Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Tux headbutts my face again, so I give him a few pets, then push on his butt. He takes the hint and settles in my lap. “It’s a real pleasure to be here today, Brit, but I have to be honest, I’m really hoping I don’t do anything embarrassing that’s going to result in another meme.” I really wish I’d stopped before the sentence became a run-on. Like I need to give anyone ideas about making more memes. There’s currently one of poor Wilfred with wild eyes and me on his back with the line “get off me, crazy cat lady” on it.
Brit chuckles. “You know you’re in the big leagues when you’re a meme! I remember my first meme. I got caught yawning at the Emmys. I’d been so nervous the night before the event I hadn’t slept a wink, and of course someone caught me mid-yawn.” She holds up an iPad with the meme on it. “Such a flattering picture, isn’t it?” She chuckles and rolls her eyes, then gives her attention back to me. “Jokes aside, can you tell me what the last week has been like for you? I can imagine this hasn’t been easy on you.”
I take a deep breath an exhale some of my anxiety. “I can handle the memes, and I’m used to people poking fun at my car, but the worst part has been how someone took something and twisted it to make it look like I was intentionally harming an animal. I won’t even kill spiders, and I certainly wouldn’t purposely tackle Wilfred.” I pause and clear my throat, the topic making me both emotional and frustrated.
“I’ve been following you for years, Kitty, and while we don’t know each other personally, I can say, with confidence, that I believe you didn’t intentionally set out to hurt your boyfriend’s dog.”
“Thanks. Now I just need to convince the rest of the world.”
“I might be able to help with that.” She nods to the cameraman, who brings over a laptop and sets it on the table between us. On the screen is a social media account of what appears to be a college student. “We were able to track down the origin of the video and the person who posted it. For the sake of protecting that person’s identity, we’re not disclosing his name, but he has something he wants to say to you, Kitty, if you’re interested in hearing him out.”
“If he’s going to say nasty things, I’ll pass,” I tell her.
She throws her head back and laughs. “This is why I love you, Kitty. No mincing words.”
I blush and shrug. “It’s been a rough week. I don’t need anyone, especially not the person who made it so hard, giving me the gears.”
“No, you certainly don’t,” Brit agrees. “And this young man would like to apologize for the problems he’s caused you, if you’re interested.”
I can’t see Brit bringing this guy on her show if all it was going to do was make things worse, so I nod my agreement.
A video feed comes through, and a second later I’m staring at a college-aged kid. He’s wearing glasses and a manga T-shirt. He looks nervous.
I look to Brit. “Will everyone be able to see his face?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “To be clear, only we will know the identity of the young man who posted the video.”
I nod again. “Okay. People make mistakes, and I would not want the same thing that’s happened to me this week to happen to someone else. Even the person responsible for it.”
“I love that even though this week has been a nightmare for you and you’re seconds away from finding out who that person is, you still don’t want to throw them under the bus. What I’m offering today is proof that the video that’s been making your life a nightmare isn’t even remotely accurate.” Brit turns her attention to the laptop. “I think you have something you’d like to say to Kitty?”
The young man runs his hands over his jean-covered thighs. “I shouldn’t have posted that clip. I didn’t think about how it would impact anyone, and I didn’t think it would go viral the way it did. And I’m sorry for that. I saw you trip. And I knew you didn’t mean to hurt your dog, and it was wrong of me to edit it and make you look bad.”
“You have the full video?” I glance from him to Brit.
“He’s already sent it to me, and we’ll be airing it.”
“Oh. Oh wow.” I turn back to the young man. “Thank you for apologizing. And for sending Brit the full video.”
He chews on his bottom lip and nods vigorously. “I’m really sorry, Kitty. I wish I could take it back. My mom is a huge fan of yours, and we have two cats. I would never have posted it if I knew the damage it was going to do.”