The brisk winds of spring had blown in almost suddenly taking the cozy neighborhood from a winter wonderland to the warm sunny days. Tight little jogging bodies crisscrossed the sidewalk now that the subtly rising temperatures had made the need for multiple layers of warm clothing unnecessary. Sherri was pleased with the small changes and while she adored winter she could accept the mild warmth of the new season. It was on this particular day that winter was on the way out for Sherri, as rather than steamy hot tea she had opted for the chilling refreshment of iced black tea while she took her early afternoon rest.

She may have looked at peace as she sipped her drink and slowly dragged her fingertip over her phone screen completing a word teaser, but her tail eagerly swished behind her with a predator’s excitement as if she were waiting to pounce at any second. Her ears perked, she heard footsteps, the door opened, her head turned.

“Hey, Mom,” A chipper voice came out and Sherri saw a perky nineteen year old pop through the door and drop a couple of baskets of laundry in the hallway before quickly angling to make his way upstairs. “Laundry’s down there, can’t talk though, guys are gonna do a big gaming party for the weekend-“

“Aaron!” Sherri barked to stop him in his tracks, his head sharply turning and biting on his lower lip. He knew he wouldn’t get away with something like that. “Come here.”