There was a knock at the door.  Hank only half-heard it.  He was focused on the television, and a news report of a rich couple who paid a scientist to change their pet cat into a human.  “The Henderson’s have not released the details of how this transformation occurred, but they did confirm that Dr. Dolan will publish her information.”

There was another knock.  “Coming!” Hank said, watching for a millisecond more before switching off the TV and leaping to his feet.

He pulled the door open.  On the other side was a man in dark glasses and a black suit.  The Employment Agent.

“We have something for you,” he said in a mechanical voice.  The agents were cyborgs, installed with robotic parts. It was somewhat ironic that they were given the task of finding jobs for human beings, who didn’t live nearly as long or work nearly as well.

The Agent was holding out a folder.

Hank took it, and the Agent left.  He closed the door.  On the first page was the name “Henderson.”  Hank did a double take.  THE Hendersons?  The Hendersons that used their wealth to go against nature and create a cat-boy?  Those Hendersons?

“My God,” Hank said, sinking back into the couch.

They were exactly those Hendersons, and they had a job opening.  Hank’s imagination sprang to life before he continued reading--what would they need him to do?  Teach the kid to use a toilet instead of a litter box?  Or to use a fork instead of attempting to wolf down his food with nothing but his mouth?

But no, the letter from the Hendersons stated that they wanted a teacher.  For their “child,” Felix.  Hank almost laughed out loud.  How could he teach a cat the alphabet?  He had an educational background, but this was way beyond that.

The Hendersons went on to say that they needed a tutor because the government had told them the boy needed to go to school.  They were unwilling to put him in a private school because of his “special needs.”

“So they call me in.  Great."  He was allergic to cats.

Beyond the letter, there was a packet of photographs.  The first one was of a good-looking, orange, long-haired cat.  In the second picture, he wasn’t half so good-looking--most of his fur had fallen out.  In the next few pictures, the creature grew larger, its tail receded, paws elongated into fingers, and the arrangement of its spine changed.  In the final picture, there was only a boy, and no trace of the cat except for a shock of red hair.

Hank’s mouth hung open.


(to be continued…)