cat below

Working late, I hear one of the cats crying below in the basement. It is a faint, plaintive sound.

I set aside the story I’ve been working on and get up with a sigh. Our two cats have been a considerable amount of trouble lately — skittish, fighting with each other late at night, becoming more and more territorial.

Or, like tonight, just crying in the basement for no reason.

I open the door to my office and stop: There in the front room are both of our cats. We regard each other, eyes wide.

I close the door again and return to work.

Below, the basement is quiet.