THE HAPPY HAT

Suddenly Kaplan felt like they were being watched. Someone else was here. He looked around.

“What’s the matter Ike?” Skagan followed his darting eyes.

Kaplan wanted his .45 in his hand. Then he felt it and saw the eyes at his knee. “Oh my God! What is that?”

Bork was rubbing his head against Kaplan’s legs.

Skagan laughed. “I thought he was in his crate. Well, this is amazing. Bork is usually wary of strangers and attacks them.”

“Bork? What is Bork?” Kaplan was still frozen in place.

“He’s my roommate. Bork is a Maine Coon cat. He hates strangers–usually. I take this as a good omen. He’s purring. Go ahead scratch his head.”

“He’s as big as the Australian Collie I had when I was a kid.” Kaplan bent his knees and slowly touched Bork’s furry head and let his smell his hand. Bork then climbed up Kaplan’s leg to his beltline sounding like a cement mixer. Kaplan scratched Bork’s head and behind his ears. “Does he have any claws? He walked up my leg with his front paws.”

“Bork has everything but testicles. He likes you.” She reached for Kaplan’s hand. “And so do I.”

She walked him to the door with Bork at her heels. “I’ll get your jacket.”

Kaplan immediately moved ahead and retrieved his sport coat which he held with his left hand. He faced Skagan at the doorway. “There’s one thing we definably can’t do in the hospital Phil.”

“What?” She moved into his embrace.

They kissed as if it was a natural thing, something they had been used to. When they separated she rested her head against his shoulder. “We have to have a next time Ike.”

Bork looked on in approval.