There is a crack in the earth, where water used to flow but has long since dried up. Cats like to leap past it as if the river is still there. She doesn't understand why. For her, a jump or hop of any type is an awkward movement, at least for her spindly legs. But one day when rain is falling, she must cross. She doesn't want to step through water, so she braces herself and jumps. She collapses in a heap, wet, stained with mud. The other cats tease her. She feels useless; can't even make a proper leap.