Dog was visiting the barn when she met someone new.
“Hi,” said the someone, “I’m Flash. Just arrived. I’m the new barn cat.”
“Oh hi,” said Dog. She was surprised that Flash introduced himself with a human-sounding name instead of “Cat.”
“Do you live in the farmhouse?” asked Dog. She knew that cats usually lived with people, just like she and Ferret did.
“Nope,” said Flash. “Like I said, I’m a barn cat. Not a housecat; that’s different. I wouldn’t live in a house. Don’t like to be in places where I can’t come and go as I please.”
“I come and go as I please,” said Dog, “and I live in a house. All I have to do is ask and somebody opens the door for me.”
“That’s fine for you, said Flash, “but I don’t like asking for anything.”
“But what about food and treats?”
“I find my own food, and if they want to give me treats I’ll take ‘em, but you won’t find me asking,” sniffed Flash.
“So you live here in the barn with Maisie and Hortense and everyone?”
“Nah, only sometimes. I move around. If it’s super cold I might come in here and sleep in the hay, but otherwise you never know where you’ll find me.”
“I like curling up by the fire when it’s cold,” said Dog. “Where’s your family?”
“I’m on my own, I don’t need any family,” said Flash.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Dog.
“What are you sorry for?”
“You must get lonely, that’s all I meant.”
“Lonely?” said Flash, sounding puzzled. “What’s ‘lonely’?”
“Uh…it’s when you’re all by yourself and you wish you had some company,” said Dog. She was surprised Flash didn’t seem to know the word.
“Huh,” said Flash, “don’t think I’ve ever felt that way. I’d rather be by myself.”
“That seems weird to me,” said Dog. “I’d almost always rather have company. Even if you don’t do anything special, it’s nice to be together with your family or friends.”
“Not for me,” said Flash. “Maybe that’s a dog thing.”
“I don’t think so,” said Dog. “I thought it was an everybody thing.”
“Maybe it’s an everybody but cats thing, then,” said Flash.
“Maybe,” said Dog doubtfully. She tried to think of anybody else she knew who wanted to be alone most of the time. “Maybe bears, too,” she said. “Bear lives in the mountains all by himself, and he seems to like it pretty well.”
“Oh, mountains,” said Flash, “I know of some cats that live in the mountains. They’re loners too.
“I see,” said Dog. “Anyway, what brings you to the barn, Flash?”
“I’m here on a mission,” said Flash importantly. “I’m here to protect the place.”
“Protect it?” said Dog dubiously. She looked at Flash, who was much smaller than she was, and much, MUCH smaller than Maisie and Hortense. To say nothing of Jake and Oliver, the horses napping at the other end of the barn. “Protect it from what?”
“The people think I’m protecting the place from rats and mice,” said Flash.
Dog winced, thinking about her friends Ma and Pa Mouse and their family.
“But I’m not really,” said Flash. “That’s just a cover story. Something simple enough for people to be able to think about. What I’m really protecting the place from is stuff they can’t even see.”
Dog frowned; Flash the Barn Cat was starting to sound nuts. “What kind of stuff?” she asked. “I haven’t heard of anything dangerous like that.”
“Oh, it’s not here yet,” said Flash. “Still a long way away. But it’s coming. Don’t worry, it’s only dangerous to people; you’ll be fine. And you could probably fight it off anyway.”
“What,” said Dog, “are you talking about, Flash?”
“Best thing to do is just wait a while,” said Flash. “You’ll know when it gets closer. The people won’t, but we all will.” He swished his tail to indicate everyone in the barn. “I’ll give you any details I have when it gets here.”
“Wait a minute,” said Dog, “is this whatever-it-is dangerous to my people too?”
“Probably,” said Flash. “All the people are probably in trouble, even in the town. But don’t worry; we can handle it.”
“Nothing better happen to my family,” growled Dog. She glared suspiciously at Flash.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” said Flash nervously, “It’s not going to get here for weeks, probably, and now that I’m here, everything is going to be okay.” Dog had suddenly looked much more ferocious. “You’ll be able to protect them yourself; I’m just here to explain things. You’ve never seen stuff like this before.”
“Well,” grumbled Dog, “I don’t like the idea of my family being in danger. And anyway, how do you know so much about all this?”
“Don’t really know,” said Flash. “I know I know it, and I know I got sent here because of it, but the rest is…well, kind of hazy.”
Just then Jake woke up and called a hello to Dog. That woke up Oliver, who did the same thing. When Dog looked back, Flash was gone.
“Have you met Flash the Barn Cat?” she asked the horses.
“Yup, he’s a strange one,” said Jake. “Knows something, or thinks he does. Don’t say much about it though.”
“Says he’s on a mission,” said Oliver. “Whatever that is.”
“Probably too much catnip,” snorted Dog. Then she left; it was time to head home for dinner.
