Read Uncle Howard and Paul :: A Trip to the Vet

Howard prided himself as a cat expert. (He was a cat, after all.) So when Paul came home one night with an abandoned kitten in his arms, he felt confident enough to take care of the young feline.

It did not take long for Howard to learn that Tuesday, a kitten as big as Paul's palm, was a voracious eater. When Paul came home with cans of kitten food, Tuesday could barely handle her excitement. She chowed down every serving, much to the excitement of Howard. The older cat watched in awe as the kitten ate everything he gave her. In his mind, it was a sign that the kitten was growing more nourished.

But one day, a week after adopting Tuesday, Howard served another bowl full of kitten food in front of Tuesday. But instead of chowing down as usual, the kitten stared at the bowl and walked away.

Howard raised a concerned brow. He turned around and found Paul making chocolate milk for breakfast and asked, "Paul, did you happen to give food to Tuesday earlier than I did?"

Paul shook his head. "Nah, man. Isn't today your schedule to feed Tuesday?"

"Yes, but your feline sister seems to refuse her breakfast. Have you been feeding her the same can every day?"

"No sir, I always give her a variety of food." Paul looked down on Tuesday. He cocked his head to the side and said, "I think her belly is getting big. Might be a stomach bug."

"A stomach bug!" Howard immediately ran towards Tuesday and picked the mewling kitten up. He rubbed his paw against the kitten's round, bulbous belly. His heart sank.

Paul squatted down and replied, "We were learning about them in biology class. Something about tapeworms and all that funky stuff."

"Mother of cats, what if you are right, Paul? Dear heavens, dear heavens! We need to bring Tuesday to a vet immediately."

"Yeah, you do that. I still have to go to school and-

"Your sister's life is in great peril over a stomach bug, and all you can think is school!?"

"Geez, old man! If you desperately need a ride, borrow Brad's pick-up truck. I think she's already at the store by now."

Howard gently placed Tuesday back onto the ground and breathed in deeply. He put a paw on Paul's knee to keep himself balanced. The older cat sighed and said, "You go to school, my boy. Let me and Brad take care of Tuesday."

Mini Manila's Pet Hospital was the largest veterinary hospital in the whole city. It was also where Howard despised going the most.

Brad parked her pick-up truck at the front of the hospital. She looked at Howard sitting on the passenger side, holding Tuesday in a pet carrier, and asked, "Are you sure you want to go inside, Mr. Howard? I can easily walk in and take care of Tuesday for you."

Howard stubbornly shook his head. "No, dear, Tuesday is my responsibility. As her guardian, it is my duty to watch over her, even in the face of great fear. Although, it would be a great pleasure if you could accompany us for backup."

Brad rolled her eyes. "It'll be alright, Mr. Howard. Tuesday is a tough cookie."

"I'm not talking about Tuesday. What if they do an impromptu check-up on me. Oh heavens, I am not ready to get my temperature checked today, and-

Before the feline could ramble on, Brad picked him and Tuesday up and exited the truck. Brad carried the two through the automatic sliding door. They were greeted by the smell of rubbing alcohol and grass. The lobby was decorated with colorful paintings of dogs and cats in funny costumes and artificial hedges shaped into puppies and kittens. There were leather couches everywhere to lounge on comfortably while listening to smooth jazz.

It was still early morning, so only two other humans with animal companions were in the lobby. It did not take long until Tuesday's number was called, and the three were led into the main vet office.

The main vet office was sterile, huge, and white. Sitting behind a glass desk was the head veterinarian of the hospital, Dr. Bella Paltrov. She looked up from her laptop with a big grin, but it immediately became a scowl when she saw Howard in Brad's arms. She pinched her nose's bridge and got up from her chair.

"Howard Bachchan," Dr. Paltrov sighed with a hint of frustration. "You are not scheduled for a check-up until Septemeber."

"I know I am not, woman!" Howard bitterly replied. "And I know better than to trust you with that thermometer up my rear end!"

Brad cleared her throat while holding onto Howard even tighter. "Actually, Dr. Paltrov, we came here because our newly adopted kitten has an enlarged belly."

The annoyance from the vet dissipated. "Come again?"

Brad let out Tuesday from her carrier. The kitten quickly warmed up to the vet, purring when the doctor touched her chin.

"Aw, you see that?" Dr. Paltrov commented. "She is way more well-mannered than a certain someone I know."

Howard pouted.

Dr. Paltrov lifted Tuesday up and studied her belly. She gave it a tiny squeeze, which earned her a loud meow from the kitten. "Hmmm, give me a few minutes with her," Dr. Paltrov said to Howard and Brad. "Has she been dewormed?"

"Yes, Dr. She got her first deworming last week," Howard replied.

Dr. Paltrov nodded. "I'll call you both back once everything is alright. Please wait in the lobby."

Howard and Brad sat quietly and pensively in the lobby. Brad played with the bracelets on her hands while Howard toyed with his tail. Minutes passed, and Howard suddenly turned to Brad and asked, "What if we were too late?"

Brad raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"What if the stomach bug Paul was suggesting was not a bug? What if it was a sign of organ failure? Or untreated feline coronavirus? Or worse: cancer!"

Brad cradled the cat, who was rapidly breathing and clutching his ears. Brad replied, "Mr. Howard, you are thinking way ahead of yourself."

"Oh, but what if I'm not? The universe can be such a cruel trickster, Brad. What if it would take my Tuesday away so early. Heavens, what would Paul think of me as an uncle? What would I think of myself as a guardian!"

The feline loudly sobbed on Brad's lap. (Loudly to the point that Brad awkwardly grimaced with each passerby.) However, it did help pass the time since Dr. Paltrov finally walked out of the clinic, holding Tuesday in her carrier.

Dr. Paltrov cleared her throat. "Mr. Bachchan and company."

Brad nudged the crying cat. Howard looked up and wiped his tears with his tail. "What is the status of our poor Tuesday? I hope we do not need to visit the emergency room."

"Mr. Bachchan, Tuesday is fine. She is only fat."

Like lightning, Howard snapped out of his self-pitying daze. He and Brad looked at each other in shock. There was a reigning silence before Brad spoke, yet the only word that came out was, "Ha?"

"Tuesday is a little fat. I suggest lowering your serving sizes and avoiding feeding her dry food for the foreseeable future. Overfeeding can lead to diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Other than that, though, Tuesday is alright."

Howard took the carrier into his hands. He looked inside and found Tuesday licking herself. He sighed in relief. "Thank the universe for being kind to us. And how can we ever repay you, Dr. Paltrov?"

The doctor gave a hint of a smirk and replied, "The bill is only 100 dollars."

The smile on Howard's face disappeared. He looked back at Tuesday, the kitten meowing at him. He sighed, "Only the best for my Tuesday."