--   Did you hear indie cry last night

--   No

I was sleeping too hard

Bad dreams

--   Bad dreams

--   Yes  I dreamt of Setsuko . . .

--   Setsuko

--   . . . Yes   and the apartment fire

All the baby kittens we raised fluttered up in the air  crying  turned to red ashes

--   Aww baby  thats a terrible dream

--   It was  I felt horrible

I feel horrible

--   But you know all the kittens are safe  have homes

We didnt lose anyone in the fire

--   I love that you say anyone

I think the fire reported in the news last night the loss of the dog and her puppies triggered it

How do you rush from a house on fire and not stop yourself kick open a door for the pets to escape through or grab them up yourself

You went back inside for indie

--   I suppose if youre frightened enough

only you matter

--   I have a difficult time seeing it that way

--   Well you understand youve seen as much many people see their pets and other animals not on the same plane as they see themselves  as human beings

People matter more

Though to you and I  were all animals

No difference

she laughed briefly

he took that as a good sign

Hell  we even save spiders from inside the house and take them out doors

--   You do

--   Youre part of it  No denying
You trap them

Im the facilitator

I am sorry for your dream  love

--   I am too

 

I think Setsuko is dead

--   Dead

--   Yes

I was thinking of her last week out of the blue

--  Thats queer so did I  She came onto me real strong  I saw her in my minds eye

                                                                                        Clear as a bell

--   I think Setsu died

--   Do you think perhaps thats why indie was crying I found him picked him up but couldnt comfort him

Nothing appeared physically wrong with him 

Just crying  Mournful

Sad like

 

I was really surprised he didnt wake you

--   I was really in the clutches of that terrible dream

I dont think I could have awakened if I wanted to

--   Well 

                          

Good morning
                          

Lets get up

             Ill make some coffee your French Press

--   I wanna lay here awhile longer

If thats okay

--   Sure

Your French Press will dislodge you when its ready 

 

--   Yes  That will

--   Youre funny

he flipped the covers off himself swung his legs to the floor and stood

then started for the door

--   Youre making coffee naked

he turned back towards her

--   Im incentivizing you

Tryin to git you up      before you have coffee

--   Youre funny

--   Are you tryin to hurt our feelings

--   Oh   poor babies

--   Dont worry about me

--   Okay  Poor baby

--   Yes hes feelin mighty dejected right now  Hang dog

--   He aint hangin

--   No hes still actin  Actin a lure  His part in the game

--   He is alluring

--   Oh youre too fuckin funny this morning 

 

Im making coffee

Cant take it

she rolled onto her side away from him laughing clutching the blankets around her to warm herself

she heard him walk down the hall

into the livingroom

say  indie

then  indie  again

the fuck

--   The fuck

Babe

Babe! 

 

from the bedroom  What

Best you come out here  Right Now

--   Right there 

he heard her throwing the blankets off her feet hitting soft thuds the bedroom floor

she came into the hall naked too 

he stood angled at the threshold of the livingroom at the end of the hall  he didnt turn to her approach

his head steadyfast

 

What

he didnt answer her he stepped back to allow her to emerge into the livingroom beside him  but no more room than that 

as she stepped into the room he took her by the shoulders under his right his hand embracing her bicep

he held her tightly

 

on the opposite corner of the room was a goldenrod upholstered chair  a tacky thing he couldnt part with

an ongoing joke between them

at its foot were two cats

 

indie

Setsuko

indie curled to Setsukos scarcelymaterial hip

they could see the wall and a pair of his workshoes behind her  through her

indie groomed himself  purred

Setsu sat quite regal

watched him

as she did when he was born nearly five years earlier

then she looked up at them

the four of them held their places

opposite one another

they didnt know how long

it was the birds rising from their roosts outside their intonations  conversations that seemed to arouse them beyond the languishing time

indie leaned into Setsuko

Setsu rose onto her four legs

she bowed briefly

  

nuzzled indie

 

face  to  face

she disappeared

evening,  Twosday, 14  4. 15

1306,  Wednesday,  15  4. 15