe she's right. Or maybe their common but the Foundation just covers it all up.)
(Either way, I need to protect my family and grow stronger.)
Back home, Phill helped unload supplies and gave Jon a few kisses—Jon didn't enjoy them.
Next Day
Jon: Yawn~ (Another day, another dollar? Is that how it goes?)
(Oh right. I never checked Josie's status.)
SCP information
Name: SCP-529
Age: Unknown
Effects/Side Effects: Half | None
Property: Jon Malloy Myles
SCP information
(Huh? Her effects are listed as "Half | None"… maybe because she's half-cat and otherwise normal?)
(Interesting. Time to start the day.)
He climbed out of his crib, still in pajamas, and walked to the living room, where Amber, Phil, and Grandma were seated.
Amber: "Look honey, the birthday boy is awake."
Phill: "He sure is."
Though most parents might be startled by a toddler opening doors and walking around alone, Amber and Phill weren't fazed. Grandma, however, had a peculiar look in her eyes.
Phill: "Well, let's get started, or we'll be late for work."
He retrieved the cake he had baked, a green number 2 candle perched on top.
Phil: "What are you waiting for, buddy? Come blow out your candles—it's your favorite, strawberry cake."
After singing happy birthday and sharing some laughs, Amber and Phil left for work, leaving Jon in Grandma's care.