Laura was busy making a breakfast of frozen waffles when she heard a disturbance outside her apartment door.  Liz disappeared under the bed as Laura opened her door.

Demitri was sitting on the floor with a terrified look on his face.

Tomo was perched on Demitri's knees and was puffed out in kittenish ferocity.

Abby was standing at full height and looked torn between fierceness and laughter.

Laura looked at all three with questions written clearly on her face.

Demitri looked like he didn't want to be there.

Tomo wasn't talking. He settled down and watched every move Abby made.  Obviously he was leaving the situation up to Laura.

Abby was the first to speak: "I found this little Peeping Tom trying to spy on you."

"I was only trying to see Liz, but I couldn't see anything.  Honest!"

"Why do you want to see Liz?" Laura asked.

"I can't believe she's afraid of EVERYthing.  It doesn't make any sense. How could she open her eyes? Is she afraid of her food? Is she starving?"

"Ok, I did exaggerate.  She is afraid of cars, dogs, new places, new people, new smells. But you are right.  She isn't afraid of absolutely everything."

Abby raised her hand to her mouth in order to stiffle a laugh.  "I'll take care of your loyal denfender here and you can sneak a peek at Liz.  She is currently under the foot of the bed."  Laura wondered how Abby knew were Liz was.

Dimitri quickly dumped Tomo into Abby's arms and pelted full speed into the apartment and slid to the floor at the foot of the bed.

Laura was taken aback at this sudden invasion of her apartment.  She was thinking she should protest, but by the time she figured out she should, she was already too late.  She took a breath and gathered her thoughts.

"You lied Miss Laura.  She isn't afraid of me and I'm a new person."

"You must me special for her not to be afraid of you."

"It because I know that you have to wait for cats to come to you.  I read it in Opposum's Book of Practicle Cats.  Liz is definately a jellicle.  So is Tomo.  There is a cat that lives out back that is either Rum Tum Tugger or Macavity."

Curiosity satisfied, Demitri rolled onto his feet.  "I have to get ready for school.  Thank you for letting me visit your home. " Demitri bowed politely, collected his kitten from Abby, and headed down the hall to his own apartment.

Laura blinked a couple of times at the sudden change in mood.  Then she caught a look at the clock and realised she had better get moving.

It wasn't until she ran into her that she realised that Abby was still in the doorway.

"You don't stand up for yourself very much, do you Laura?"

Laura was slightly taken aback by this comment.  But before she could respond, Abby was already gone.

The comment bothered her all the way to work.

The big problem, she sighed to herself, is that it is absolutely true.  Last evening I was involved in a strange apartment picnic.  Today I was invaded by a small cossac.  I should have either invited hi in myself or told him that he should wait until after school.  I don't mind him coming to see Liz.  He obviously had a way with cats.  I should be th one in control.  I'm the adult. 

"I'm the adult," she said suddenly.  A couple of students on their way to school looked at her strangely.  Even out loud, Laura could not make herself belive it was true.  She had finished university, gotten herself a good job.  When did someone start feeling like an adult?

As always, her thought had occupied her until she reached work.

With new resolve to at least act like an adult, she headed over to Sara's desk to settle the matter of her time sheet.  Her resolve held until she went to open her mouth.

Unaware of Laura's inner termoil, Sara kept typing and didn't even notice when Laura crept back to her cubicle.