Goldie stepped through the front door and into the kitchen. The floor creaked.

“Who is there?” said a cracked voice.

“Momma J ! It’s me!” Goldie stretches her arms out wide with an ear to ear smile.

Momma J hobbles in the kitchen and inches towards Godie until she could touch the tip of her nose.

Goldie eyes looked at though they would pop out of her face.

“Oh! There you are!” said Grandma.

“Where is the cat?” Goldie’s eyes became search lights. Momma J was the only one that liked Benny. Momma J was the only one that Benny liked. Goldie was never going to like him.

He creeped along and pounced. His mean yellow eyes made her heart race. So every time she came to Grandma’s House.

Momma J didn’t answer Goldie. She went back into the living room and sat down in a soft rocker. Goldie peered from behind the kitchen wall. Benny sat on Momma J’s lap twirling his tail until it finally stilled and tucked under his back legs. His mean yellow eyes blinked and blinked until they disappeared.Momma J slid her hand from the top of Benny’s head all the way down his back. Soon, her own blue eyes disappeared too.

“There, there,”Momma J said.

Goldie watched her pet Benny up and down his back. She rocked him back and forth and wore a closed smile.

“Are you going to read your story to Momma J?” I asked wishing Goldie’s grip on my arm would loosen so that the blood circulation would flow freely.

“No, I am scared.” Goldie whispered. “Benny doesn’t like stories.”

Momma J rocked and rocked then she sighed and said,

“I remember when I was a little girl. I would bundle up my little kitty cat and put her in a baby stroller. Then we would go of a walk down the sidewalk.”Momma J looked out the big window and seemed to really see herself walking the cat down the street in a baby carriage.”

Goldie’s grip on me loosened Goldie looked far away. Perhaps she could see the girl walking her cat down the sidewalk.

“Goldie has a good story to read to you.” I told Momma J, “Goldie why don’t you sit in a chair right next to Momma J and read it.”

I pried Goldie’s fingers off of my arm and slid a chair right next to the rocker. Then I nudged her forward. Goldie hovered over the chair and then sat down with a thump.

Benny popped open his eyes and flew off Grandma’s lap. Goldie grabbed onto my arm again this time her nails dug into my skin feeling very much like cat claws.

“Oh dear! Oh dear!” Momma J stood up and shuffled around looking in every direction.

“I guess Benny is scared too.” I told Goldie

“What is HE scared of?” Goldie crunched up her eyebrows.

“He’s of us. We are strangers to him.” I prodded Goldie’s fingers off my arm again.

“He likes Momma J!” Goldie insisted still standing as though her shoulder was glued to mine.

“Of course he does!” I nodded.

Goldie didn’t say anything but her eyes told me she understood. Goldie wasn’t the only scaredy cat.

“Oh dear!” Momma J was walking in circles all around the house.

Goldie looked at her and pressed her lips together. Then she left my side and followed her. She used her own searchlight eyes to look in every nook and cranny for Benny.

Benny couldn’t been seen in any room of the house.Momma J was in tears. Goldie went back to each room twice, then stopped in her tracks in the den. With her head resting on her shoulder, she said, “There he is!”

Goldie pointed to a place in between the cushions on the couch. Benny sat there in the dark couch like cave looking at us with his yellow eyes. Goldie didn’t grab my arm or dig her nails in it. Her bright blue eyes met his bright yellow eyes and they both smiled.

“There, there, Benny,” Goldie said. “Come on, It’s ok.”

Papa J came in and put his arm around Goldie.

“My, My, looks like our little scaredy cat has found a good hiding place.” He bent down on his knees, scooped up Benny, and placed him Grandma’s arms.

Momma J carried him to the rocker and began to stroke his fur from his head all the way down his back. Benny made curls in the air with his tail, then stopped as he closed his eyes.

Goldie sat down in a chair next to Grandma. and opened up her book.

But she didn’t read the words, she read her own story.

“Once upon a time there was a girl named Goldie. One day she bundled up her kitty and put her in a doll carriage. Then she went for a walk down the sidewalk. “

“Yes!” said Grandma smiling with her eyes closed. “I remember.”.

“There, there Benny. There, there. ” said Goldie as she reached out two fingers to stroke Benny’s back too.

Momma J smiled. Benny’s eyes were closed and he smiled. No one was scared.