As she passed the piano, she kicked her brown penny-loafers under the piano bench. After flicking on the floor lamp, she walked to the couch and plopped down on it. At her command, Konrad settled himself on the red plush carpet in front of her. Becky opened the book and read out loud. Konrad watched Becky attentively for several minutes, an amused expression on his face, then he stood and staggered away. Becky glanced up from the second page, and seeing Konrad, she closed the book, disgusted. She stood, her small hands resting on her bony hips. Alright, we won’t read. I’ll practice the piano. You'll enjoy that.” Becky walked to the piano and sat on the hard bench. She placed her fingers on the keys and played “Three Blind Mice”. Konrad was listening, so she played it again. Then she played another piece she had memorized: “Hey Diddle Diddle”. She liked it, especially the words. She stopped playing and recited the rhyme to Konrad, emphasizing the animal names. “Hey diddle diddle, The CAT and the fiddle, The COW jumped over the moon.... ” Becky interrupted herself. for a while.” “Hey, Konrad, let’s go stand onmthe front porch Ws Becky put on her shoes, ran to the kitchen for turned to the living room. She walked to the front her sweater, and redoor, opened it, and stepped out onto the cement porch, Konrad following. Becky liked breathing the cold night air. She liked tilting her head back to look up at the myriads of stars. “Oh Konrad!” exclaimed Bec-— ky, giving his heada tender pat. Some Saturday night I’m coming out here and I’m going to give every star a name!” She looked at Konrad lovingly. “T’ll name the brightest after you,” she promised. Becky looked at the sky again. “Oh, Konrad,” she breathed. “Look at the moon! I’ve never seen it so round before!” Buttoning her sweater Becky moved closer to Konrad. “Let’s look for the Man in the Moon, Konrad.” Becky and Konrad looked. Suddenly, Becky laughed. “I don’t see a man; I see a rabbit. See him, Konrad?” Becky lifted a pointing finger. There’s his floppy ears, and there’s his cotton tail, and over there is his . . .” Becky stopped talking. Suddenly, seeing a rabbit instead of the Man in the Moon wasn’t funny. It wasn’t funny at all. “Oh, Konrad,” sobbed Becky. She threw her arms around the collie’s brown neck, and buried her eyes in his warm soft hair. : WINDCAT The windcat crouches and eyes her new preyA small wooden house sitting firmly intact. She sneaks with smooth footsteps. The prey’s unaware Of the feline’s soft breath and intended attack. The windcat pounces then darts down the street. Her tongue laps up garbage and spits it back out On a neatly kept fawn in front of the house. The windcat breathes in, and she leers at her mouse. She sharpens her claws on the bark of an oakWhich makes the limbs tremble and shiver with fright- Then licks at the windows with murmuring sounds And gouges the wood with one violent bite. She bounds on the rooftop, howls in delight, And rips at the shingles to make the house shake. She twirls and she twirls ’til her tail wails a chant... Then she slows to a rhythm that’s almost sedate. The windcat stops and looks down at the ground. She leaps from the rooftop, aloof and demure. TORTOISE With Tucks Then a shell Her paws lightly touch on the windbeaten As she ambles along with a satisfied purr. Louse in his head quickly is alone in his own Shauna world Content. Carol 10 Lowers | 11 Whittier road