*Standing outside the door to the "Catpin" universe, I subconsciously straighten my outfit and take a deep breath before opening the door and stepping back inside*
Hey y'all... how've ya been? 
“Bye Clarissa!” I call out from the curb. My little girl waves back at me. Her tiny face, braided hair and bright pink backpack stream past me through the window as the school bus rumbles away, leaving me standing alone on the suburban street. I breathe in the crisp autumn air. Finally, peace and silence on my day off from the ICU.
Inside, I pour myself a steaming mug of coffee and carry it out to the back patio. I settle into my favorite wicker chair and savor the moment. My fenced in backyard feels like an oasis. The century plant is doing great. I just know it will bloom soon. The potted mums blaze orange and gold. A pair of cardinals chirp from a branch of the big oak tree. Below, a plump squirrel runs along the fence with an acorn. It’s all so serene. What shall I do today? Maybe I’ll finally finish the novel that’s been on my nightstand for weeks. Or take a long soothing bath. Or work on the herb garden I’ve been neglecting.
And then it occurs to me. Perhaps I should reach out to Kelli. I haven’t seen or spoken to her for ages. Not since she beat that tough Chinese woman at Billy’s. It’s so hard to stay in touch. We are both super busy working moms buried in our commitments. I miss Kelli. I love her wit, her sassiness, her perky personality. I have so much to tell her. I will tell her how I crushed Pritha in her own house in front of her husband. Then there was that issue with Calvin. I still can’t believe I asked him for a fuck. I felt embarrassed for days to see him at work. Fortunately, he’s the most chill person on the planet. Now we laugh about it. Kelli will understand. She knows how horny women can get after winning a fight. I wonder if Kelli knows about Tom’s new girlfriend Jeanne. Yes, I should get in contact with her.
As I pick up my cellphone, it buzzes in my hand and lights up with a screen notification. It’s a text…from Kelli!
“Hey y’all…how’ve ya been?
“
Wow! It’s her! What a coincidence! This is almost eerie. I have so much to tell her.
