Viva Las Vegas

“Don’t slam the door,” called Kate, although she didn’t know why she bothered, number one son could never be quiet.
“Hi mum.” Jake threw his jacket over the back of the chair and headed straight for the fridge, pulled open the door then shut it again after a quick glance inside.
“Don’t slam the door!” Kate muttered through clenched teeth. Jake flopped down onto the chair opposite his mum.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Chicken - it won’t be long – feed Elvis would you please?”
The handsome black tomcat’s ears twitched and he sat with his nose pressed to the fridge door hoping that a chicken leg would leap from the shelf and land at his feet, or a slice of ham slither to the floor, but no such luck. Jake scooped Elvis up and holding him like a baby danced around singing ‘you ‘aint nothing but a hound-dog, crying all the time...’
Kate laughed and pushed the envelopes on the table in front of her to one side.
“Had a good day?” she asked Jake as he put Elvis back on terra firma. “Yes. - Thank you very much,” he drawled in his best Presley accent.

‘BANG’
“Don’t slam the door,” Kate called again, even though it was too late. Gemma flounced in and flopped onto the chair her mum had just vacated.
“What’s all this?” she asked flicking through the stack of envelopes.
“Just some junk mail I was about to ‘Return to Sender’, but I think they can be shredded instead”
“Including this one for Dad which says ‘You have won First Prize’?”
“Yes, there’s two of them – it’s just a scam.”
Gemma picked up the rest of the envelopes and threw them carelessly down by the shredder, which was on top of the fridge, and breezed out through the back door crashing it to behind her.
“Can I shred these?” asked Tom picking up the discarded pile.
“Oh, hello Tom, I didn’t hear you come in.” Kate smiled at her youngest; the quiet one who had a knack of creeping up on people. “Yes, you might as well.”
Tom pushed Elvis out of the way so he could reach properly, but couldn’t resist first looking in the fridge to see if there was anything tempting to eat, and finding there wasn’t, banged the door closed which sent envelopes tumbling to the floor. He scooped them up and began to shred.
“Don’t slam ....” but Kate just shook her head in despair as another crash from the back door caused the windows to rattle in their frames.
“There’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on’” sang Jake to Gemma, but she didn’t even notice as she was scrutinising her favourite top which she had just taken from the washing line.
Elvis re-positioned himself by the fridge.
The phone in the hall began to ring.
“It’ll be for me,” Gemma called and ran to pick up the receiver.
“She’s all shook up,” mused Jake – “I’ll bet it’s that ‘hunk-a-hunk of burning love’– Stevie boy.”
“Don’t be cruel” Kate answered.
“Mum, why did we call him Elvis?” Tom asked as he finished the shredding and stepped over the unyeilding cat.
“Because we found him in the Ghetto,” laughed Jake.
“Well, the gutter actually,” said Kate.
“Poor Elvis,” cooed Tom as he scratched the top of the cat’s head which remained seriously close to the fridge door.
“Poor Elvis my foot, he has to be the most spoilt animal on the planet!
He’s ...” began Kate, but stopped and cringed again as the front door slammed.
“Hello!” Gary breezed into the kitchen and kissed his wife on the cheek.
“You’re in a good mood,” she laughed.
“That’s because I’ve had some good news.”
“What sort of good news?”
“I’ll tell you when Gemma’s finished on the phone.”
“Oh she could be ages, she’s on to her latest flame,” cut in Jake and made gestures through the doorway telling her to hurry up. Gary walked over to Elvis and stroked his head, which was still almost touching the fridge door; then he heard Gemma slam the phone down.
“What’s eating you?” asked Jake.
“Steve’s playing football tonight.”
“So?”
“So he was supposed to be taking me to the pictures.”
“No contest then,” laughed Jake and Gemma threw him a scornful glare.
“Perhaps I can cheer you up,” said Gary with a twinkle in his eye.
“Go on then, don’t keep us waiting,” said Kate.
“Well, you know those raffle tickets I bought last month? I’ve won first prize!”
“Brilliant,” laughed Kate
“Cool” added Jake
“Wicked” said Tom
“What’s the Prize?” asked Gemma
“Only a family holiday in Las Vegas!” Four mouths fell open in amazement. “They posted the voucher yesterday so it should be here – where’s the post?”
Kate’s eyes became almost as wide as her mouth and a blanket of silence descended. She looked at Tom, who looked at the shredder.
Elvis remained firmly placed by the fridge door.
“It wasn’t any of the ones I shredded earlier,” Tom offered innocently.
“What did you do with the one you picked up Gem?” asked Kate.
“I threw it in the dustbin when I went to get my top.”
The ensuing stampede almost blocked the back door as they knocked over chairs and bumped into the fridge on their way out.
Elvis sat quietly and watched the fridge door swing open.
“Well,” he thought “It’s now or never” and swiftly seized a chicken fillet, which was beckoning him from inside, and slipped away through the open back door to enjoy his dinner, al-fresco!
The envelope marked ‘Congratulations - you have won First Prize’ remained firmly stuck to the floor where he had been sitting!