. . .

Mr. Gulley tries another affair. It does not suit him. He is lonely so he buys a cat. He sits by Fenris and he asks the wolf when it will eat him, but Fenris does not really know.

“Don’t eat the cat,” Mr. Gulley tells him.

“Pardon?”

“I’ve taken care of you all my life, ain’t I?” says Mr. Gulley. His voice and diction crack. “I get a rule or two, don’t I? Don’t eat the cat. Her name is Inedible. OK?”

“You named the cat.” The wolf laughs. It barks out its laugh but it is definitely a laugh. The wind of that laugh flows around the room. “You named the cat. You named the cat Inedible.”

“Wish my Dad had named it me!”

“It’s all right,” says Fenris. “It’s all right. Shh, gumby. Shh. I won’t eat the cat.”

“Good,” says Mr. Gulley.

<< . . .

. . . >>