Selene

"You're good to run the booth, right?"

"Yes, Mama." I roll my eyes.

Her brows crease, making her wrinkles pop up more. "Don't roll your eyes at me. I'm just worried."

"I know. I know." I sigh. "But it'll be fine. I can run the booth for an hour."

She leans forward and cups the back of my head. She pulls it towards her while leaning in and plants a kiss on my forehead. "I'm sure you can. But I'll still be as quick as I can." She pulls away. "I'll see you later."

"Bye, Mama."

She steps out from behind our booth and waves once before turning away. I watch her as she starts down the path towards the mango farms. I'm glad that for once she didn't make me go and pick them up. I guess the family that runs it are being pains and Mama wants to sort it out before it gets worse. 

I turn back and watch the market. It's pretty full, with people milling around. Some stand at other booths that sell baked goods, or at stalls that sell fresh produce. Food isn't the only thing being sold though. There's handmade crafts and jewelry. A smile warms my face. This is what I love about our community. How we can all come together and support each other.

"Are you smiling thinking about the scared girl you kidnapped?"

"Ah!" I jump backwards, almost knocking into the pole that keeps the tent up above us. 

That black cat from the witches house sits on our table. Right in front of the mango pound cakes. I really thought I had dreamt him. Or, well, not so much him but the talking part. 

"You followed me? Wait, wait, no. I'm still dreaming. Yep. Still dreaming." I take a deep, steadying breath.

If he could roll his eyes, I think he just did. "Of course I did. You did something to Eve and I'd like her back."

"But I  didn't do anything to her. I didn't even know her name until you told me!"

Someone passes by our booth and eyes me before turning away. That clues me into the other people shooting me weird looks.

Great, when Mama hears about this she won't be happy. "I need you to leave," I hiss at him. "You're ruining business." And my chance at looking good.

He doesn't even bother looking at the market before shaking his head. "I will not be leaving until I have some answers about Eve."

With a worried glance around I tell him, "Look, I don't know anything about Eve. The only reason I even pass her cottage is because it's the quickest way to get here." And for other reasons that this annoying cat does not need to know. "Happy? Now please leave or I'll have to-"

"Is this mango pound cake?" He peers intensely at it as his nose moves slightly closer to it.

I blink at him. "It is. Why is that important?"

The cat takes a big whiff of it. "This is Eve's favorite treat." His gaze snaps up at me. For a moment, I think he's about to pounce at me before he goes and sits down again. His black tail hangs off the edge of the table.

Mama's going to kill me. 

"Maybe you really didn't take her." But the way he says it sounds like he's trying to convince himself more than me. 

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!" I throw my hands up.

Gazes shoot towards me. With a sheepish smile I lower my arms and turn back to the cat. "Now can you please leave? My Mama's not going to be happy when she's sees me talking with the witch's cat."

But no, he just sits there, not quite staring at me, or the pound cake. After a minute he slowly lifts his gaze and looks at me. "If you don't know where she is, then how will I find her?"

My annoyance softens. "I don't know. I wish I could help you. You seem to really miss her. How long has she been gone?"

"I don't know," he whispers. He looks up at me again. "You seem smart, and I still don't trust you, but would you be willing to help me find Eve?"

"Excuse me, can I buy some mango tarts?"

I snap my head up to find a man standing before the booth. "Of course! How many would you like?"

"Just four please. My family doesn't get little treats often, and well, why not spoil them tonight?"

I smile. "I'm sure they'll love the little surprise."

He smiles back as I package the treats for him. After exchanging the money I turn back to where the cat was sitting but, it's empty.

I lean forward to see if he maybe just hopped off the table to sit in front of it. But no, he's not there. A quick glance around the market also shows no black cat. I even check behind the booth and under the table, but he's no where to be found. Maybe I really did just dream him up. After all, cat's can't talk.

***

Mama stands with her arms crossed, and an angry furrow between her brows. I look down at my hands in my lap, not able to face the fury written on her face.

"You had one job."

As much as I want to say, and I did that job, I don't. It won't help the situation at all.

"You were to stay at the booth and sell the baked goods. And what did you do? I was told that you were talking to a cat. Do you have an idea how that looks?"

"Not good," I mumble, ducking my head so my brown curls hide my face.

"Exactly. It makes people think you're crazy! We don't need you looking as bad as that witch."

A shiver runs down my back. "Of course, Mama. I promise it won't happen again."

She leans down and brushes my curls away from my face. "I really hope not. But you know what this means, right?"

With a sigh I say, "Picking mangos duty?"

She nods. "At least until I can trust that you can run the booth smoothly." She stands up and turns back to the stove where a pot of soup simmers. 

I turn to the table and trace one strand of the pattern that the wood creates. Our kitchen is big enough for a small table fit for two, and the stove, counters, and fridge. The window that sits above the table lets in the last of the suns rays as it sets off to sleep. "I did sell some of the treats," I tell her. Once that cat had left customers had slowly trickled in, trying to show their support for Mama while ignoring how strange I'd been acting.

"How much did you make?" She keeps her focus on the soup. Her brown curls that match mine are tied up into a bun on top of her head.

"Fifty coins."

She tries to stifle her sigh, but her disappointment is obvious in the drop of her shoulders, and the way she lets go of the spoon to let it rest on the side of the pot. "That's only enough to pay for the next batch of mangos."

I keep my attention on tracing the pattern on the table. "I'm sorry, Mama. The market was slow today. I did really try."

She hums in that way that says, sure you did. The stove clicks as she turns it off. After moving the soup to a cool burner, she grabs two bowls from the cupboards and pours us each our dinner. The clink of the spoons hitting each other, then the bowl, fill the kitchen before the gentle plonk sounds from being set on the table. 

I look up to see the bowl in front of me. Mama pushes it towards me before it's right in front of me. "Tomorrow we'll try and have a better day." She tries to smile reassuringly, but I can't find it in me to agree. 

I can't seem to stop disappointing her. 

Later, as I'm crawling into bed I glance up at the moon. Somehow it seems brighter than it did yesterday, and something about that brings me comfort. 

The cat's words keep playing back in my head. "If you don't know where she is, then how will I find her?" "Would you be willing to help me find Eve?" Why would he ask me for help? I'm pretty sure I'm the most terrified of her out of anyone in this town. But he seemed so sad and lost without her. His love for her was obvious.

Glancing up at the moon I ask, "Do you think I should help him?"

The glow seems to intensify around it.

"Is that a yes?" I shake my head. Mama really would think I was crazy if she knew I was also talking to the moon on top of the cat. 

Deep down, my gut tells me I can't just ignore him. How would I feel if I was in his place and my owner disappeared? I'd be devastated.  

I look over my shoulder towards my door. I can't see Mama from here, but I can imagine her all alone in her bed, missing Pa. I know what it's like to not know where a loved one is, and I know I can't just sit by and not help someone who's going through something I once did.

Chapter word count: 1,555

Total word count: 2,846