“Yao Ming Lorenzo. Yeah… I know, it's a mouthful. You can just call me whatever sticks, honestly. I'm the new cat on the block, the outsider. Well, new since 2021. But when you're living with cats who've been here since ancient times you're gonna be "the new guy" for a while.”
(Yao sits down in the cat loaf position, one leg sticking out at an odd angle, watching).
“So there's this whole established crew thing going on, right? Otis is the wise elder. We get along great. Edgar the chaos party animal. He's cool too. And then there's “them”. Gerome aka G.E. with his perfect little routine. His sidekick Ella aka E.J. the size of Godzilla. Roberta Snowshoe, southern belle supermodel. Pearline Sheba doing her ninja surveillance thing like she owns the place. And, a crazy bird, Simon Simone, that talks too much.”
( Yao twitches his ears toward a sound coming from the kitchen. His hazel eyes tracking movement down the hall. In the background Pearline makes a dash for the kitchen.)
“I tried fitting in when I first got here. Didn't work. Maybe, maybe because I did chase and attack them? But would that have made a difference when you have your cliques, your territories, your little hierarchies. So I found my own way to participate.”
(He stretches with deceptive casualness with his claws extending just slightly.)
“See, someone's gotta keep things interesting around here, right? A little pounce when Gerome's not looking. A strategic ambush while Roberta is cooking her renowned southern flounder. And, stalking Pearline until she attacks me. “
(With a mischievous grin, Yao Ming sits up and looks up.)
“They rescued me in '21 or more less I moved in. I got sick of those streets. Dogs and rain storms were getting on my nerves. And, the humans who had me did know how to care for me. I've been here ever since. Still the outsider. Still watching from the edges. Still making my presence known. One sneak attack at a time.”
(Suddenly Yao Ming turns to a noise coming from the hall, He turns toward the hallway in attack mode.)“Who was that? Was that G.E. or Pearline or maybe Roberta the southern princess”
( As Yao Ming was sneaky down the hall, a young, white brown and grey slender tabby bright-eyed cat raced from the kitchen direction. He gracefully leapt upon the living room maple brown console table positioned against the wall.”