my best sleep-buddy

i lay on the verge of sleep, thinking of something wildly out of the ordinary. just letting my mind wander and take its senseless turnings before sleep.

kai was the only one of the three in my room; he curled into the space where my lap might be, if i were not horizontal and on my side. purring and purring and putting his lips to my hand every now and then for that satisfying rub.

suddenly he stopped purring and in the dark i felt more than saw his tiny head dart from side to side. it scared the bejeezus out of me. what was it? how big was it?! and then i heard it: the horrible spine-shrinking whine of a mosquito

i held myself back from jumping up and turning the light on. i'd probably never find it. how hard it was to accept her bite! it's only today- three days later- that i began to itch. four red raised welts have appeared all up and down my left arm. ick. but if i'd jumped up, my little purrball would have leapt up too, and he's my best sleep-buddy.