(The dinner company has arrived, and introductions made -- Mr. Barnes's employer. Mrs. Barnes is busy hanging up the boss's coat... And then continuing..)

"Hershy, NO!" she cried, just a little too late. Twelve pounds of chocolate -point Siamese launched itself at a very surprised Gail Winters. The startled woman managed to shove him midair as he flew at her, but she tottered for a few seconds like she might lose her footing. Clinging to the doorjamb in the aftermath of the kitty tornado, she shook her head from side to side, dazed. She looked as if, for just a moment, she was wondering if she’d found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" said Anne. "Are you alright?"

Hershy sat licking himself at Gail's feet where he'd landed, unharmed, and appearing for the entire world like he didn't know what all the fuss was about.

"I'm fine," Gail replied. Her face was a bit pale, and two bright, red spots had appeared on her cheeks. She brushed at her ruffled, white blouse. "I was just surprised, that's all.” She bent to the cat, cooing.  “Well, aren't you a handsome kitty," she said, stroking Hershy's silken coat.

"Oh my, there seems to be something odd all over him. It’s, ah, a little oily.”  Gail Winters rubbed her fingers together and blushed, her cheeks now bright pink.

Daniel and Lizzie stood paralyzed, mouths agape, both wondering which of them was in big trouble when the dinner company left.

"Daniel, go into the bathroom and get Mrs. Winters a clean, damp cloth, please," Anne Barnes said, her voice making it very clear that both children would hear about this when their father's boss had gone. “Please, Gail, come and sit down. Danny will bring you something to wipe that mess off your fingers. Or would you prefer to use the guest bathroom yourself? It’s just down the hall.”

“Oh, it’s fine, really. Please don’t trouble yourself.”

Daniel turned to fetch a washcloth without a single word.

"I'm so sorry," Anne said again, and then her jaw dropped in horror. At Gail’s feet, there was Hershy, sweetly curling himself around Gail’s ankles, purring. He looked very proud of himself, as streaks of greasy, orange, spaghetti sauce marked Gail's legs like bracelets.

"Oh, Hershy!" Anne cried, reaching for him.

Suddenly, Mr. Barnes burst out laughing. Gail soon joined in, the two of them hooting like it was the funniest thing in the world to have this silly cat making a mess of John Barnes’s boss.

"Well, I don't see what's all that humorous," said Anne, her worried face not breaking a smile. And then she, too, could not help herself. She joined them, dabbing her eyes as she laughed so hard, tears threatened to make a further mess of the mascara she’d been applying when Hershy got up to his mischief.

The happy sound filled the living room. It was a welcome relief--in spite of the disastrous start to the evening, it seemed everyone was in good humor. They settled, making themselves comfortable, John in the big tub chair beside the coffee table, and Anne and Gail on the sofa. Daniel brought the washcloth back to the bathroom, still not saying a word, and returned to the hall, sitting down on an antique loveseat.

Elizabeth quietly hurried over and scooped up her naughty kitty before Hershy could join the ladies on the couch.

 "M-EE-OORR-OW," Hershy cried loudly from her arms. It was almost as if he were saying, ‘See, it's no big deal. Now about that delicious sauce...’