The Whisker

I marched straight into the kitchen to check on the breakfast nook! Right by the corner of a woven floor mat, a fat calico cat was napping in a patch of morning light. I couldn't resist sneaking up close, purple pail swinging silently from my fingers. I took one bold, bouncy stomp on the mat—and flick! The cat’s long tail twitched right across my curled boot! The sudden swish tossed me off balance, and boing-boing-wobble! My neck spring whipped into a frantic, dizzy spin, shaking my pumpkin grin right in front of two big green sleepy eyes. The cat gave a low purr and gently nudged my bucket with its nose!