Wicker
March 2002

Terry Alderman has taught 7^th grade English for the past 32 years.  It seems she has always been surrounded by the endless energy of children, both at work and at home.  While being married to Jim for 29 years together they raised their three boys.  But just last week their youngest son went away to school and now it’s just the two of them…or shall we say three?

Today the only shinning face that will greet Terry as she struggles to unlock the door with an armful of groceries, will be their cat Maggie.  At the first sound of Terry’s keys jangling in the key hole Maggie awakes and goes to take her place by the front door to welcome Terry home again.

Kneeling down to stroke Maggie’s head, Terry finds her hungrily nudging the fresh bag of Kit n’ Kabootles she just picked up at the store.  She smiles and pours Maggie a bowl full.

Maggie and Terry need no words to say how much they mean to each other.  For Terry, Maggie’s gentle purrs and companionship tells her all she needs to know.  And for Maggie, the fact that Terry always feeds her her favorite meal of Kit n’ Kabootles says it all. 

“Maggie, you’ll never leave me to go off to college will you?”

Maggie just keeps eating.  Terry takes her shoes off and sits down for the first time that day to wait for Jim to get home.  Soon, Terry is joined by her feline friend who cleans her paws from dinner before taking her place on the cushion next to her. 

They are both thankful for one anothers constant display of affection.  With the kids gone now Terry can focus on pampering her cat.  Maggie will always be there for Terry whenever she needs her and Terry will always show Maggie how much she means to her by always feeding her Kit n’ Kabootles.