It was another brilliant, green and blue day for Kate, ready and eager to be off to school. Today she would bring her best friend in the world- Spooky!
     Spooky was starting to smell again, so Kate took a few extra minutes to give Spooky a bath before school. It’s been much easier lately, probably because Spooky is so much more docile and loving. Kate tossed her beautiful pet into the machine, tossed in some detergent, ran it on rinse and spin, and waited. She was running a little late today, so Spooky would have to dry on the way to school, in the warm sunshine.
     After the cycle has ended, she hurriedly grabbed her friend, tied a string around its front-left paw, and sprinted out the door. As she dragged her wet, decapitated friend behind her, she approached two other little girls at the bus stop.
     The moment they spotted her they began to run, run as fast as they could, away from the bus stop and back home. Kate loved playing tag, so naturally she gave chase, laughing and squealing the entire time. She almost caught up to the smaller girl, but got tripped up on the curb in front of her house. In a last ditch effort to get her, Kate threw Spooky at the girl, who shrieked and trembled and bolted inside her house.
     Shaking her head playfully, Kate picked up Spooky and headed back to the bus stop.
     “She won this time, right Spooky? But next time we’ll catch her! You’re such a good kitty!”
     She held Spooky up to her face and snuggled her against her warm cheek. Kate then looked into the gaping hole where Spooky used to be hampered with a normal head. It spoke-
     “Kill her! Kill them all!”
     Kate laughed and gave Spooky a playful petting-over.
     “Oh, Spooky!” she said. “You’re such a good, pretty kitty!”

THE END