Penny

My family always had cats.
I loved them deeply,
played with them,
slept with them.
One old Mama cat even loved to sleep under the covers.
Thus, one night I dutifully held up my blanket so Penny could burrow to the bottom.
My mother came to wake us in the morning and asked what was with all the crying under my bedding.
She threw back all layers to reveal a purring Mama cat kneading the sheets,
nursing five hungry kittens.
Bliss.
I was seriously cautioned against ever letting Penny under the covers again.
I nodded compliance.
Wink, wink. Crossed fingers.
Right, Mom.