Manipulation

Author: Emma Robinson
Word Count: 196
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Manipulation

Uploaded for a Twisted Tales comp – I think I might be getting into this writing lark!

Update: I can’t believe it – this has been featured on the home page! I am shocked and awed.

Manipulation belongs to the following groups:

For the Love of Cats , 1 image a day , Pets Are Us ~ 2 per day and Twisted Tales

He came in late that night. She was sitting on the red sofa. He eased himself onto the beige. He knew she would give in first – it was an unwritten code that they had settled upon long ago. That contemptible woman. She made it too easy. He didn’t even have to try any more.

“You’ve terrorized me long enough.”

Silence.

“You can’t keep acting like this. It’s not fair. You know how much I worry. You’ve got me wrapped around your little finger and you know it.”

Nothing.

“I don’t think you should just think it’s OK to go out for hours, and then just swan back in without any explanation.”

He felt the impending thaw. He wouldn’t have to wait too much longer. He yawned extravagantly, then moved to sit beside her.

“I sometimes think I should just give you a good whack on the nose. Perhaps that would sort you out.”

He settled onto her lap and started to purr.

Suitably charmed, she got up and went over to fill his food bowl, the silver cat weaving a silky figure of eight around her ankles as she walked.

jcmontgomery

I’m sorry, I can’t resist…this is purrrfect.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system…ahem….this is wonderfully crafted. I had no idea until the end it was cat, yet when discovered, it is a nice twist and completely believable!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks JC. I must admit there is a slight hint of autobiography to this one… although I would like to think I am not quite such a pushover in my cat’s eyes.
Alison Pearce

Should have seen the twist, but didn’t! Fantastic write!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Alison. This is my first twisted tale, so I’m glad I didn’t signpost too much!
jcmontgomery

Oh don’t worry about that Emma, I am a pushover. Here is a story I wrote a while back that is also semi-autobiographical:

On Being Hank
Emma Robinson replied

Ha haaaaaa – I think Hank might need to meet Jerry – I suspect that would be a real meeting of minds!
WanderingAuthor

Oh, that was great! I never saw it coming, but, yes, that is exactly like a cat! They know just how to manipulate us, don’t they? The funny thing is, even when you mentioned a whack on the nose, I didn’t think of a cat, even though that is a mother cat’s way of teaching her kittens something is dangerous. (For anyone reading this who doesn’t know cats, if you’re ever tempted to try it, that’s a gentle tap on the nose; their noses are awfully sensitive.) You created such a plausible scenario of a man and a woman in a strained relationship, until “he settled onto her lap and started to purr” I had no idea… Then it clicked, perfectly. Considering you had to pull this off while weaving in five specific words, that’s quite a feat!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks WA – I am a bit of a crazy cat lady (and the first to admit it) but the relationship between cats and people really is a very human one I think, so it was fun to think it out. Just think yourself lucky I didn’t make it TOO autobiographical – a real conversation between me and my silky silver feline would have contained a lot more baby talk, references to how handsome he is etc…. nowhere near as fun to read!
Debbie Irwin

Perfect! So surprising, and yet so real! Those darned cats know just how to make us do what they want!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Debbie! They really do have us very well trained. Someone once told me that dogs have owners, and cats have staff – that really made me realise my place in the life of my moggies!
Craig Mowat

A wonderfully crafted twisted tale. You don’t see the twist until it hits, but when you read it again it seems obvious. Yours first twist? There is a natural ability there. Well done.
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Craig – I always thought I was giving it away with extravagant yawning (I don’t think anything can yawn as extravagantly as a cat!), but it seems to be the purr that seals the deal…. Yup this is my first twister – I’ve enjoyed it though. I hope there’s some more in me!
Micky McGuinness

I didn’t spot the cat either! A great well written tale and twist
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Micky!
Miri

YAY!! awesome tale & soooo true, i recognise a lot of this!! well done for being featured :-)
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks lovely! I can’t believe it. It’s all your fault you know! Thanks for the nudges – you are an absolute gem of a friend xxxxxxx
Miri

i’m honoured it’s my fault!! it’s really good stuff!
right then missy, i’m expecting a star twister entry every week now ;-)
Emma Robinson replied

Eeek! I do have one bubbling under actually – I’ll have to wait and see whether I can fit it into the next twister!
NoraFraser

I enjoyed the surprise ending especially since I have three cats.
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Nora – I think a lot of cat folk can relate to this conversation…
abeigh

Emma, A fantastic read. Did not see the twist coming. Very smooth. Love it.
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Abeigh – I’m glad I didn’t give the game away
Tania Rose

lOVE IT! you made me smile
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Tania – I really appreciate it (and I’m glad it made you smile :-)
Judylee

Wonderfully written. You had me going there for a minute, lol. Instant fav and CONGRATS on the feature !!!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Judylee – I’m still in shock about that to be honest, but I appreciate it!
Sherry Daws

Fabulous. The range of emotions you evoke with so few words about such an everyday occurrence is unbelievable. I loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Sherry – I appreciate that. It was written for a challenge where I had to get in 5 very different words too, which made it interesting to write, but I’m pleased that they don’t seem to stand out too much and seem out of place. Thanks for your comment.
filfil

What a twist! I thought something bad was going to happen, like someone was going to die or something. Great writing!
Emma Robinson replied

Hi Filfil – something bad DID happen – kitty got his supper late! ;-)

Thanks for your comment – I really appreciate it.
WanderingAuthor

Congratulations on your win! My cats are all happy and excited to know that a cat story was the winner in this week’s competition. :D
Emma Robinson replied

Yay! Thanks WA. I am very excited. Obviously this has completely validated my crazy cat lady behaviour, and I will carry on!
Debbie Irwin

Congratulations on having the winning entry in the Twisted Tales competition! This is a very worthy winner :)
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Debbie – I really appreciate it. Very exciting!
Miri

YAYAYAYAY!!!! congrats lady, well done, am sooooo pleased for you :-)
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks sweetheart! I am obviously on a bit of a writing roll this week. If only I didn’t have to work for a living too… (even though I am clearly on RB when I should be working. Whoops.)
PJ Ryan

This is so well written and i see you won the twisted tales comp – so well done and well deserved !!

Thanks for stopping by and your recent comments on my writing also.
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Nicole – and thanks for your congratulations. I am very excited and giddy about it all – never thought I had it in me!
jcmontgomery

YEAY !!
[throws confetti]
Congratulations Emma. Well deserved!!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks JC – and congratulations to you too of course picks up handful of confetti and throws it back

Thanks for your wonderful word choices – real thinkers, but loads of fun!
Alison Pearce

Congrats Emma!
Emma Robinson replied

Thank you Alison – and to you m’dear!
TheWanderingBoo

Great Twist! Really enjoyed reading it.
Congratulations on your succeess!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Boo – I appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed it
Damian

Nicely done Emma, a lot of fun. And well done on your win :)
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Damian! It was fun to write too
Jakki O

Such fab writing. Was there to the end not knowing it was Puss!
Enjoyed it heaps and can relate :)
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Jakki! I’m so glad that other crazy cat people can relate and recognise this situation (although I’d like to think that my own silky silver cat doesn’t think I am contemptible…)
Pawan Sahay

ive been told that cats do have a tendency to go out of the house for hours and come back when they want…great ..i never expected such a twist
Emma Robinson replied

They are very independent indeed, and no respecters of schedules or doors. One of the reasons I love them so much! Thanks for your comment
RuthFroehlinger

I love stories with a twist. This one is great!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Ruth – you should check out Twisted Tales – sounds like it would be right up your alley
Natella2020

Congratulations on your win Emma! I just read this now, and it’s very refreshing. Though, of course, the twist was unexpected, my favorite part was the dialogue. It was so realistic and well-disguised. Excellent.
Emma Robinson

Thanks Natella – I appreciate your lovely comment. I’m sure you can appreciate how hard I struggled to put myself in the mind of a woman who would talk to a cat…. it helped get the dialogue right!
exposedbutloved

aha vvery entertaining… all cats are the same =]
Emma Robinson replied

Thank you – I’d just love to know what they really think about us sometimes… but then again, maybe I wouldn’t!
exposedbutloved

too true.. haha i dunno if it would be very nice =]
Bobbie Sandlin

LMAO!!! Oh TOTAL fave! NICE twist at the end!!!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Bobbie! Seems so obvious to anyone who knows cats….
Rheenie

Wow I love it lol
It seems you know cats
>.<
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks Rheenie – I often have conversations with my cats, so it wasn’t too hard to pad this one out…
ayearning

really, well done—it’s interesting how we see ourselves, our lives, relationships in the movements of other animals…the courting dance, the haughty stance, the bemused glance. You have the touch!
Emma Robinson replied

Thanks for your lovely comment – my husband always laughs at me for spending so much time anthropomorphizing our cats, but I just have to remind him that they are little furry people really…
saleire

Brilliant!!!!!!!
Emma Robinson replied

Thank you!
zizzi

Fantastic – well done!
Emma Robinson replied

Why thank you miss! Looking forward to reading your stuff too…
Zolton

Hee hee. Cute story. Very nice writing!
Emma Robinson replied

Thank you! So true to my life (unfortunately). It’s not easy being a crazy cat lady you know…
Zolton

Ha ha. Um… I do know!
rina56

nice poem its nice
imageofpix4u

Mmmmmm, they don’t call them pussy-cats for no reason. Not this “I” read into the poems meaning at the beginning. (No-body did dear!) Nice poem,,perfect length too.
Emma Robinson replied

Thank you so much