Paul sat outside his 9th-grade classroom, waiting for the parent-teacher conference to be over. He overheard his teacher saying her final remarks to the parents inside, instructing them to fall in one line to collect their kids' report cards. Paul's other classmates were already in their cars or were loitering at the parking lot while he stuck around, hoping that his guardian would show up any moment now.

One by one, parents and guardians walked out of the classroom, either beaming ear to ear with pride or foaming in the mouth out of anger. Paul anxiously glanced at his phone for the time. Desperate to leave, he pulled his hoodie up and marched into the classroom. The last parent left the teacher's table.

"Ms. Agatha," Paul called out.

The middle-aged woman adjusted her thick-framed glasses, seemingly unaware of Paul's presence. The teenage boy shuffled uncomfortably from one leg to another before she beckoned him closer with a manicured finger.

"Where's your guardian, Mr. Luciano?" the teacher asked.

Paul swallowed hard. "My parents couldn't come today, Ms. Agatha, ma'am. They said they can't reach home on time, and-"

“I know both your parents can’t magically hop on a plane overnight to come to parent-teacher day,” Ms. Agatha deadpanned. “Do you have any other legal guardian that can represent you?”

"Uncle Howard is coming soon, I promise. He's a very busy cat."

"...I'm sorry, come again?"

"Uncle Howard is a very busy cat. He has plenty of responsibilities at home that he couldn't leave right away-"

Unimpressed was pasted across Ms. Agatha’s face. “Mr. Luciano, I hope you know I am serious about my job as your teacher. There is no such thing as a cat acting as a legal guardian. Now tell me where your legal guardian is, or I won’t give you your report card.”

Suddenly, a meow came from the doorway. Ms. Agatha and Paul froze and turned their attentions to a stout, tabby Persian cat. The feline's green eyes pierced through both the humans. It stood on its hind legs and walked towards the teacher's table.

Ms. Agatha let out a high-pitched scream. Her face was as pale as ice, and Paul was sure she was on the brink of fainting. But before she could fall over like a pile of leaves, the Persian cat bowed and greeted the teacher and Paul in a surprisingly deep, masculine voice.

"Salutations, Ms. Agatha. I am Uncle Howard, Paul's legal guardian," the Persian cat said. "Unfortunately, in a moment of forgetfulness, I failed to bring my ID, so I had to find alternative routes to visit my nephew. Sincerest apologies for being late."

Ms. Agatha could only nod.

"Well, I hope my nephew has been no trouble in your class. I heard that he particularly excels in your subject. Now, shall we have his report card, if you may?"

Ms. Agatha shuffled onto her feet, dug through the pile of unclaimed report cards, and picked Paul's one out in a flash. "Here! Take it and leave my classroom now!"

Paul shrugged and took the report card from his teacher. Howard did another bow, "I am most grateful for your contribution to my nephew's education. Until then, Ms. Agatha. Come, Paul, we still have errands to run."

As the boy and cat walked through the schoolyard, Howard turned to Paul and said, "Your teacher is rather erratic. I was afraid she was ready to swoon in front of us."

Paul tugged on his hood and replied, "It's not every day you see a talking cat."

"Touché. Very well then, let's not scare her further. Until then, explain to me, young man, how you could have such a low grade in your English and Literature class!"