"Here kitty. Over here. I got your treats for you."

Melikah crouched down and held out her hand and made the standard "pish pish" noises. She saw her lovely little kitty, Teddy, approach, and beamed. She loved Teddy so much and he was such a beautiful cat, with brilliant orange fur, white paws and emerald green eyes. In fact, Mom had once told her to name Teddy for the word in her mother language for emeralds, but Melikah didn't like that word, it was hard and sounded weird and she much more preferred Teddy. However, Melikah was glad Mom made that suggestion, because Mom had been so against them having a cat, saying she had allergies and cats were dirty, and it showed that Mom now tolerated Teddy. Who was not the least bit dirty, not at all. Mom looked at Melikah crouching down with her hand outstretched, pish-pishing, and sighed.

"Melikah, shouldn't you be doing your homework?" Melikah didn't answer, seemingly far too occupied with Teddy. Mom tried again.

"Ok Mellie, you need to get started on your homework." Melikah turned and smiled.

"Ok mom". She turned to the place Teddy would have been, had he been a real cat.

"You be a good kitty while mommy does her homework, and we'll play after, ok?" She kissed the air, and made caressing gestures with her hands. Mom knew, of course, it was normal for children to have imaginary friends and pets. But Melikah was turning twelve soon, hardly a small child. And this nonsense with Teddy had been going on for a while- ever since that teacher a few years ago had told children to stand in front of the class and talk about their pets. If they didn't have pets, they could talk about their favorite family member instead. Apparently Melikah had talked about videogaming with her cousin, and it had not been received well. Teddy had appeared soon after, and Melikah went the whole way. She insisted they buy cat food, and treats, and religiously set out food and water for Teddy, as Teddy was an outdoor cat.

Mom arrived a bit late for school pick up, in time to see a three boys crowding around Melikah on the basketball court, their faces twisted into jeers, smaller kids dotted around, their phones lifted and recording. As she frantically tried to park and get out of her car, she saw them snatch off Melikah’s headscarf, still shouting, and her daughter’s beautiful glossy black hair tumbling down, and then she saw a flash of orange fur. She ran towards them, hearing the yells turn into screams of panic and pain, children scattering, and saw a cat, a big orange cat with white socks, clawing the faces of the boys. Melikah stood upright, calmly tying back her scarf, the boys clutching their bleeding faces and torn eyes. Melikah smiled at Mom, walked through the confused scared crowd, and together, they walked back silently to the car.