Stray Thoughts
A Daria ficlet
by wyvern337
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Daria wondered why she was doing this. Was it because the
stray was so disgusting? Did it appeal to some kind of anti-cuteness
aesthetic? Did she -- the thought was angrily dismissed almost
as soon as it formed -- feel sorry for it?
The animal was hideous. By rights it probably shouldn't even be
alive. It was crawling with parasites of various kinds, and its
filthy matted fur stuck out in tufts here and there. It was so
emaciated Daria marveled that it could move at all, and it didn't
seem to be fattening up any even after weeks of feeding it the
cat food she'd taken to buying out of her allowance on the way
home from Highland Middle School. Probably had internal
parasites of some kind, as well, she mused as the dry cat-kibble
rattled into the empty cottage cheese container she'd salvaged
from the trash and washed out. Time to top up the other one next
to it that she'd been filling with water, she observed.
As usual, the sound of food being delivered brought the cat running.
It didn't trust humans, though, not enough to get within reach.
Likely a good thing, thought Daria, with those two inbred mutants
she knew from school running around loose. She and the cat had
sort of an understanding: it never let her approach close enough
to touch it (as if she'd want to take the risk of disease!), but
it didn't hide from her either. Instead, just out of reach, the
scrawny orange tabby flung itself down on its haunches, one hind
leg thrust out, and regarded her with its good eye while it waited
for her to finish supplying it and go back indoors. If it had
a good eye, that is: one was always squeezed nearly shut, while
the other bulged grotesquely in its socket.
After she'd finished pouring the food Daria straightened up and
looked at the cat closely. She found herself thinking about whether
she might eventually manage to establish trust with it...she could
barely imagine touching the creature as things currently
stood, but maybe if she could get it to a veterinarian? Have it
cleaned up, checked out, made well? Could she possibly get her
parents to let her keep it inside? She'd never had a pet before,
and had never really wanted one. Now, for whatever reason, she
found herself considering the prospect, and kind of liking the
idea. Not merely for the horrified reactions she was sure it would
elicit from her sister and her mother, either. Okay, thought Daria,
might as well admit it to myself, if no one else: I like
the idea of having that kind of companionship.
Yes, she thought. Get it to a vet, get it fleadipped and wormed,
vaccinated and licensed, give it a name, maybe even manage
to housebreak it...she might even find herself a little less lonely.
"So what do you think?" Daria suddenly asked
the cat.
"Ack! Tpth!" it replied agreeably.
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Disclaimers: Daria and all ancillary characters are the
property of MTV/Viacom. I just borrow them occasionally, for
strictly non-commercial purposes.