Chapter 36: Overhand Throw of Opportunity

Nikki and Ethan returned back to the estate around 10 pm from a long day of work followed by some roleplaying mayhem. Jade greeted them at the door. "Hey you two, I have some important news to share."

Nikki looked interested. "Oh really? What kind of news?"

"Job news actually" Jade responded.

Ethan started to act interested finally. "I didn't want to say anything, but I had noticed how you weren't really going to work anymore. Did they finally correct some sort of oversight where you were still getting paid a check even though you weren't going to work anymore, what back at the Haunted Wine House or whatever?"

Jade shook her head. "Actually no they haven't figured out I'm not showing up anymore. I still go in every couple of weeks to pick up the checks. Until they stop giving me checks, I'll keep cashing them."

"Well if its not about your old job, what's your big news?" Nikki asked.

Jade continued "Well I was across town enjoying one of my favorite hobbies, cat chucking. I was just throwing some stray cats I found at passing cars. Apparently where I chose to chuck cats happened to be in front of some sort of daycare center. I guess my hair was looking more disheveled then normal and I got mistaken for some crazy cat lady."

Nikki and Ethan snuck a quick glance at each other.

"Well long story short, they offered me a job at the daycare taking care of days or children or some such nonsense. The kind of money they wanted to pay me was too hard to turn down. So I start tomorrow."

Ethan asked "Are you sure this is a good idea, what ever happen to that baby you got back when we were on that quest?"

"The delivery service messed up my order. I wanted a girl instead." Jade shrugged. "I took advantage of their no questions asked, full money back guarantee and just didn't bother to replace my order. Perhaps we can try again some other day."

Ethan squinted his eyes at Jade. "Let's hope your story checks out." He then noticed a multi-colored kitten sitting on Jade's shoulder like a cat-parrot or something. "What's with the shoulder kitten?"

Jade took the kitten off her shoulder and placed it on the ground in front of her. "This is Patches. She's a stray that came up to me when I was in town earlier. I was about to throw her at a school bus when the people at the day care distracted me. Well long story short, she followed me home and I just couldn't bring myself to leave her outside."

Ethan shook his head. "You were going to throw her into traffic and then you decide leaving her outside without food would be cruel?"

Jade thought for a second. "Yes."

Nikki asked "Why is she called Patches?"

"Oh that's easy." Jade pointed at the kitten's back. "It looks like she was patched together from a whole bunch of other cats. "

Ethan sighed. "You let an undead cat into my house?"

Shaking her head, Jade replied "She's not undead, probably just reanimated."

"Thanks, you've put my mind completely at ease" Ethan responded.

Jade smiled. "I aim to please!"