Drawing by Nicholas

"Mother," said Jane shyly, "We have a surprise for you. Alexander and I are married!"

"That's wonderful," purred Jane Tabby.

When she tried to get up from Sarah's lap, the catwings could see that Jane tabby was in a lot of pain.

"What's wrong, Mother?" asked Roger and James.

"Oh, my dears, I am just getting very, very old," she said sadly.

Copyright © 2003 by Ursula K. Le Guin