A story by Morn

Paddington felt his little heart tremble as he said, "Um, Mr. Pumpkin?"

But the cat was too busy, it seemed, to hear him. So he tried again, "Mr. Pumpkin?"

Pumpkin replied while his face was still shoved into the carpet of what was commonly referred to as Morn’s favorite spot, rubbing his nose in cat nip. "mmnnnrrWhat?"

Did Paddington have the courage to confront him about his trespassing?

Pumpkin’s purring was so loud it was vibrating through Paddington’s bones, weaking his resolve. "Well, you see…"

Pumpkin finally looked up from the cat nip. "Speak up, please, Paddington."

"It’s just that you seem to be in Morn’s favorite spot… and…" Paddinton hoped that would be enough. That Pumpkin would understand and be curteous and leave. But he had no such luck.

Pumpkin said, "…And?"

"And I think since he let’s you have the highest spot on the cat tree you shouldn’t come here and steal his cat nip stash." Paddington blurted.

He’d spoken before he had time to think. Before he had time to reword it to be more polite. Before he had time to consider not even saying it all.

The purring stopped.

After sixty seven racing little mouse heartbeats (Paddington was counting, you know) Pumpkin said slowly, "You aren’t going to tell him, are you?"

Paddington was silent. He had a feeling he knew what was coming if he told the truth.

He needed to find an escape route, and fast.

It all happened so fast.

"Listen here, you-" Pumpkin reached out his paw in an effort to pull Paddington closer for a heart to heart- at least that’s what he says he was trying to do- but Paddington was flooded with instinctual panic…

And so he jumped.

Pumpkin did his best to try and rescue Paddington from this terrible fall, but he is not much of a hunter, and was too late.

Luckily, Morn had trained Paddington well, and he landed on his feet. Just like a cat.

Purrfect.

The end.