Chapter 8 - OPERATION FELINE ASSISTANCE
"Barnaby, listen to me," Maya leaned further over the railing, her voice dropping into a stern, authoritative register. "If you help us breach the pantry, we will intentionally drop a piece of cheddar cheese from the high chair tomorrow. Unsupervised. Directly into your territory."
Barnaby’s ears flicked forward. The offer of unsupervised cheddar cheese was a diplomatic breakthrough of historic proportions.
The cat let out a low, accepting meow, stood up, and trotted purposefully toward the stairs. His plan was simple: he would walk down, rub aggressively against the baby gate latch until the loose hinge gave way under his forty-pound frame, and let the elite toddler strike team through.
"He's actually doing it," Leo whispered, his jaw slack. "My sister is a criminal mastermind."
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"Leadership, Leo," Maya corrected, brushing a stray curl from her forehead. "It’s all about resource allocation."
As Barnaby disappeared down the dark staircase, the path to the pantry was opening up. The coalition was marching toward history, unaware of the massive, looming obstacle that would soon stand in their way: the family golden retriever, Buster, who was currently sleeping at the base of the kitchen stairs.
