I was walking down the street, on the way back home from the supermercato for my daily grocery run, when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Two men, both dressed comically, were watching my every move. One was dressed in an outfit that resembled a fox, the other a cat. 

I raised an eyebrow at their goofy appearance and their creepy stares, so I just kept on walking. I turned around and saw that they were no following me, the fox banging a cane on the ground as he walked. My breath shortened and I picked up the pace. They did the same. Despite the fear, I wasn't about to let these two ruin my day. I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around to face them, my eyebrows furrowed and a big frown spread across my face. "Hey!" I yelled. 

The two of them also stopped, almost crashing into each other while doing so. The fox began to slap away the cat and struck a waiting pose, listening to me. "Yes~?" He spoke, smoothly. It was then I noticed his slicked back auburn hair and golden-colored eyes. He was actually quite nice-looking, despite the goofy get-up. His friend was a bit shorter than him, and his dark hair and deep, brown eyes contrasted the other one greatly. He seemed a bit frazzled, but maybe that was how he composed himself. 

"What are you two doing, following me? What do you want? I have pepper spray!" I threatened them, reaching into my purse. They both cried out in terror and waved their hands frantically. "Aspetta, aspetta!" They cried, telling me to wait. I stopped my hand and looked at them, as if asking them, then what do you want? The fox cleared his throat and slapped on a phony smirk. "We are in business, the kind of business that only people from good society want to do with us!" He said, proud as a peacock. The cat nodded vigorously, hanging on every word of the fox. "Our business is that of faces. When we saw you walking down the street, we just knew that we had to have you for our new modelling project! The investors, the clients, everyone will love you!" The fox cried. I raised an eyebrow. What was he talking about? 

"So, let me get this straight. You want to recruit me to be a model for your company?" The fox chuckled. "No, no, no," he shook his head. "Our company is a tad of a stretch, but not by much! It's for our clients, the ones that own the company." He chuckled nervously. "But, we're like this!" He wrapped his middle finger around his index one, indicating that they were close. "So, it basically is our company." He nudged the cat with his elbow and, after steadying himself yet again, he resumed his vigorous nodding. I couldn't help but laugh. This was all so ridiculous! 

The fox smiled and came closer, putting one arm around me and gesturing with the other one. "Think of it! The fame, the fortune, the glory! You will be the most famous model in all of Italy! No more taking trip to the supermercato by yourself and buying..." He started rummaging through my grocery bag, to which I pulled away, but he grabbed the bag and brought out some bananas. "Bananas! Don't you know the sugar content of these? No more if you're to be our model!" He chucked them into the trash can next to us. "Hey!" I yelled at him, anger flaring up inside me. "Those bananas weren't cheap, you know." I crossed my arms in defiance. 

The fox blew a raspberry. "Chump change, compared to what you'll soon be making." He snapped his fingers and the cat beside him pulled out a scroll of paper from his jacket pocket. He unraveled it to reveal a long contract. The fox pointed to a dotted line on the bottom and handed me a pen that appeared out of nowhere. "All you have to do is sign right here on the dotted line, and you'll be rich!" 

I smirked and started reading the contract. The terms were insane! I had to deliver their dry cleaning every day, work 23 hours a day, and promise to give 90% of my commission to my mangers, La Volpe e Il Gatto, until the expiration date of my contract, which was set to be in 200 years. I laughed out loud as I read it, to the confusion of both the men. 

I grabbed the pen from him and saw a look of excitement spread across their faces in the form of a grin. I looked at them, smirked, and did just as the fox did - chucked his pen right into the garbage can. They both exclaimed and I ripped their contract in half, right then and there. More screaming from the both of them. They both looked up at me in horror. I smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Don't think I'm that easy. Ciao, ragazzi!" I waved at them and walked off. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see them arguing with each other about where they went wrong. I couldn't help but smile. Sure, they were strange and insane, but this was an encounter I'd never forget. 

Ciao a la volpe e il gatto!