A Bedtime Trio

I set my acoustic guitar flat across my knees and picked up a soft-bristled brush instead of a plectrum. As the night quiet settled in, I gently worked the bristles down the dog’s coarse flank, keeping a slow, rhythmic brushing tempo. The cat heard the whisper of the strokes and slipped up to drape across the sofa cushion right behind my shoulders, purring like a warm amplifier. I reached over with my spare hand to scratch the cat under the chin, humming a low lullaby note into the dim glow of the side lamp until both sets of eyelids fluttered shut.