Arguments and boyfriends, not a good combination

My sister, Lorraine, and her boyfriend, Aaron, were arguing about my sister’s cat. They had been in the living room for about an hour while I was in another room ironing clothes and pretending I hadn’t heard their arguments.

Lorraine’s voice was soft and pleading, “Aaron, please don’t kick Sir Catskill like that. He’s—”

Aaron’s return remark showed his contempt, “What do you care? He’s just a thing always in the way.”

Lorraine continued, “He’s my cat, not just a thing. I love him.”

Aaron laughed, “He’s just a thing, that’s all. Why don’t you get that stupid piece of cat hair out of my way? And...