Scat Tray hollered again A menacing growl rolled out of Old Gray’s throat It was a warning that said Don’t mess with me boy Tray didn’t get it Why was the cat being so stubborn Was their flower bed really the best potty on the block He looked at the spatula in his hand Mom will hate this but He dug it into the ground and pitched some loose dirt at Old Gray careful not to hit his eyes The grungy old cat flinched but he didn’t flee Some of the dirt showered off his side though most stuck to his matted fur Tray inched closer He had never been this close to Old Gray before Gross The cat was a grungy mess His steel gray hair was a tangle of knotted clots There were some bald spots probably battle scars from fighting other stray cats His crooked tail must have been broken once or twice But it was his teeth and claws
that made Tray freeze Both were equally large pointed and ready to tear into his flesh This only made Tray madder You’re not going to get away with this I want you out of my yard now he hollered Tray rushed around and grabbed Old Gray from behind He meant to snatch him up and toss him over the fence It wouldn’t hurt Cats always land on their feet But when Tray clutched the sides of the scuzzy old thing it flipped over in his hands Old Gray bared his claws and sank them right into Tray’s arm OW Tray tried to turn him loose but Old Gray had buried his claws deep Prying them loose was like ripping barbs from his flesh The pain blazed though Tray’s veins causing tears to form in his eyes He finally slung the cat away
Old Gray crouched back looking at Tray with victory in his glimmering eyes Then just as quickly he shot away up and over the fence The ten holes in Tray’s skin were now streaming rivulets of blood Lots of blood It poured out quickly pattering onto the dirt He rushed to the back door holding his arm out so it didn’t dribble on his clothes Mom Tray’s mom ran out her face turning white when she saw him Oh no Stay right here I’ll get a wet rag The blood ran thicker beating the ground where it fell Tray grew weak just looking at it His head felt like a balloon losing air I can’t pass out Mom soon returned with ice a rag Band Aids and ointment
