MILO's Roast Chicken Heist
MILO and LEO work well together until the chicken is ready to eat. Then LEO's empty plate becomes a shield.
MILO pressed his belly against the whiteboard when Luci appeared in the kitchen doorway. Behind him was the plan for dinner. LEO supplied the distraction: a red toy car carrying blue yarn, which rolled past Luci's feet and drew her out of the kitchen.
LEO lowered MILO on the rope. MILO lifted the bird from its dish. It buckled between his paws. A toy chicken, after all that rope. LEO waited below beside two empty plates.
The real roast was in the oven. Getting it out was a job for both cats, in oven mitts, with a board laid as a ramp. Between them they eased the tray onto the rack on the robot vacuum.
LEO's plate came in handy before there was any food on it. He put it between MILO and the first bite. MILO tried to reach past it; LEO abandoned the plate and grabbed him.
As they pulled at each other, MILO braced a paw on the vacuum's button. The roast began to travel across the kitchen. LEO still had hold of MILO; MILO was still trying to pull free.
The vacuum delivered the roast to Luci at the other end of the kitchen. She lifted the tray off the rack. When MILO and LEO turned back, the rack was empty.
At the table, Luci carved a portion onto each plate. MILO reached for LEO's share. LEO pushed his paw away, and Luci laid a hand over each plate.