Biscuit the Cat and the Fading Sunbeam
A gentle bedtime story for babies and toddlers about a warm kitchen rug, a sleepy cat, soft sounds and a fading patch of sun.
Warm floor
under Biscuit’s belly.
Rough rug
under Biscuit’s paws.
warm, warm.
One back foot
gives a kick.
Thump.
The table leg
stands close.
Smooth wood.
Cold tile
waits past the rug.
Biscuit does not step.
warm, warm.
The light patch
sits on his tail.
Small light.
Flat light.
Warm light.
Prr-rt.
Biscuit’s eyes
go half shut.
Blink.
Blink.
The kitchen chair
creaks.
Creak.
The fridge hums.
A spoon settles
in the sink.
Tink.
slow, slow.
The warm patch
shrinks on the rug.
Less tail.
Less paw.
Less nose.
Biscuit turns round.
Heavy side down.
Whiskers touch
the rough rug.
Shhh.
The light patch
gets thin.
Thin.
Thinner.
Gone.
Cold tile stays.
Dark rug stays.
Biscuit’s paws tuck in.
In.
Out.
Shhh.