Keanu had a hard time falling back asleep from the suspense feeling of what tomorrow will bring. He gazed up at the ceiling fan in he studio apartment going round and round as if somehow the motion would make time and everything around him stop. Am I ready? Keanu had thought. Over and over again that question had replay in his mind like a broken record playing the same melody again and again. Am I ready. But his only answer he had came up with was bringing his family back home. His mom and sister had moved to Oregon in hopes to find a better paying job, but the moment they had moved, it felt like things got worse for them. To Keanu, he believed by being a police officer would give him a better chance to maybe one day save up for a place and have his mom and sister come back. But that day felt ways away and the dangers of being in this profession were great. Keanu had rolled out from under the covers and sat up by the edge of the bed.

“Murr….”

“Morning snickers,” Keanu said as he rubbed his eyes. Snickers was a grey calico cat that his landlord had offered to him as a gift for passing the police academy. The name Snickers came to him a week later after adopting her, because well, she was thicker than Snickers. She was a fat cat.

“Murr….”

“Alright, alright, just give me a minute”. Every morning Keanu would make sure Snickers got fed. Once when he woke up and once more before he left his apartment. He did sometimes wonder if he was feeding her a little to much. Keanu check his phone to see what time it was, it was 6:45am. If I was to leave at seven I would make it to Hilo by nine just in time for me to pick up my uniform and give these forms back. After taking a shower and brushing his teeth he through on some clothes heading for the front door. “I wonder if she would be cool watching you for a bit,” Keanu had looked at Snickers as if he was waiting for her to say of course, why not.

Keanu stepped outside of his apartment and knocked on the door that was adjacent to his. The door open and the aroma of marijuana and incense had filled Keanu nostrils. “Hey Mama Lyn!” Keanu said with a wave and a smile. Lyn Ann was the landlord of Laulima Apartments, but to everyone, she was known as Mama Lyn. She was the modern mother Theresa or at least that’s what Keanu had thought. Always having Friday night potluck for her tenants so no one goes hungry or after school programs so the working parents don’t have to worry.

“Todays the big day,” Mama Lyn had said with excitement.

“No, that’s tomorrow, but I gotta go pick up my uniform and equipment in Hilo. Do you mind if Snickers can hang out with you?” Snickers had came up from behind and brushed up against Keanu’s leg and squeaked as she rolled over revealing her stomach, a mixture of fat and fur. “Of course,” Mama Lyn had reached down and picked Snickers up in her arms “come here baby, baby, baby”. Keanu had stared as Snickers sank into Mama Lyns arms like a full size women fitting into a tight corset. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda jealous,” Keanu said playfully. Without breaking eye contact from Snickers Mama Lyn pressed her face into Snickers and kissed her forehead, “your time will come, just keep loving her. Snickers looked back and Keanu and squeaked once more as if telling Keanu to listen to Mama Lyn. “Thank you, I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Keanu had held Mama Lyn’s door open for her as she retreated back into her apartment.