A ginger tomcat named Tigger was padding down the block of Snow-Crest Avenue in Raleigh, North Carolina, sniffing around for some food to eat. Tigger had been on the streets of Raleigh ever since he was a small kitten. He had learned to fend for himself and was a feisty, yet wise and considerate, cat. When he made friends, he did his very best to keep up his friendships and provided comfort to his friends when they needed it.

Tigger halted at a large glass door as the tantalizing scent of cooking fish reached his pink nose and took in a deep breath of the overpowering odor. Just then, his friend, Andre, who was a sleek, brown furball of a cat, padded over to him and stretched open his mouth in a yawn.

“Delicious smell, isn’t it Tigger?” Andre asked as he cleaned himself.

“That it is Andre; that it is,” Tigger said in agreement looking hungrily towards the kitchen full of cooking fish just ready to be eaten.

He and Andre yowled in surprise as a small brown kitten bounded out of the shop with a fish in her mouth, pounced off of the two toms’ heads and tore into the nearby alleyway to enjoy her well snatched meal.

“Did that brat of a kitten just take our to-be meal?” Andre asked in an annoyed tone.

Tigger laughed and bumped against his friend “C’mon, let’s go ask her if she’s willing to share it.”

Andre snuffed in disagreement. “You can ask, but I’m going to take it from her.” Tigger and Andre then bounded after the mystery fish-thief and cornered her at the end of the alley.

“Excuse me, but would you mind sharing some of that fish with us?” Tigger asked sternly, trying to sound forceful.

“Get your own fish, straggler; this one’s mine,” the kitten replied snootily and then jumped in fright as she saw the shopkeeper coming after her, angrily.

Andre looked at Tigger, and Tigger just nodded at him, and the two toms stepped in front of the shopkeeper, tripping him and clawing his legs until he ran back to the kitchen.

“Now will you share the fish?” Andre asked angrily.

“Fine, but only because you saved me from that human,” the kitten said as she sliced the fish into three pieces. “What are your names anyway, hairballs?” she asked with a mouthful of fish.

Tigger looked at her and then at Andre before saying, “I’m Tigger, or Tig if you like. My friend here is Andre or Kit; what is your name if I may ask?”

“Roo,” the kitten said matter-of-factly. “Just Roo.”

Tigger nodded and ate his fish. “Nice to meet you, Roo,” he said as he ate.

“Yeah, yeah nice to meet you too, TIG,” Roo said with a mocking snort before finishing her fish and bounding off. “Later hairballs, and don’t follow me. I am not your friend so do not try to be mine,” she called as she disappeared into the nearby park.

Andre grunted and said, “Friendly one is she not? I am going to head back to my alleyway; see you later, Tig.”
Tigger nodded goodbye to his friend and padded off to his own alleyway as he was beginning to feel tired and was ready for a well needed snooze.

A few hours later, Tigger was awoken to the sound of a garbage can lid being knocked onto the ground. “Who’s there?!”

“It’s just me, Tig,” Roo said softly.

“Roo? What are you doing here?” Tigger asked in absolute surprise.

“I need somewhere safe to rest. Everywhere I have gone I’ve either been attacked or hissed at. This is normal in the forest, so I’m used to it. But I don’t like it.”

Tigger looked in Roo’s direction and said, “Be my friend and you can stay here as often as you feel necessary.”

Roo remained silent as she thought this over and, after a few long minutes, she said, “You know? You are not like your friend Andre. Sure Tig, I’ll be your friend, although I don’t see why I need to be your friend to stay here.”

Tigger chuckled softly and nodded. “I just wanted to see what your response would be.”

Roo laughed a snotty, brat-like laugh. “Well, now you have a brat for a friend, Tig!” she said as she curled up near him. “Thank you for letting me stay here. You seem kinder than the other cats I know.”

Tigger had no idea what to say to the compliment Roo had just given him. “Of course, Roo. I’m just glad I was able to make another friend,” he said before slowly falling asleep beside his new and unexpected friend.