Rose stretches across a garden chair, the summer's sun kept from her face by the book she holds. Nepeta runs across the lawn towards her and falls in an exhausted heap next to Rose's feet, giggling.
Rose quietly folds the book in her lap, and pours two glasses from the iced tea beside her on the table. When she recovers her breath, Nepeta takes hers and curls against Rose's leg.
"AC wonders what book is so interesting that Rose would rather read it than enjoy the nice Earth sunshine."
Rose smiles and sips her tea. "It's about quantum theory."
Nepeta pulls a face.
"Actually, I was just reading about Schrodinger's Cat."
That catches Nepeta's attention – Rose could swear her ears prick up. "AC wants to know more about the famous kitty."
"It's a famous thought experiment. Imagine you place a cat inside a completely sealed box."
"AC doesn't think the cat would like that." Nepeta shivers.
"It probably wouldn't," Rose agrees. "Especially since there is some poison in the box."
Nepeta gasps, seeming honestly offended.
"The poison is sealed up safely, but it could be released any time, depending on a random event within the box. If the poison has been released, the cat will be dead – if not, it is still alive. But the scientist can't see into the box, and has no way of knowing which it is."
"AC hopes the kitty is alive."
"Well, that's the strange part," Rose explains. "Quantum science states that until the box is opened, the cat is both alive and dead. Of course, that idea seems patently absurd, but it's very metaphorically resonant."
Nepeta looks confused, and says nothing.
"It suggests that some results cannot be deduced by thought alone," Rose continues. "They can only be discovered by actually performing the experiment."
Suddenly, Nepeta smiles.
"Rose, do you think you could climb all the way to the top of the oak?"
"Well – I don't know," Rose says honestly. "I've never –"
"Then you'll have to try it and see!" Nepeta says, laughing. She leaps to her feet, and pulls Rose out of her chair.
"I suppose I did rather invite this..." Rose sighs.
"Cheer up!" Nepeta grins. "The first one to the top gets a kiss."
"In that case, I intend to claim first prize."
Rose races down the garden with Nepeta hot on her heels, leaving her book abandoned on the grass.