The Cat That Loves Reading

We read aloud a lot at our house, up until Walter was 16 and William 12. We have a cat at home, a big white cat named Cody, that appears in some of my books. Cody loves reading! Whenever we sat down or stretched out on the big bed to read aloud together, Cody appeared from wherever he was in the house and climbed right in the middle of us, on our laps--he'd lay right on the book if we let him. One night, many years ago, when Cody joined us, I asked the boys how the cat knew we were reading, and what it was that he liked about it.

They had some answers like this:

"He knows we aren't acting rough when we're reading." And,"He knows there are laps to sleep on when we're reading."

I asked, "But how does he know when we're reading?"

They said, "He hears the sound of our voices and comes running."

I persisted. "But he hears our voices all the time."

"Oh," they said, "our reading voices are quiet and peaceful. When he hears that, he knows we're all together and cozy."

Then William said something I'll never forget. He said, "It's like people purring to each other."

Yeah. Reading aloud together is like people purring to each other! I wouldn't dare try to improve on that thought.

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