Katherine Nicolai

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A simple and pleasant way to occupy it, so that it doesn't wander away and keep you up. All you need to do is listen.

A simple and pleasant way to occupy it, so that it doesn't wander away and keep you up. All you need to do is listen.

A simple and pleasant way to occupy it, so that it doesn't wander away and keep you up. All you need to do is listen.

Or just think your way back through any part of the story that you can remember.

Or just think your way back through any part of the story that you can remember.

Or just think your way back through any part of the story that you can remember.

Our story tonight is called Dogs and Dust Mops, and it's a story about some spring cleaning on a warm afternoon. It's also about an orange kitty in the window, the sound of the vacuum running upstairs, fresh sheets, scrabbling paws on the deck.

Our story tonight is called Dogs and Dust Mops, and it's a story about some spring cleaning on a warm afternoon. It's also about an orange kitty in the window, the sound of the vacuum running upstairs, fresh sheets, scrabbling paws on the deck.

Our story tonight is called Dogs and Dust Mops, and it's a story about some spring cleaning on a warm afternoon. It's also about an orange kitty in the window, the sound of the vacuum running upstairs, fresh sheets, scrabbling paws on the deck.

Let's take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Nice. Let's do that again. Breathe in and out.

Let's take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Nice. Let's do that again. Breathe in and out.

Let's take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Nice. Let's do that again. Breathe in and out.

We had all the windows open with fresh air moving through the house and the sound of lawnmowers and talking neighbors echoing from a few doors down. Marmalade, my regal orange cat, was wedged into one of the open windows, her round body pressed against the screen, and her silky fur sticking through the mesh.

We had all the windows open with fresh air moving through the house and the sound of lawnmowers and talking neighbors echoing from a few doors down. Marmalade, my regal orange cat, was wedged into one of the open windows, her round body pressed against the screen, and her silky fur sticking through the mesh.

We had all the windows open with fresh air moving through the house and the sound of lawnmowers and talking neighbors echoing from a few doors down. Marmalade, my regal orange cat, was wedged into one of the open windows, her round body pressed against the screen, and her silky fur sticking through the mesh.

And I knew if I lay a hand on her back, she would start to purr almost instantly. She was an indoor cat who, every year, had a few carefully chaperoned visits into the back garden. A few bike rides buckled into her cat trailer, and a few impromptu walks to the mailbox tucked into my arms.

And I knew if I lay a hand on her back, she would start to purr almost instantly. She was an indoor cat who, every year, had a few carefully chaperoned visits into the back garden. A few bike rides buckled into her cat trailer, and a few impromptu walks to the mailbox tucked into my arms.

And I knew if I lay a hand on her back, she would start to purr almost instantly. She was an indoor cat who, every year, had a few carefully chaperoned visits into the back garden. A few bike rides buckled into her cat trailer, and a few impromptu walks to the mailbox tucked into my arms.

I'd found her out in the snow a few years back, just a kitten leaving tiny paw prints in the flakes. And I'd wondered, when she'd first stepped into my house, if it would be difficult to keep her in, if she'd want out again. If she were some kind of ramblin' rolling stone, I wouldn't want to settle down.