Irrepressible Chester loves to play at 4:00AM. He was so adorable curled up on the bed last night that I didn't have the heart to lock him the basement - I *always* regret this.

Otis and I were in a loving embrace with Otis stretched out on my hand, which was under his chest (not physically possible you say? Ouch - I agree), and dead to the world when Chester executed his leap. He jumped onto the bed with his huge Kramer overshoot then danced sideways as he ran by Otis, trying to get him to play chase. My fingers were right over Otis' heart. I had to laugh. It went from an occasional thump thump thump to a panicked thump-thump-thump-thumpity-thump-thump-thump at a million miles an hour. Otis didn't move but now I know that, under his calm and cool exterior, he can be scared stiff. The heart slowed down, he closed his eyes, and settled back in for the rest of his sleep. Chester went out the kitchen to knock everything from the counter.

Copyright © Susan Mawdsley
March 26, 2001