Chermpf by William S. Russell III

Author:William S. Russell III
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: -
Publisher: Border Station Press
Published: 2015-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

HAPTER 20

Gracie’s Song

ASSANDRA BROKE THE SILENCE following Cyril’s appeal to the clowder with a suggestion that surprised Gracie.

“Perhaps you, Grace, would like to address the citizens of Nova City while they are gathered and suggest what you think it would be best for us to do?”

Gracie was shocked, and she looked from Cassandra to the crowd, momentarily speechless. Roscoe unexpectedly spoke for her.

“Don’t try to rope Gracie into making your decision for you. She’s just a kid, a kid that should be at home in bed. Speaking of which, just when will we go home?!” Roscoe was standing in an aggressive posture in front of Gracie’s feet, his tail puffed out behind him just like it did when he saw Pepper, the Brambletons’ Jack Russell terrier, through the bay window in the living room.

“Such a brave protector,” said Cassandra, smiling. “You have nothing to fear, Roscoe. As I have said, when the time is right, the two of you shall be returned, and all in a time such that none will ever know that you were gone. Grace has come so far to visit Nova City for a reason none of us understands. Allow her to speak her piece, guardian. I assure you that no harm will come to her—nor to you.”

Breathing hard after his rant, Roscoe glowered at the collection of cats, and they returned his frustration with a collective impassive stare. Slowly Cassandra’s words sank in and he relented, sitting back down just in front of Gracie.

“I wouldn’t know what to say,” Gracie said, her voice sounding very small and timid, which was very unlike her.

“THEN SINGA!” Mimyat yelled suddenly. She had awakened from her nap just in time to hear Roscoe’s diatribe.

“Sing? I can sing something?” Gracie asked, her blue eyes blinking.

“You may if you wish to,” Cassandra replied.

“Kitty cats love when someone the sing,” added Mimyat.

Gracie thought for a moment. What would she sing? Then a small song came to her that she had first heard when she was very little, but she could not exactly remember from whom. Clearing her throat, she started to say the words in a singsong kind of way, but gradually the tune came to the fore, and her words lifted fully into song. At first her voice was very, very soft, and she was sure that not all of the cats could hear it, but as she continued she became confident of herself, her voice growing louder until it easily reached out to the cats seated in the ring furthest from the center of the terrace. Gracie almost felt as though someone were singing through her, and she smiled as the words poured forth. The sound carried in the cool air and soft gold glow of the light under the glass dome, falling on their ears like a soft rain.

Whisper kitten, whisper kitten,

What do your green eyes see?

Do you spy the ghost of your mother

floating above

As you stare through me?

Quiet kitten, quiet kitten,

On paws so soft you run,

Chasing the lights that flash and

dance and shine

As you make your fun.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.