Feeding the Sharks by Mayme Killeen

Fate wears a fur coat. At 4:30 p.m., it rings the door with yowls and screams. I step forward steadily, accepting my dreaded task. Swarmed by a sea of furry beasts, I claw my way up the stairs. The waves roar furiously as I open the cupboard of kibble and cans. Placing the plates on the counter, I face a sea monster. Clad in orange scales, his yellow eyes stare into the back of my skull, daring me to prepare the food which he will surely snarf up. Yet, I refuse to be deterred. I pursue my quest with newfound fervor, swiftly moving the food to the plate and the plate to the floor. A few pieces of kibble are lost in the process, but I end my efforts with a sense of satisfaction. I watch the cats eat, happy to have found a lifeboat among the sharks.