The next day turned out to be one of the happiest of Dodger’s life.
When Dodger got to where the inmates got out at the prison, Kitty was already there waiting for her.
“Hi Runt,” the Khajiit said, though Dodger had seen the smile when Kitty had first seen her so she wasn’t fooled by Kitty’s disinterested manner.
“Hi Kitty. How’s everything going?” Dodger asked, sitting down beside her.
Kitty resumed her habitual combing. “Okay, I guess. Still broke. But I got a little food from a guy I know.”
Dodger nodded. “Hey, I have enough to get us some breakfast when Donny gets out, if you want.”
The cat’s ears perked up. “Really? You’ve got money?”
“Some. Enough for breakfast for us all at some restaurant.”
The ears went back down again. “They don’t let me in restaurants.”
“The Khajiit thing?” Dodger asked. She knew humans had a tendency to shun Argonians and Khajiits, but she’d not experienced it first-hand in the city.
“Well, yeah. That and they mostly know me by now. I’ve probably stolen from all of the restaurants in the city.”
“A real baron of crime, you,” Dodger joked.
“Just call me Macavity.”
“Oh, you read?”
“Some. Not much else to do. I can’t get a job because everyone thinks Khajiits are theives, and I have to be a theif because I can’t get a job.”
“I’m a writer. Well… I’m going to be a writer.”
“Good for you.”
“Kitty, do you mind me asking a personal question? How’d you end up here?”
“Walked,” said the cat, but then she sighed. “No, I don’t mind. I escaped from my parents’ caravan. I thought I’d like it here, but it’s lonely. Thousands of people and it’s lonely. How’s that for ironic?”
“You don’t know anybody here?” Dodger asked.
“Just some old bums. There’s some kids too, but they mostly don’t like strangers like me. And really don’t like cats,” she said quietly.
For the first time Dodger noticed the cuts in her ear and the scar under her eye. They didn’t look all that old.
“I thought you Khajiits didn’t like being called cats. They call me a lizard,” Dodger replied.
“I like cats. Sometimes I wish I really was a cat. They don’t need money. They get all the food they want too.”
“If you want to eat garbage. And bugs.”
Kitty looked at Dodger for the first time since she’d sat down. “What do you think I eat?”
“Garbage?”
“And bugs.”
“Well, screw the restaurants. I can still get some food. Heck, I can buy enough food for you for a week from a shop.”
Kitty looked away again. “Thanks Runt. I’ll take it. But I think I’m going to go back to the caravan. I really don’t want to be a bum.”
“I’ll probably be a bum. I’m doing a project with my ‘dad’,” Dodger said, inserting the quotes with her fingers, “But when that’s over, I’ve got nowhere to go.”
They sat in silence for a while, each contemplating a bleak future. But they contemplated it together, and that was something.
Then the doors of the prison opened, and Donny came out alone.
“KITTY!” he yelled, and ran to her. His enthusiasm was obviously embarrassing to the Khajiit, but she endured his excited embrace, looking pained. Yet Dodger noticed she hugged him back too.
“Donny!” Kitty said with mock interest. “Oh joy, it’s Donny, the mass-murderer. Oh! You stink!”
“I do! We can’t all smell like gorgeous cats, you know. Or lizards! Hi Runt!” Donny said, giving her a hug every bit as enthusiastic even if a little unexpected.
“Wanna sit on some oranges?” Dodger suggested. “They make a great perfume!”
“Oh yeah,” Kitty said with a little enthusiasm of her own, “Runt says she’ll buy us breakfast!”
“Really? I’m starving. Let’s go!”
In the end, they did go to a little restaurant outside the city. Donny had suggested it, and they didn’t put up any protest at letting Kitty in – after they’d gotten some of Dodger’s coins anyway. They had to pay first. The three were sitting back after gorging on a cheap but filling breakfast. Kitty was picking her teeth with her claws while Donny burped a little tune to Dodger’s laughter.
“So, are you a bum like Kitty?” Dodger asked the boy.
“Naa. My dad’s just a drunk. I’ll go home later.”
“Oh?” Kitty said, spitting out a piece of food that she’d dislodged. “Got any booze?”
“Probably not. He drinks everything he can get his hands on. But you never know! Wanna go see?”
“Later,” Kitty said, leaning back and closing her eyes. “Right now I just want to sit here. It’s kinda nice, pretending to be normal.”
Donny and Dodger nodded.
“Three species, in the prime of life and doing absolutely nothing with it,” Dodger stated. “We should be ashamed.”
“Yeah, Runt. We should be,” Donny laughed.
“By the way, call me Dodger. I don’t like Runt,” Dodger said.
“Is that your real name?” Kitty asked.
“Actually, yes. Well, part of it anyway. We have weird names.”
“Dodger’s a good name. My name’s Donny,” said Donny. His two friends laughed. “I’m not very imaginative.”
“Screw you guys, I’m not telling you my name. I like ‘Kitty’,” said the Khajiit.
“Fine. So, what do you guys want to do?” Dodger asked. “I’ve got all day.”
“Me too,” Donny said. “Not like dad showed up at the prison or anything.”
“I’ve got all day every day,” Kitty said, looking depressed again.
“I know – let’s go swimming!” Dodger said.
Donny looked at Kitty. “Works for me!”
“You stink anyway. A bath would be an improvement.”
“Do cats swim?” Donny asked.
“No. We sink like rocks. Of course we swim! But…”
“What?” Donny and Dodger asked together.
“I look really weird when I get wet. All the fur you know.”
“Ooo! So we finally get to see what’s under all that fur?” Donny asked, perking up noticeably.
“You won’t like it. I look weird.”
Dodger tried to assure her, “Hey, we’re friends right? We won’t laugh.”
“Yes you will. But it’s okay. I don’t care, I laugh myself. And a swim sounds like a great idea… later. When it gets hot.”
In the end, they lingered a good while longer before they finally got up and headed to the river.
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