Bubblegum and Kipling. Tom Mayer

all right.”

      Old Mike looked as if he were going to have a stroke.

      Tiger Cat got tired of playing with Old Mike’s tail, and jumped onto Old Mike’s back. Then he jumped onto my father’s lap.

      “Jesus,” my father said, and Tiger jumped down. He walked around to Old Mike’s head and licked his nose. Old Mike snarled and tried to twist away from my father. It was nip and tuck for a minute, but my father held him, and then Old Mike relaxed completely and Tiger batted at his beard with a front paw. “Good boy,” my father said. “That’s the stuff.”

      Old Mike’s eyes were shut, and my father let go of his collar and muzzle. Tiger licked at his nose again, and Old Mike started to growl. “No,” my father said, and Old Mike relaxed again. “That’s it. Good boy.” Tiger played with Old Mike’s beard some more, and then he curled up between Old Mike’s front legs. Old Mike opened his eyes and closed them again quickly, and my father said, “Brother Mike is trained.”

       BUBBLE GUM AND KIPLING