Halloween Conversations with a Future Cat Lady

I just met a Future Cat Lady. She came to my door with her bag of candy, dressed as Cinderella. She had blue eyes, blonde hair, and was about 5 or 6 years old. There was a lull in the massive swarm of Trick-or-Treaters, which allowed for the following conversation.

Mini Cinderella (approaching me at the front door): "Did I see...animals...in there?" She looks behind me into my house.

Me: "Yes, kitties."

Mini Cinderella (with an almost undetectable squeal of glee): "More than one?" The only reason I was able to detect the almost undetectable squeal of glee is because I am a cat lady myself, and have that super power.

Me (smiling): "Yes, two kitties."

Mini Cinderella: "Well, can they come out?"

Me: "Aw, no, they're afraid."

Mini Cinderella (with an air of superiority): "PORTIA's not afraid."

Me: "Oh, is Portia your cat?"

Mini Cinderella (with a bit of attitude meaning OBVIOUSLY): "Yes!"

Me: "Mine are kind of scared."

Mini Cinderella (in a sudden understanding tone): "Ohhh. Will they...run away?" She whispers the words "run away" as if they might hear.

Me (with mock sadness and a nod): "They might."

Mini Cinderella (still peering behind me into my house and nodding): "I see."

It is about this time that her father, who had been waiting patiently at the end of my long driveway, begins to walk up my walkway, probably wondering what the hell his little daughter is doing. He has that look on his face that says, 'Stop bothering the nice lady' and calls, "Come on, honey" so I explain to him that she had seen the cats through the door and we had been talking about them. Her father nods knowingly with an almost undetectable roll of the eyes, as if to indicate that this happens frequently when she notices cats. The only reason I was able to detect the almost undetectable roll of the eyes is because I am a cat lady myself, and have that super power.

I waved good bye to the Future Cat Lady, who tore herself away from the mere glimpses of Tumbler and Juice through the glass. This is one of the reasons why I love handing out candy to the children for Halloween.