The Sphinx at the Window

Maya's cat, a sphinx with wrinkly skin and enormous ears, sat on her windowsill judging her life choices.

"You don't understand, Bartholomew," she sighed, scrolling through Instagram for the tenth time that hour. "Jordan posted a story. At Tyler's house. They're literally building a pyramid of solo cups."

The cat yawned, showing teeth too sharp for something so objectively ridiculous-looking.

"Whatever. You're literally no help."

Maya's best friend Sofia had been acting weird all week—distant, distracted, canceling plans. Then Maya saw it: Sofia was in on Jordan's new 'business venture.' Some essential oils pyramid scheme that was definitely not a pyramid scheme, according to the carefully curated posts.

"She's ghosting me for PATCHOULI AND SAGE, Bartholomere."

The sphinx blinked slowly.

Maya stood up so fast her phone slid off the bed. "That's it. I'm going over there."

"To do what?" she asked herself in the mirror. "Spy on your former best friend and her new pyramid scheme friends? Literally obsessed with much?"

But something in her chest tightened at the thought of Sofia laughing with Jordan's crowd while Maya sat in her room talking to a naked cat about feelings. It was eighth grade graduation anxiety and friend-group fracture fear all rolled into one overwhelming ball of.

She grabbed her hoodie. "I'm just going for a walk, Bartholomew. Don't wait up."

The sphinx continued looking out the window, entirely unconcerned with her teenage drama.

Two blocks later, Maya froze. Jordan's house. Lights blazing. Music thumping. The pyramid of solo cups was visible through the front window, glowing with whatever LED strip situation was happening inside.

Her phone buzzed. Sofia.

"Hey!! You busy? Jordan's having people over and—"

Maya typed and deleted three responses before settling on: "nah just chillin. have fun tho"

"You should come!!"

Maya's heart did that stupid fluttery thing it always did when she got invited somewhere, especially somewhere that might include Jordan's cute older brother who had smiled at her in the hallway twice this semester.

"Maybe later"

"No come NOW. We need your help with something"

Maya's fingers hovered over the screen. Was this a trap? Was she being brought in as a pyramid scheme recruit? Was Sofia genuinely trying to include her?

Bartholomere would definitely have opinions about this.

"Be there in 5"

The sphinx at her window would still be judging her when she got back. But at least she'd have a story.