Kathryn
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She never knew what got them laughing, but joy was with them two weeks later when they all sat at the table playing cards. Sophia, never far away, batted aluminum foil balls at their feet and then scurried and scampered and tumbled out from under the table. Perhaps that was what started it. Sophia’s goofy furriness. Her big eyes and the tufts of white fur that grew from the tips of her ears, like a cross between a lynx and an old man.
They laughed until they had no breath.
Until they had tears streaming down their cheeks.
Until their sides hurt.
Until Heather started coughing again.
The respiratory infection had finally cleared up but, at any rate, Kathryn got up from the table and started preparing more hot water.
Heather was back on those magical herbs. Kathryn had sou
