
Where we are: Katie Calico and several of her former classmates have been asked to help the humans in their fight to overcome an extremely contagious virus. The virus can be fatal to humans, but does not affect cats. The cats all agreed to help and are waiting for their assignments. You can read Part 1 here.
Katie learned that she would be assigned to Mercy General Hospital starting on Monday. When she arrived, she saw that her partner was Elise.

Katie: Elise! Iâm so happy to see you!
Elise: I know! Just like old times.
Their reunion was interrupted by a female human voice.
Human: All right, you two. No time for chatting. I canât believe they sent me cats to replace my girls. You better not spend all of your time sleeping. I know how cats are. My name is Matilda, and Iâll be your supervisor.

Elise: My name is Elise and this is Katie.
Katie: Pleased to me you, Matilda.
Matilda: Iâll show you where youâll be working. One mistake and youâre out of here. CATS! I canât believe they sent me cats! Whatâs next? A hedgehog?
Katie and Elise looked at each other, wondering if all the people were going to be like her.

Matilda: Iâll let you two get settled. And remember: no sleeping.
Matilda stomped off and started talking to another woman.
Katie: Do you think sheâs ever met a cat?
Elise: I doubt it. Otherwise, sheâd know we can hear every word sheâs saying, and she might be nicer.
Katie: Probably not. She definitely has her opinions.

They laughed. After a few minutes, the other woman came over.
Woman: Hi ladies. Iâm Julie, and I run this department.
Katie: Hi. Iâm Katie and this is Elise.
Julie: I see youâve met Matilda. Donât let her get to you. Sheâs all noise.

The cats looked at each other doubtfully.
Julie: I am so happy you are here! Itâs so kind of you to help us. If you have any questions, just ask. I want you to be comfortable.
Julie walked off.
Katie: Wow. I hope sheâs around more than Matilda.
Elise: Definitely. But now we need to see what all this stuff is.
While the cats were studying the machines, they heard a tap at the window.

Woman: Iâm Susan Meyers and⊠Oh my goodness! Youâre cats! Horace, come here! The news was right. Cats are working at the hospital.
Horace: Please excuse my wife. Sheâs very excitable. Weâre happy youâre here to help.
Susan: Oh, yes! And youâre just adorable!
Katie: Thank you maâam. Are you the one who is ill or is it your husband?
Susan: Itâs me. I have a fever and chills. I need to find out if I have âitâ.
Katie: Well, youâve come to the right place. Iâll open the door, and you can speak with Elise.

Elise took the woman to a cubicle where she checked Susanâs vital signs and asked her a few questions about her symptoms.
Elise: Iâm afraid your symptoms do match those of the virus. Youâll need to wait for the doctor in the quarantine room.
Susan: What about Horace?
Elise: Weâll let him know whatâs going on. He can stay where he is, and weâll keep him updated.
Susan: Thank you so much. I really am happy youâre here.
The morning went by quickly. Most of the humans were pleasant and didnât seem to be bothered working with the cats. Soon they heard Matildaâs voice.

Matilda: Lunchtime, ladies. You get a half hour, and you canât go at the same time. Iâll examine the patients while youâre gone.
Katie and Elise looked at each other.
Elise: Iâll go first.
The hour seemed like it would never end. Finally, they were back together.

Elise: That was horrible.
Katie: She was really slow. People were getting upset.
Elise: She wasnât any nicer to the patients than she was to us.
Katie: I know. I wonder how she keeps her job.
Elise: The virus is probably afraid of her.

They both laughed and went back to work, this time with Elise at the desk. The afternoon was as busy as the morning, so the time flew by. The cats went home, happy but exhausted.
Next week: Does Matilda adapt to working with cats?

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.
Snoops and Kommando here. We want to offer condolences to our non-furry sister and her husband. Their cat Spaz crossed over the Rainbow Bridge earlier this week. You may remember Spaz from her and her siblings visit with us last fall or when we interviewed her and her furry siblings