CHAPTER ONE: LADY OF THE HOUSE

AMONG the smoke and fog of a December afternoon

You have the scene arrange itself—as it will seem to do—

With "I have saved this afternoon for you";

And four wax candles in the darkened room,

Four rings of light upon the ceiling overhead,

An atmosphere of Juliet's tomb

Prepared for all the things to be said, or left unsaid.

We have been, let us say, to hear the latest Pole

Transmit the Preludes, through his hair and fingertips.

"So intimate, this Chopin, that I think his soul

Should be resurrected only among friends

Some two or three, who will not touch the bloom

That is rubbed and questioned in the concert room."

The Bengal cat twitched her tail as she sat on the large leather-bound book. Her attention shifted from the pages when she heard the loud creaking of the door. A middle aged man with dark hair and glasses walked into the study. He smiled when he saw the cat on the book and walked over to the desk.

"Reading again Sophie?" he asked with a smile. He looked down at the page. "A Portrait of a Lady by T.S Elliot? A fine choice, I reading that myself this morning."

The cat purred her response, and stood up to jump into his arms. Just as she was in the leaping process her front legs, shriveled and weak, gave out on her. She would have crashed into the ground headfirst if the man hadn't been quick enough to catch her.

:"Careful my dear. A disability like yours is not be taken lightly," he scolded gently. Sophie sighed and rested her head on the man's shoulder. He scratched her behind the ears. After a few seconds, he gently lifted the cat up, so he was staring straight into her dark eyes.. Sophie returned the gaze, used to this routine.

"Such intelligent eyes,' the man stated quietly. "People may think I'm crazy Sophie, but I don't doubt that you were really reading that book. There's something special about you." He paused. "Oh, if you could only talk."

Sophie's response was to twitch her tail

"You're special my dear, don't let anyone tell you any differently."

"Dad! Where are you?" a voice called.

"We are being summoned my lady," the man chuckled quietly. He placed the cat back near his shoulder and carried her down the hallway into a room in near the end. They walked into a room decorated mostly in blue. A large bed and nightstand made up the central features.

A little blond boy, who couldn't have been more then twelve slowly eased off the bed. Most boys of his age would have jumped, but that this was not possible for him. When his feet hit the ground, a soft clank echoed throughout the room. The sliver strips of leg braces could just be made out under the boy's pajama pants.

"Sophie!" he exclaimed.

Sophie squirmed in the man's arms. Quickly, he placed the cat in the boy's arms. Ever so gently, the boy cradled the cat. She began purring instantly. The man laughed, and scooped them both up in his arms and placed them on the bed.

Now what story do we want to here tonight?" he asked. "How about the tales of Spot The Dog? Perhaps One Fish Two fish may be more to your liking?"

The little boy laughed.

"Dad you know that I'm too big for those books!"

"You're right. How could I forget?" the man smiled and picked a paperback book off the nightstand. "Shall we return to the world of Pip and Miss Havisham?"

"Yes!"

Sophie settled down on the pillow next to the boy's head and began washing her face. She didn't do it often. Most of times it hurt her front legs too much. Dickens was not her favorite author, but the boy loved him so that meant she did too.

All too soon the man closed the book and placed it back on the nightstand. He reached over and pushed the bangs out of the sleeping boy's face. He then stroked Sophie's back. The cat purred loudly.

"Take care of him Sophie; you're the lady of the house now." The man stated before turning out the light. Sophie did not lower her head until she heard the man's footprints disappear into his own room.

:"Lady of the House?" Sophie stated to herself. The man had often teased the woman about that before. It had been months since the beautiful woman had been home. Judging by the tears of both the men and the boy, she was not coming home. The idea made the cat sad. She would miss her. Sophie edged closer to the little boy. She would not let the man down. She lowered her head and prepared to sleep.