don’t let the cat out of the bag… i stared at the massive burlap sack in front of me as the mammal inside it thrashed back and forth. “should i punch some air holes in it?” asked my brother, nick. as the bag wriggled wildly i turned to face him with an incredulous look plastered across my face. “there’s already holes in it, you idiot.” my fingers tapped a rhythm on the bench i was sitting on. a large, strangled growl came from the bag and i jumped up. “yeah but they’re so small and…nevermind. what are you going to do?” he looked up at me from his spot on the floor. “what am i going to do? i’m going to call animal control, nick. this thing should not be in suburban australia.” i took a hesitant step towards the sack and noticed the animal inside was getting tired. “you can’t call animal control, zoë, they’ll put it in a zoo!” he whined. i turned to face him. “well we can’t keep it.” “just leave it - maybe it’ll calm down.” i scoffed, but i let my eyes wander to the bag which had stopped moving. i knelt down beside it, pressed my index finger down and waited for movement. when none came, i tilted my head in confusion. “is it dead?” nick asked. i heard the snap before i felt it. a large crack of the cub’s teeth missed my finger by inches as i pulled it back, heart pounding into the very depths of my chest. “holy-” i scrambled backwards, feeling around for my phone. i could hear nick telling me variations of no in the corner but i quickly found the number for animal control and dialled it faster than ever. “hi, i need someone at 7 cornelia street? i don’t know, some kind of cub. a lion maybe?” my eyes drifted to the corner, but my brain didn’t quite process the fact nick was gone. “yes, i know this is australia. uh huh. i’m well aware, sir. can you just send someone over? thank you, i’ll be outside.” i hastily shoved my phone into my pocket. “nick, let’s go.” i sighed and spun around to see him fiddling with the rope tying up the bag. “zoë it’s just a baby.” “i know. which is why i want it to go somewhere it’s not going to be in danger. if it goes to the zoo at least it will have a somewhat familiar environment. just leave the bag alone and come wait outside with me.” “i can’t,” he said as he kept pulling at it. when the last knot was undone, he threw the rope across the room and stood up. “sorry, zoë.” a soft rumble escaped from the bag, as did a small twitching nose. “it’s just a baby,” i reminded myself.
total 475 words!
