When Rody found a stray calico cat by the dumpster on a rainy day, he brought her to my apartment without my permission. He wiped her down with one of my towels, spent the rest of his working time preparing a box for her with one of my sheets, put water and fresh fish on plates for her. My plates. When I found out, I was furious.
"Come on, Vince, I wasn't going to leave her there! Look at her belly, she's going to have babies soon!"
"RODY! This is unacceptable! If you want to keep her, that's one thing, but I...!"
"I can't take her to my apartment! It's pouring outside."
"I don’t care. You take her, that's it."
Despite Rody's scream, I take the cat in my arms. She's heavy. She looks at me with her yellow eyes and purrs. As if that would soften me up. Suddenly, I feel something. I put her back in her box and feel her body.
"Vince?" Rody asks me.
"Contractions. It's started."
"Ohhhh! So...!"
"Yes, she's staying, but you're going to have to keep an eye on her. No way am I pulling an all-nighter for a cat!"
I jump as Rody hugs me.
"H...Hey."
"Thanks."
"You know I'm your boss? That's not appropriate behavior between a boss and his employee."
"Yes, but the workday is over!"
He's laughing. A childish laugh that makes me smile. I'm no longer angry. Rody pulls away from me and looks at the cat.
"You should find a name for her." I said to the redhead.
"I know, but I don't know what to call her."
"She's got the colors of a cookie."
"All you think about is food."
"Then why not Odile?"
"Odile?"
"For Odile Schmitt, the actress."
"Okay for Odile. It's better than Minette."
I sigh. Rody doesn't seem to have much general knowledge. I leave him with Odile and prepare dinner.
The rest of the evening is uneventful. Rody and I make small talk when he's not taking a peek at the cat. When it's time for bed, I fall asleep alone in my room. Rody stays awake for Odile.
The next day, I'm awakened by the sound of kittens crying. I find Rody asleep on a sofa. Odile is in her box looking after her litter. Four kittens and they all seem to be different colors. I try to wake Rody up to show him the kittens, but no way. He must have been up all night. I let him sleep. I can take his place for today. Rody. He's been working so hard since I hired him at La Gueule de Saturne. I get dressed and head downstairs to the bistro kitchen. Another day's work begins.