The snake looked from the little fuzzball cat that until a second ago I thought was named ‘Fluffy’, up to the medium-sized but still imposing dragon, and back again.

“Let me get this straight, Lucy. The cat saved you?â€?, he asked.

“Oh yes,â€?, interrupted the cat. “I had been visiting the Chinese store when I found these boys talking about a ‘dragon’ in a cave. I ran ahead of them and when I saw Lucy, I coughed up a hairball and plastered it to my head. Then I pretended to be dead. When they approached me, I suddenly stood up and walked toward them stiff-legged as though I were a dead zombie cat with my brains hanging out.â€?

The platform of the fire escape began to creak beneath us from the force of the dragon’s laughter. “It was great!â€?, she verified. “Those boys ran out of there so fast I wouldn’t have been able to catch them if I were flying!!â€?

I stood there, astonished at this hitherto unknown aspect of my cat’s character.

“Speaking of flying…â€?, said the snake.