Taste. Part 18

"Go, go, t.i.to t.i.to G." G."

Grier laughed and headed out toward Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. The pet store wasn't actually in the mall. It was in a strip mall close by that was much more parking-friendly. Trying to get a spot at Woodfield was next to impossible on a weekend. They lucked out and found parking almost in front of Pet Land, and they clambered out of the truck, infected by Luca's enthusiasm. He grabbed Grier's hand and dragged him into the store, squealing happily when he saw the line of cages housing the different cats and dogs for sale.

"I want to thee thee that cat," Luca demanded, pointing to what appeared to be a Himalayan kitten dozing in the corner of a cage. He turned toward Grier. "Will they let me hold it?" that cat," Luca demanded, pointing to what appeared to be a Himalayan kitten dozing in the corner of a cage. He turned toward Grier. "Will they let me hold it?"

"I think so," Grier said. "Let me go find someone to help us."

Lil stood in front of the enclosures and eyed the different animals. They were adorable, and one would have to have a heart of stone to be immune to their charms. "Which one do you like, sweetie?"

Luca walked up and down inspecting the animals and ended up back at the cage where he'd originally pointed out the cat to Grier. "That one."

"A decisive man; I like that."

"Huh?"

"He's very pretty."

"Ith he a boy?" he a boy?"

"Let's wait until they take him out so we can find out for sure. Did you want a boy or girl kitty?"

"I want a girl tho tho I can buy a pink h.e.l.lo Kitty collar." I can buy a pink h.e.l.lo Kitty collar."

"Boys can wear pink," Lil said easily.

Luca's eyes rounded like marbles. "Noooo."

"No?"

"Mommy thed thed only a girl can wear pink." only a girl can wear pink."

"Did she?"

"Yeth," Luca nodded vigorously. "t.i.to Ali threw away my pink Ali threw away my pink pajamath pajamath."

Chapter 18.

LIL'S automatic response to the s.e.xist and blatantly h.o.m.ophobic idea Jillian and her supposed boyfriend had planted in poor Luca's fertile mind was interrupted by Grier's happy countenance. The young salesgirl he had in tow opened up the cage and put a soft collar and leash around the sleepy white kitten. She picked up the animal and handed it to Luca as soon as they were in an enclosed area where people who were interested in buying could hold the animals without fear of them escaping and running around the store. automatic response to the s.e.xist and blatantly h.o.m.ophobic idea Jillian and her supposed boyfriend had planted in poor Luca's fertile mind was interrupted by Grier's happy countenance. The young salesgirl he had in tow opened up the cage and put a soft collar and leash around the sleepy white kitten. She picked up the animal and handed it to Luca as soon as they were in an enclosed area where people who were interested in buying could hold the animals without fear of them escaping and running around the store.

"There you go."

"Ith it a girl or boy kitty?" it a girl or boy kitty?"

"It's a girl, hon."

"Good," Luca smiled.

"Good?" Grier said, looking at Lil for answers.

"Later," Lil said, frowning.

"Can I have her?" Luca asked.

"Let's play with her first," Grier suggested. Luca sat cross-legged and held the kitten on his lap. She began to purr like a small motorboat as soon as Luca scratched behind her ears. "Lithen to her," he chortled happily. to her," he chortled happily.

"That means she's content," Lil said.

"Content?" Luca turned to Grier.

"Happy, Luca. When cats purr that means they're happy."

Luca picked up the kitten, rubbed his cheek against her fur, and growled. "I'm purring, too, t.i.to t.i.to G." G."

Grier squatted and swept the soft fringe away from his son's eyes. "That's a super-sized purr, buddy. What are you going to name her?"

"Can I bring her home?"

"Yes."

Luca beamed at his father and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "Thank you," he whispered. "You have to be quiet, or you'll wake her up."

Okay," Grier whispered back. "What's her name?"

"Bianca."

"How'd you come up with that?"

"From the movie."

"What movie?"

"The one with Bernard and Bianca and the Rethcue Rethcue Aid Aid Thothiety Thothiety."

"A mouthful of S's," Grier laughed. "I remember it vaguelyThe Rescuers."

"Yeah," Luca exclaimed. "Can I name her that? It meanth meanth white in Italian, you know." white in Italian, you know."

"Sure, buddy. Bianca it is."

Grier stood and moved over to Lil who'd watched the whole scene with an indulgent smile on his face. "He's precious."

"I know," Grier nodded. "I love listening to him talk, but that lisp has got to go. I've just forked over a small fortune to a speech therapist who swears she'll fix it."

"It's charming, actually."

"It may be cute right now, but it won't be as he gets older. I don't want him to be teased, and you know how tough it can get in school. I've asked Jillian repeatedly to take him to speech therapy, but she's ignored me, so I took care of it on my own."

"I'm sure the therapist will knock that lisp right out of him."

"I hope so."

"Still," Lil mused, "I rather like it, but I do see your point."

"Why did you comment on the cat's gender earlier?"

"Oh, let's not go there," Lil said with an eye roll.

"Why not?"

"I'd rather raise your blood pressure in more lascivious ways."

"What did Luca say?" Grier frowned.

Lil recounted the conversation, watching Grier's transformation from mild to p.r.i.c.kly in about one minute.

"This is why I don't want Ali in the picture," Grier fumed.

"You need a lawyer."

"You're probably right."

"I am right, and the sooner you do it, the better off you and Luca will be."

"Once I hire someone, the secret will be out."

"It's necessary, Grier."

"I've got to get her to see reason."

"She doesn't strike me as being very reasonable."

Grier snorted. "You don't know the half of it."

"I'm all ears, love."

"Later."

Luca tugged on Grier's T-shirt. "We need to get her a bed, t.i.to t.i.to G, and food," he added. "And G, and food," he added. "And thomwhere thomwhere to go potty, and a bowl for food and water, and, oh, her collar," Luca rattled off, mentally working through his check list. "How about to go potty, and a bowl for food and water, and, oh, her collar," Luca rattled off, mentally working through his check list. "How about fleath fleath? Bianca hath hath to be clean or Mommy won't like her." to be clean or Mommy won't like her."

Mommy can go f.u.c.k herself, Grier b.i.t.c.hed, more p.i.s.sed off after hearing the list of mommy phobias. He sighed loudly. "We'll get her a scratching post and a flea collar."

"But I wanted a h.e.l.lo Kitty collar?" Luca whined.

"She'll have both."

"And a partridge in a pear tree," Lil sang. Grier jabbed him with his elbow.

With an armful of supplies, and minus many dollars, they marched out to the truck and threw everything into the vinyl-lined truck bed, except for Bianca who slept happily in her carrying case, which was perched beside Luca's car seat.

"What an adventure." Lil turned his head toward the backseat. "Your kitty is beautiful, Luca."

Luca nodded, smiling happily. "Like your Thebathtian Thebathtian?"

"They're different but equally loveable."

Grier drove back to Elk Grove Village, glancing at the time to make certain Luca's grandfather would be home. The moderate ranch-style house was similar to theirs, only it had blue siding instead of white like the Dilorios. He unhooked Luca, and soon they had their arms filled with Bianca's paraphernalia, which they trudged up to the front door. Enteng opened it as soon as he saw the familiar red truck.

"My goodness! What did you buy, Luca?"

"t.i.to G bought me a kitty. Can I keep it, G bought me a kitty. Can I keep it, Lolo Lolo?"

"Sure." The white haired man smiled agreeably, and let Grier and Lil into the house.

"This is my friend Lil," Grier called out on his way to the kitchen to dump the supplies. When he got back to the living room, Enteng was urging Lil to make himself at home.

"Please sit down. Do you guys want anything to eat or drink? I think we have some leftovers I can heat up."

"No thanks. We're going out to dinner."

"Are you from Chicago, Lil?"

"No. I live in San Francisco."

"That's a great city, lots of good Filipino food."

"We do have a huge Asian community out there."

"I know. I order sweets from a Filipino bakery in the Bay Area. Do you know them? Goldilocks?"

"No, I've never heard of them."

"Masarap, huh, Luca?"

"It meanth meanth yummy," Luca said. "I can yummy," Luca said. "I can thpeak thpeak Filipino." Filipino."

"I'm impressed," Lil praised. "I can only speak English."

"My grandson is very smart," Enteng said proudly. "He's just like his mother."

"Indeed," Lil said softly, never taking his eyes off Grier. "Shall we get going?"

"Whatever." Grier's displeasure at hearing that comment was quite obvious. His mood had plunged drastically.