The sun filtered through the window and hit the mother cat's face. She let out a groan and rolled over in an attempt to avoid the light. Was it morning already? She didn't want to get up. Her whole body ached, and even rolling over was a chore. She didn't even want to open her eyes. Audrey wouldn't have minded just lying there forever...

...but she somehow felt that she couldn't. She had to wake up today. But why? Today was something important, she remembered, but she couldn't remember why. Her mind just wasn't working. She couldn't even remember the date, much less what was important about it.

"WAKE UP, MOM!" Audrey felt a ball of fur crashing into her. She rolled over to see her son, Waffle, staring at her. "Come on, Mom!" he urged. "It's almost noon! Don't you remember what day it is?"

The sight of her child reminded Audrey of what was so special today, and a quick wave of guilt crashed over her for actually forgetting about that. It was her sons' first birthday! Waffle began tugging on Audrey's paw. "Come on, come downstairs, Edna and Hovis are setting up the party stuff now, Edna asked me to come up and get you..." Waffle kept pulling until Audrey finally rose to her feet. He wondered why she was walking on all fours, but it didn't really matter. All that mattered was that she was coming downstairs. Waffle shot off for the party when he heard a thump. He turned around to see just what that noise had been and saw Audrey lying on the floor. "Mom?" he asked. "Mom, what happened? Are you OK?"

"I fell..." she grunted. Audrey rose to her feet, wobbled, and then hit the ground again. "Waffle, I'm sorry, but I feel so sick... I can't even stand, much less make my way downstairs..."

Waffle pouted. "But you're going to miss our party!"

Audrey sighed. "I'm so sorry, Waffle... unless... how about you go ask Hovis to carry me down? I really don't want to miss your birthday... even if I am sick..."

"All right. I'll go get Hovis." Waffle dashed off with his usual speed.

Hovis had agreed to bring Audrey down to the party. Audrey looked around the room as she sat in her basket. It wasn't a very flashy affair, she noticed. There was a homemade banner that read "Happy birthday, boys!" hanging from the ceiling and the popped remains of balloons scattered across the floor. Waffle must have tried playing with them. There was also a table with bowls containing a variety of snacks: pretzels, different flavors of chips, some cheese balls, single serving cups of ice cream, and a covered plate which most likely contained a cake. Under the table was a cooler for drinks. These were the only signs that there was a party taking place. Audrey realized that it was missing something vital to a party...

"Edna?" she inquired. "Aren't there going to be any guests?"

Edna nodded. "I did invite one person... I didn't tell the boys who, but I'm sure they'll be pleased."

Edna's answer caught Waffle's ear. He gave her dress a quick tug to get her attention. "Who is it?" he asked. "Who? Who'd you invite? Tell me!"

Edna was about to refuse to answer Waffle when the doorbell rang. Hovis went to answer it. The four cats and Edna waited in silence. Waffle tried to run to the other room to see who was at the door, but Edna reached down and picked him up. She didn't want the surprise ruined. Gordon was the one who reacted the strongest when the guest walked into the room. He squealed and shot under the table at the sight of his next door neighbor. Blik pretended not to notice her. He couldn't care less about her presence. Waffle went over to the table with Gordon and started trying to pull him out. "Come on, Gordon! Say hi to Human Kimberly... don't be rude..."

Gordon's claws dug into the carpet as he desperately tried not to be removed from his hiding place. Waffle's tugging eventually stopped, but was replaced by Kimberly trying to get him out. Unlike Waffle, she succeeded.

"H... hello... Human Kimberly..." Gordon stammered.

"Hey! Happy birthday!" Kimberly smiled at Gordon, seemingly oblivious to how nervous he was.

Gordon squeaked.

The party went on without much incident. Waffle was having a blast with the popped balloons. Gordon had finally managed to get over his fright when it came to Kimberly, and the two of them were having a pleasant conversation to themselves. Gordon couldn't help but blush when Kimberly mentioned that she the accent was cute, even if it was fake; if he ever doubted that he should keep with it, all doubt was removed by that one comment. What reason would he have to stop something that Kimberly liked?

Blik was the only brother who didn't seem to be having much fun at his own party. He wanted to, but something was worrying him... he curled up next to his mom in her basket. "Mommy?"

"Hm?" Audrey didn't open her eyes or even move.

"Mommy...? Are you OK?"

"I'm fine..." Audrey's voice was hoarse and weak. Despite her claim, she didn't sound fine at all. She straightened up, began coughing, and then settled back into the basket. "I'm fine..." she repeated.

Blik wasn't consoled by this. He cuddled up to his mother. "Guys?" he called. "Gordon? Waffle? Get over here! Quick!" Waffle sprang over in one swift movement, and Gordon reluctantly left his conversation with Kimberly. Kimberly followed him over to Audrey's basket and knelt down. The cat looked terrible. Her eyes were just barely open, and for the first time, her sons noticed that she had become incredibly thin. While they did realize that she was eating less than usual, it didn't seem to be a big deal until the effect it was taking on her body was apparent. Audrey managed a weak smile. "It's probably just a cold or something... I'll be fine, boys. I promise." She gave each of her sons a quick lick and then fell asleep. Without a word, Kimberly slowly reached out to pet Audrey. She didn't react at all.

"Come ON, Edna, I'm fine, I REALLY don't want to go to the vet..." Audrey protested. After making sure the kittens were in bed, Edna took Audrey downstairs to her rocking chair and sat to have a little talk. Neither of them noticed that Waffle, curious as to where his mother was being taken, had come down as well and was listening in on the conversation. Edna sighed at Audrey's complaint. "I know you think you're all right, but I'm still worried... you can't even walk, Audrey. You're not a young cat..." Edna bit her lower lip. "I wouldn't do this if you don't want to, but... Audrey? I think... I think the time might be coming for..." Edna trailed off. She had owned Audrey for 15 years; she didn't want to have to do this... but it might be necessary...

"Might be time to have me put down?" Audrey finished. Edna nodded. Audrey sighed. "If my life does get that bad... I don't want to be a cat that can't walk, can't eat, can't even use the litter box without help... that sounds like a horrible way to spend my last days. But... but my sons... what are they going to do when they find out you plan on killing me when that time comes?"

"I'll explain to them that I had to... that you were no longer happy... and perhaps you should explain that, too. It might be more convincing from you."

"I still say it's just the flu and that it'll be gone soon."

"You're still going to the vet." This was the last Waffle heard. He hurried upstairs to tell his brothers what he had just witnessed.

"I'm telling you, you're INSANE!" Blik snapped. "Why would Edna kill our mom? That's just ridiculous! I can't believe you woke us up for this nonsense..."

"I know what I heard!" Waffle insisted. "Edna's gonna take mom to the vet to be put down, and I don't know what that means... but it's going to kill her!"

"Relax, lad," Gordon replied, patting Waffle on the back. "Surely it was a mistake. What reason would ma have to even agree to that?"

"She said she was sick... and that she'd rather be dead than sick..." Waffle said.

"Crazy talk," Blik snapped. "Sick people recover. Dead people don't. Mom's not stupid, I'm pretty dang sure she knows that." He rolled over, his back facing Waffle. "I'm going back to sleep. I suggest that you shut up and do the same." Waffle climbed into the basket to sleep, not entirely convinced that nothing was wrong.

The night came and went. Audrey never came back into the basket to sleep. This worried Waffle, but Blik and Gordon thought nothing of it. Waffle never even got to sleep that night. He merely lied there with his eyes closed, his mind swimming with thoughts of what might happen to his mother. Maybe Blik was right... maybe he misunderstood... he misunderstood a lot of things...

...but what if he was right this time...?

"Gordon? Waffle? Mr. Blik? Wake up. I need to talk to you three about something important..." Gordon awoke when he heard this voice and looked up. Edna was by the basket, a grave expression on her face. Past her, he could see Audrey on the bed, asleep. He nudged his brothers to rouse them out of their sleep. Blik groaned and swung his paw, claws unsheathed. Waffle didn't move at all, but his eyes were wide open. Edna bent down, scooped the cats into her arms, carried them over to the bed, and placed them next to their mother, who looked even worse than she had the previous night. If not for her sporadic, haggard breathing, she could have been mistaken for a corpse. Edna petted Blik and Waffle in an attempt to make them awaken. Waffle sat up, the blank expression still on his face. He looked completely empty. Blik moaned in protest, but he too sat up, rubbing his eyes and yawning. He snapped awake when he looked over at his mother. Even though he had been denying it to himself, he couldn't escape the fact that Audrey looked to be in terrible shape.

"Boys..." Edna started, sighing. "Boys, I just got back from the vet with your mom..."

"Is she going to be OK?" Blik asked hopefully. Surely the vet gave her medicine and she would recover... the black cat's hope shattered as Edna continued to speak.

"To be honest... the vet doesn't think so. He gave her a week's worth of pills that might help, but if she doesn't improve by next week..." Edna stopped. She didn't want to say this, but she had to. The boys needed to know what was going on. "She may have to be put to sleep. Do you know what that is?"
"I heard you talking about it last night," Waffle said, no emotion showing in his voice. The shock from what was happening prevented him from expressing any sort of feeling. "Doesn't that mean that the vet's going to... going to... kill her?" These final words came out in a squeak. Edna's nod said all that had be said. She and all three cats looked over at the pitiful emaciated creature that was once the proud Audrey Cramdilly. Gordon could now see why she would prefer death to what she was going through. She had so much pride... no wonder she didn't want to be reduced to this, reduced to a life where she can't even move, where all she can do is watch what happens until everything is over. If anyone would rather get it over with than sit and wait for death, Gordon thought, mom is definitely that person...

"Would you boys like to be alone with her?" Edna asked. The cats didn't respond. All of their focus was on their dying mother. They didn't notice when Edna got up and left the room. Waffle snuggled close to her and began sobbing. Gordon was on the other side of the basket, now in the still, emotionless state that Waffle had just come out of.

"Relax, you two..." Blik said, trying to sound tough but failing. "She's going to be all right." Blik wasn't sure if he believed this or if he was just desperate to.

Not once in the week that followed did the brothers leave their mother's side. Edna was grateful that the bed was big enough to fit the cat basket as well as herself. She didn't want to disturb the four of them. While she brought food upstairs, Gordon, Waffle, and Blik barely touched any of it. They were only eating enough to keep themselves alive. Audrey didn't even attempt to eat a thing. Although it seemed as if there was no chance, everyone in the house, even Hovis, was hanging onto the hope that Audrey spring to life and return to being the cat she once was. She was at her worst the night when Edna gave her the last pill, but she still went to sleep hoping that a miracle would happen and her companion of 15 years would make it through...

Edna didn't want to open her eyes the following morning. She was afraid of what she might see. She knew what the vet had said; "If next week she hasn't improved, take her in as soon as possible for the procedure." As much faith as she had, deep down she knew that she wasn't going to see a perfectly healthy cat. She was going to see a mere shell of what Audrey once was. Edna's eyes slowly opened. Audrey's front paws were wrapped around all three of her sons. It sounded as if every breath she took was a challenge. The medicine hadn't done any good. Edna got up from her bed, removed Audrey's paws from around her sons, and lifted her. Blik awoke. "Edna... Edna, what are you doing?"

"Vet's orders," Edna replied. "If the medicine didn't work... there's no hope..."

"So that's it, then. You're killing our mom." Blik said, glaring.

"That's not how I would put it..."

"You're killing our mom!" he snapped, ignoring Edna's response. "You're taking her to be killed! You're the one who's doing this!"

"Please... Blik, I don't have a choice... she already told me that this is what she wants to do..." Edna was already finding it difficult to hold back tears, and the guilt trip Blik was giving her failed to help matters. "Would you like to come with us to say goodbye...?"

"No," Blik said, turning away.

"I'll ask your broth-"

"No, they don't want to go either," Blik said. "You want to do this? Fine. Go. Go kill our mom. She's just your pet, right? No big loss?"

"This isn't easy for me either, Blik... please understand..."

"Then why not just let her live just a bit longer?!" Blik still didn't turn to face Edna as he yelled. She sighed and turned away. Blik turned to watch her go, but only so he could get a last look at Audrey. He nudged Gordon and Waffle awake so that they too could watch her leave. They followed her out to the hallway and watched from the top of the stairs as Edna and Audrey went out the front door.

It was the last time they saw their mother alive.

"At least look at her, Mr. Blik..."

"No, Hovis."

"Let your brothers-"

"No brother of mine is going to associate with our mother's murderer!"

Edna had taken Audrey to the vet three days before, and the brothers hadn't acknowledged her presence since. This was Blik's doing. He considered what Edna had done to be murder, unjust, and thought it would be an insult to their mother to pretend that Edna hadn't done anything wrong. If Gordon or Waffle even so much looked at or mentioned her, Blik gave his brothers misery, insisting that they'd be horrible sons if they didn't completely ignore Edna for the rest of her life. All this did was make Edna feel worse. She hadn't just lost Audrey; all four of her cats had left her at once. Realizing how lonely she must have been feeling, Hovis was attempting to convince Blik to reconsider his stance on things.

"Just think about it, Mr. Blik," Hovis said. "She was going to die shortly anyway-"

"We don't know that," Blik interrupted. "Maybe that medicine was slow acting. Maybe one more day and she would have recovered fully. We don't know for certain that she wasn't going to make it!"

"Assuming that we are absolutely certain that she was going to die, let's consider her options. Either go to the vet and get put to sleep, a calming way of going, or letting the illness take over and dying in pain. Just what do you think she would have preferred?"

"It's a chance I'd be willing to take," Blik said, and then realized just what he was implying before Hovis pointed it out.

"You'd be willing to take a chance with someone's life? Put them through pain in hopes they'll get better, with disregard to what they already said they wanted?" When Blik remained silent, Hovis continued on. "This isn't Edna's fault. I've known her for longer than anyone, and I know she wouldn't have taken your mother to be put to sleep if she wasn't entirely sure that it was what she wanted. But my point isn't even whether Edna is right or wrong. My point is that regardless, what's done is done, and hurting Edna like this is not going to bring your mother back from the grave." Blik still remained in silence, but his face softened a bit. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Blik, I believe I have some things to clean. Please consider what I've said." Hovis then left.

That night, Edna was settled in her bed, reading. She had given up on coaxing the cats to at least pretend to tolerate her; it just wasn't working. However, she was pleasantly surprised when she felt weight on the bed and fur against her feet. Gordon nuzzled her foot, purred, and then fell asleep. With one leap, Waffle made it from the floor to Edna's head, but she had to remove him from his perch. He was getting way too big for that. Waffle settled for merely lying at her side. The biggest surprise was Blik's positioning directly in Edna's lap. He never slept in the bed before, nor had he ever gone into Edna's lap. He was always the most antisocial being in the house. Edna decided not to question it; all that mattered was that it seemed as if the cats had forgiven her. She wasn't sure if they were over Audrey's death, and would have been a bit surprised if they recovered after mere days. All that she knew was that she had her cats back...

...and that was all she really needed.