Chapter 107

He hung up. I hung up.

The girl behind the Animal Control counter said, “I changed the chip because Savannah cats are banned in Texas. He’s not a Savannah ... he’s a big house-cat ... with spots.”

“Okay,” I turned to Raul, “You got that?”

<So ... I’m just a plain ordinary cat?>

And the girl behind the Animal Control counter said, “Yes ... and don’t forget it. Wait ... did I ... no ... can’t be.”

<Did ... people I like hear me.>

“Holy Shit!”

“I don’t know about that,” I said. “Raul does it to the Deputy Sheriff all the time ... HE’s convinced that I’m a ventriloquist. You...” I stared at my cat, “ ... have gotten me in so much trouble.”

I switched to the clerk, “So ... you can hear him?”

“Yes,” she said. “You sure you’re not doing it?”

“Not me.”

<It’s me ... I like you.>

She blushed.

“I like cats. Always have.”

<I know. It shows.>

“So ... Tyche Selene ... interesting name ... goddess of Fortune and the Moon.”

She pronounced Tyche ... Ti ssh ... Everybody in North America does that, Tyche ... Ty-ke ... seems to be British ... and most of the European continent. I’m Australian ... Ty-ke. I told her so. “Tyke ... like nike shoes.”

Everyday I’m becoming more North American. Half the time I hear ‘Ty-ssh’ in my head when I think about me.

“Ty-ke?”

“Yes.”

“Not Ti-ssh?”

“Correct.”

“Hmm.”

<Took me a while, too.>

We both looked at him.

I didn’t know what to say.

She said, “I’m Harper Kennedy King. Call me Ken at your peril.”

I said, “Ms King.”

<Kenny>