Вики Майрон - Dewey

When he saw little Nathan, he turned a circle and a half so the boy could pet his back from his head down to his tail—the right direction to pet a cat.

“I’m glad we’re friends, De-woo-ley,” Nathan said.

Dewey smiled at that.

By lunchtime Dewey was worn out.

So he found a good box.

First he put his front paws inside, then his belly.

He squished his back end down,

wiggled arounduntil he was all the way in…

and closed his eyes.

“There’s an orange muffin in the library,” a girl giggled.

But just as Dewey was about to drift off into sweet kitten dreams, he heard a heavy sigh. His eyes popped open, and he saw a girl on the other side of the library.

A sad little girl reading very quietly all by herself.

He climbed up close and stared at her. She looked the other way.

He sniffed her hand. She wouldn’t play.

He knocked her mittens to the floor. She let them stay.

Then he saw her jacket and had his best idea yet….

Silly always works!

I’ll be a silly cat today!

The girl stared at Dewey.

“You look like a fuzzy hotdog in a purple bun,” she said.

And then she surprised him.

She laughed right out loud.

“I love you, Dewey Readmore Books,” the girl whispered, as Dewey nestled into her lap and began to purr.

This is it, Dewey thought. I’m a REAL library cat, and it feels great.

No, it felt better than great. It felt… purr-fect!

TIM HYNDS

Vicki Myronwas born on a farm fifteen miles from Spencer, Iowa. At the age of thirty-four, she graduated summa cum laude from Mankato State University and has a master's degree from Emporia State University. She worked at the Spencer Public Library for twenty-five years, the last twenty as director. She lives in Spencer, Iowa.

Bret Witterhas collaborated with Vicki Myron since 2006 and has enjoyed every minute. Raised in North Alabama, he currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife and two children, Lydia and Isaac.

Steve Jamesstudied traditional painting techniques at Brigham Young University and has worked in the entertainment industry as an illustrator and concept artist. He now lives in Lehi, Utah, with his wife and crazy cat.