The Bookstore Cat

“That’s so neat,” the kid exclaims as she sets down
Percy Jackson and the Olympians on the counter
“I didn’t know your bookstore had a cat.”
Behind her, I glimpse a feline saunter
A disappearing tail, and I frown.

A line begins to form and a small titter
Of excited conversation
A college student posts a pic on Twitter:
“Cat in a store” with our address information.

“Are you the cat lady who brought it here?”
A sneezing fellow asks. “Apologies.
Don’t mean to be rude,
But I have allergies.”

And then about some 30 minutes after
The Twitter post went out
A frantic lady
Bursts through the door and hugs the ball of fur.
“How did you get out?
I missed you, baby.”