[MaC] Separations: The Group in Vangie's flat (revised)

[Nowsounds]

>>>Esme was sitting huddled in a corner of the sofa, looking dazed.
>>>
>>>Sweetie cast a disparaging look around the room, stretched on the sofa, 
>>>rent the material on the arm a little with his claws, then jumped down, 
>>>sauntered over to Richard, bit him on the leg, and then headed for Vangie 
>>>and purred as he rubbed around her legs.  Clearly he too was a fan of her 
>>>cooking.
>>
>>She reached down, petted him and slipped him a treat.
>>
>>"I know I shouldn't," she said to the room in general, "but he does so 
>>like cake. Don't you, Sweetie?" On the last three words her voice took on 
>>the rich edge of impending baby-talk.
>
> Braham only just managed to keep from choking on the cake he was nibbling 
> on. "He seems a very intelligent cat. Almost human really." His behavior 
> demonstrated far more thought than Braham would have thought possible in 
> an animal. It was frightening to say the least. Of course it was also 
> immensely interesting. He would love a chance to study Sweetie though he 
> doubted it would ever happen. The endeavor seemed a bit too dangerous or 
> so thought the man who traveled across an ocean to study people in a war 
> ravaged country.

"He does have a vivid personality," Arabella said. "But he is devoted to 
Mrs. Evans, as you can see she is to him, and that speaks well of him. 
Sometimes the difficult are the most rewarding, if you can only find a point 
of entry..."