turps

Excellent prompt. Even if I had to delete over 100 words to get it to count.

~~~~~

“They can’t stay.”

Ryan holds out a feather, dangling it in front of a ginger-striped cat.

“They’ll get out.”

Ryan smiles when the cat jumps, the black cat on his lap arching its back in response. “We’ll shut the door.”

Spencer sighs.“We’re in and out of the bus all the time.”

Ryan shrugs, wiggling his feet when a one-eyed tabby chews at his laces. “I’ll make a sign.”

Spencer shakes his head. “Saying what? A crazy cat-man lives here? You can’t keep them.”

Eyes downcast Ryan says nothing. Then, “They’ve nowhere else to go.”

Spencer knows that he’s lost.