Cat

Egg did his homework while Cat sat nearby. 

“Your father told me that we will be getting a body guard for our day out tomorrow,”  Cat said, taking a sip of her tea, “He said his name is Duncan”.

Egg didn’t look up from his paper, “Duncan? Did my father say what he looked like?”. 

Cat shook her head, “I forgot to ask. I hope he’s nice. I don't want someone new cramping our style” she laughed. 

Egg frowned, "I don't want some big oaf following us around”.

He had been tense lately, seemingly stressed from whatever was happening with his family. He started just doing the most inane things like letting his brother shave his hair off. It was honestly starting to worry Cat.

“Well I don't think we really have a choice. Rules are rules” she replied which didn’t seem to improve Egg’s mood.

She watched Egg continued his work, she leaned back in her chair. “If he does suck we can….vote him off the island”.  

This actually got him to look up, “what?”. 

“It's from-.....ah nevermind”, she set her cup down and leaned forward “what I’m saying is that if this guy ruins the mood then we can get your father to assign us someone else, deal?” she held up her pinkie. 

Egg rolled his eyes but hooked his pinkie with hers and they shook on it. 

-

Cat was told that her and egg would meet their new bodyguard right before they set off to the zoo. This ‘Duncan’ stood waiting for them right in front of the car. 

Cat almost stopped in her tracks. She knew she was not very gifted in the height department but this man was almost twice the size of her. Maybe even twice as wide as her too. She knew body guards were often big but not THIS big. His hair was shaggy and looked like his fingers threaded through it a thousand times. The more she looked at him the less intimidated she was. He seemed just as nervous as she was, which was almost comical to her. He seemed to be folding in on himself trying to make himself look smaller. His clothes were plain: a sweatshirt, faded jeans, plain t-shirt, and a beaten up pair of sneakers. His hands were shoved into his jeans pockets which further emphasised his awkwardness.

“Wow, he's tall!” Cat quickly mumbled to Egg.

“Yes, he’d probably scare anyone off who would want to bother us,”. 

Cat laughed quietly in response. The two approached ‘Duncan’ and silently just stood there for a second just staring at the large man in front of them.  

“Hello, you must be Duncan,” she said through a forced smile, “my name is cat and this is egg” she gestured to Egg before holding her hand out. 

Duncan looked down at her hand hesitating before awkwardly taking it “uh- dunk..dunk is fine”.

His whole hand engulfed hers, she winced at how warm and sweaty his palm was. He quickly took his hand away and mumbled a “sorry”,as the tips of his ears turned red. 

She laughed awkwardly, “it's fine”. She discreetly wiped her hand on her pants while Egg just stared. 

The three of them piled into the back of the car and got driven off to the zoo. The car ride was silent and very crampt. 

Once they got to the zoo, Egg got back to his normal self dragging Cat inside. Dunk followed awkwardly behind them, far enough to not disturb them but close enough to keep an eye on them. Egg dragged Cat up to the map to see where all the animals were. He was pointing at random animals, basically making a plan on which ones he wanted to see.

“We can probably go see a couple animals grab dinner then see a couple more before we go”, Cat mused with a hand on her chin “how does that sound?”.

Egg nodded in agreement. Egg had decided he wanted to see the penguins first. He was walking quickly a couple steps ahead making Dunk walk side by side with Cat.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. This was so awkward. Dunk still had that shyness to him, completely avoiding her gaze. She felt kind of bad for him, being shoved into this already established dynamic. Maybe she could try and ease his nervousness with conversation.

“So…what’s your favorite animal?” she asked.

He looked at her with this sort of confused look, like he was caught off guard by her even trying to make conversation. “Well, I like horses,” he said.

She smiled, “I like horses too, but I don't think they have any here. They do have zebras though and those are….kinda close”. 

He nodded and smiled awkwardly, “ that’ll do”.

Her heart almost squeezed in her chest. She didn't get a good look at him before but now she could see how pretty he was.  His eyes were so incredibly blue it was almost jarring. It didn't help that his lashes were so long and so pretty . The rest of his  face looked square but also soft at the same time. Looking back at his smile made her face feel warm all over.

She was glad when Egg pulled her away to look at the penguins. He pressed his hands against the glass looking at them all waddling around. Cat pulled out her phone, Egg turned to look at her.

“Are you gonna take a picture of all the exhibits again? You do that every time we’re here” He said.

“Of course I am! I want to remember this special moment” Cat replied, mock sentiment dripping from her voice.

Egg shook his head dismissively. 

“You kinda look like one of those penguins,” Cat joked. 

Egg whipped his head around, “I do not!”.

“You're tiny and bald, I say that’s a pretty good resemblance," she teased with a shrug.  

She elbowed Dunk, "wouldn't you agree”. Dunk looked back and forth between Cat and egg.

Then Dunk nodded, “I would agree they look pretty similar”.

Egg frowned as Cat stuck her tongue out. Egg stuck his tongue out in return. He  then turned back to the penguins in a huff. 

After Egg was satisfied with the penguins he had decided he wanted to find an animal that looked like Cat too so he could ‘get back at her’. They looked at the sea lions, the tigers, the lions, the crocodiles, the zebras. Egg dragging Cat along to each and reading the placard to her. She’d make small talk with Dunk as Egg ran ahead but he still seemed stiff .

Dunk told her about how he usually just went from security gig to security gig. Just doing any odd job he could get his hands on. He told her other things too like about his buddy that just got engaged. Raymun if she remembered correctly. 

After dragging Cat to the monkey section, Egg decided that Cat’s animal equivalent was the ‘Venezuelan red howler monkey’ since her hair was the same color as the monkey’s fur and ‘her constant nagging sounded like howling’. Dunk seemed slightly miffed that Egg would say something like that to her. She could tell because after Egg said it Dunk got this funny look on his face, eye brows pinched in and lips pursed in a thin line, but he remained quiet. 

They stopped at the bathrooms right before they went to grab a bite to eat. Cat and Dunk were waiting outside while Egg was finishing up. 

Cat leaned back watching as couples and families walked by. She felt Dunk look over at her several times, he’d open his mouth then close it. 

Finally, “I like your monkey” he stammed out and pointed.

She sat up, “Huh what monk-” she looked down at the little monkey keychain on her bag.

“Oh! That’s my monchichi. They were popular back in the day but I just think they're so cute. I just really like putting bits and bobs on my bags” she said with a giggle.

She turned it around in her hand and then pulled it off her bag holding it up next to her face “I guess I kinda see the resemblance, don’t you?”.

He laughed, “Aye I think I can”.

 her heart did that squeeze again. She felt weird seeing this side of him actually getting him to relax. But it also felt good. This should be the best case scenario, having someone actually nice and easy to talk to. But then why was there still that weird tinge in the back of her mind. Maybe she liked him too much. That would make it weird. What if she came on too strong? Now he was just looking at her with his giant big blue eyes and her face started to feel hot again. 

“Are you…American? I mean your accent and…uh” he trailed off.

“Oh uh yes!...” Cat sat up and nervously smoothed over her pants, “I moved her after I finished college. Originally, I came here for the animation field… not that being a nanny has put a stop to that. I still do it, just its kinda fifty-fifty you know ”.

“Ah,” he nodded, leaning back on the bench. 

“And well it's not a bad job…. I like looking after Egg. He’s like…a little brother to me”

“I can tell, you're good with him” he smiled and just looked at her.

She couldn't even look at him. Why! Just why was he so…charming! It made her almost angry how quickly he could just get to her!

Then as if Egg could sense her distress, He came out of the bathroom right then. She quickly stood up and started towards the zoo’s cafe. Dunk just sat there for a second just confused on why she scurred off so quickly.

-

Cat shuffled through her purse looking for her wallet.

“Ok ok….I’m getting the tuna sandwich….and you-”

“I want the jumbo sausage roll,” Egg said proudly.

“Right,” she finally found her wallet “HA! Ok sausage roll….Dunk what do you want?”.

Both Cat and Egg look at Dunk, waiting for his answer. Dunk awkwardly looked back and forth between them.

“What? No you don't have to get me anything. I can buy it myself” he waved his hands quickly in embarrassment.

“No no I insist!”  

Egg nodded in agreement.  Dunk looked between the two again. 

“I have enough for all three of us. It’s ok” Cat added.

Dunk sighed in defeat, "Ok…I'll have the BLT”.

Cat got their food and they all ate at one of the picnic tables out front. 

“Ok egg,” Cat started after she took the last bite of her sandwich, “what do you wanna see before we head back”. 

“I want to go see the elephants before we go”  

“Hmmm I think that's doable. We can probably go after we are done eating”

After hearing that Egg tried to shove the rest of the food in his mouth but Cat scolded him quickly before he could eat the rest.

After the three finished they headed over to the elephants. They slowed as they approached the exhibit. There was a large crowd blocking the sight of the elephants. 

Cat got on her tip toes trying to look over the crowd .

“Can you see them, Egg” 

“No….” Egg said solemnly.

“I can,” Dunk muttered.

“Of course you can” Cat mumbled, looking around for another way.

“I mean I could hoist him on my shoulders so he could see” 

Cat looked at Dunk then Egg. Then Cat helped Egg onto Dunk’s shoulders.

“Woah!” Egg shouts making Cat giggle.

“Can you see them?” 

“I can see everything! Wow, those elephants are so huge!!”

That makes Cat laugh more unconsciously leaning on Dunk as she laughs. Egg was too focused on the elephants.

“You know what Dunk? I think I know what animal you are!” Cat said, laughing even more before she even got the joke out , “you’re an elephant because-because you’re so big!”

Then Egg started laughing then finally Dunk laughed too.

“Ok I think the chauffeur is pulling up soon let’s head over” Cat said.

All of the energy from earlier seemed to have drained out of Egg.Egg was quiet atop Dunk’s shoulders. When they got to the car, they both hoisted him down and buckled him into his seat. After the driver started, Egg had slumped onto Cat’s shoulder asleep.

After a while Cat spoke,“You did good today”.

Dunk turned to look at her surprised.

“You’re…..” she paused. What was she going to say sweet? Fun to hang out with?……unbelievably handsome? “….nice. At least I would say so …and I think Egg would agree too…..if he was awake”.

Dunk nodded, “you’re nice too”.

Cat smiled at that and Dunk smiled back. Her face once again felt hot but she pushed that feeling down.

Then they arrived back at the house. Cat dragged Egg out of the back of the car. Then Cat waved Dunk off. She walked Egg back inside, he stirred awake.

“Are we home?” Egg mumbled 

“Yeah”, Cat “So what’s your verdict? Do you want Dunk to stay with us or….”

Egg thought then said “I like him.”