Horror Story Review: "Smudge Makes a New Best Friend" by Peter Cannon

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Paul should have known something was wrong when Fran offered him a saucer of something to drink. He was just so relieved to find out the “someone else in her life” she warned him about when they entered her apartment wasn’t an old boyfriend hanging around or—worse!—a child in need of a daddy, he let it slide. The someone else was Smudge, a shelter kitten, so named because he’d arrived with newsprint ink on his fur. He’d been traumatized and was still shy of strangers. Paul could tell by the abundance of toys on the floor and his pudgy size the cat seemed to be taking it easy. Fran even consulted a cat psychic psychiatrist. Smudge had one annoying habit. He liked to knead a pair of old pantyhose while Paul and Fran were comfortably in bed. Fran explained this was because of his traumatic kittenhood. It took time, but gradually, Smudge warmed to Paul… This has a weird-but-possible feel to it right up to the end, which is nicely in the Twilight Zone. I did not see this one coming, but maybe I should have. I liked this little tale. _____ Title: “Smudge Makes a New Best Friend” Author: Peter Cannon (b. 1951) First published: 100 Creepy Little Creature Stories 1994 Source: ISFDB