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A PRICE ABOVE RUBIES
It had began as any other day. Christopher had awoke early, made coffee and over the morning paper had
smoked several cigarettes. Then he walked Lily, his cat.
Most of the young gay boys on their own in Key West (or
the kept boys) walked decorated little poodles or terriers.
While Christopher liked dogs very much, he liked cats
just a little more.
Lily behaved in a dignified fashion on her leash and strolled the park like a true lady of fashion.
She wore a simple black and white pelt but Christopher would not have traded her for two, three or five Egyptian Golds, which
he knew could cost easily a grand per kitten.
No, Lily may have been a simple alley affair but to Christopher she was worth
a price above rubies.
For instance she could use the toilet--Lily didn't even own a litter box--nattily batting the handle
until it flushed.
And when Christopher put on an electronica CD and blued his airy white living room with marijuana
smoke she went simply wild.
He would laugh until tears came to see her whirl about to the music, her great green eyes
wide and intoxicated.
And then there was their morning ritual at the park.
Amid the blonde muscle boys parading poodles
Lily swept by scattering disdain with flicks of her tail.
Sometimes Christopher brought a joint, sometimes not to accompany
his coffee in a "to go" cup and menthol cigarettes.
On this day he did and was happily puffing on a secluded park bench
when the crisp figure in blue materialized beside him, charging the tropical air with authority and a colder disdain than
Lily's.
"Excuse me faggot" The park policeman's words were clipped and measured.
Startled, Christopher gazed at him
wide eyed.
"You're under arrest for possesion of marijuana faggot."
"Oh la" Christopher trilled, drawing the words from
nowhere.
His half smile, his "oh la" however seemed to harden the officer who neatly conjured cuffs, dangling them in front
of his eyes.
"I'm under arrest" thought Christopher weakly, thank God I'm stoned."
He had never been arrested before
and--Lily!
"My cat" Christopher panicked, "I have my cat with me and---" Christopher gestured helplessly at Lily who sniffed
at the policeman's trousers with seemingly deep reservation before bestowing a dismissive tail flick.
Events then happened
in a sort of fast forward motion.
"I don't see any cat" the policeman smiled grimly, his polished black shoe shooting out
and kicking Lily hard against her ribs.
Christopher gasped in shock and anger.
Lily screamed with a passion that startled
the officer and turning sharply had climbed his body like a leafy fruit tree in springtime glory.
She paused only momentairily
before shredding out his eyes. Christopher lunged for Lily and ran as the policeman howled in pain, clawing at where
his eyes were.
Cats can take EYES out? Christopher mused as though he had witnessed a film not his cat butchering
the cop.
Now he was in his apartment, Lily calmly bathing scarlet from her paws with a satisfied air.
Suddenly Christopher
began to laugh. He turned on the stereo with a whoop, techno beats filling the apartment and the white courtyard below.
After
a final inspection of her paws Lily joined in Christopher's dance and begin hopping and twirling to the frenzied love song.
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