She slowed as they
passed the brazen store display
the window flaunting all its wares
He saw her looking
gingerly touching with her eyes
the leather, slippery seal belly black,
the rings that hung, eager
(her imagination heard their silver tinkle)
and the stars that twinkled
an abundance of rhinestones studding
matching
the stars in a kitty's eyes
She looked and prayed
some day
those stars would drape
her narrow throat and slender wrists...
He caught her looking
and she bent her head to hide
behind her veil of tabby hair
cheeks flaming, shy
avoiding his curious eyes
afraid he might have seen the kitty
staring out from her inside
Demurely she continued on
her hand in his
and dreamed of stars
and one day letting kitty
out to live