The camping trip was over.
Dragon Claw had flown the RV safely home.
The mountains were behind them.
The forest was behind them.
Now everything felt familiar again.
Home.
That evening, after dinner, Mom smiled.
“Story time!”
Five cats immediately looked up.
Even Lily opened one eye.
Dragon Claw poked his enormous head beside the RV window.
He was much too big to fit inside, but the window was the perfect place to listen.
Everyone gathered on Mom’s bed.
Chad curled up by her feet.
Agaricus beside him.
Echo sprawled across the blanket.
Che-Ni-Mon wrapped herself into the coziest blanket burrito imaginable.
Lily claimed the best pillow before anyone else could.
Dragon Claw rested his chin on the windowsill.
His giant wings folded comfortably outside.
Mom opened a big storybook.
“Tonight’s story…”
“…is about a family.”
The cats smiled.
“A family of five dogs.”
The kittens blinked.
“…Dogs?”
Mom nodded.
“They were all brothers and sisters.”
“There were three older dogs…”
“…and two little puppies.”
“They all lived…”
Mom smiled.
“…inside an RV with their Mom.”
The story began.
The two puppy dogs raced through the RV.
They jumped over pillows.
They slid across blankets.
They turned the couch into a pirate ship.
The kitchen became a castle.
The hallway became a racetrack.
Every five minutes they invented a brand-new game.
Chad couldn’t believe it.
“They’re so crazy!”
“They never stop running!”
said Agaricus.
“They’re making such a mess!”
Echo…
Che-Ni-Mon…
Lily…
…all slowly turned toward the kittens.
No one said a word.
Just…
Looked at them.
The room became very quiet.
Chad looked at Agaricus.
Agaricus looked at Chad.
Then both kittens realized.
“…Oh.”
“…”
“…Do we do that?”
asked Chad.
Echo couldn’t hold it anymore.
She burst into laughter.
“I was wondering how long it would take.”
Even Dragon Claw chuckled so hard the RV gave one tiny shake.
Mom smiled and continued reading.
“One of the older dogs had more energy than anyone had ever seen.”
“He ran in circles.”
“He chased butterflies.”
“He raced the wind.”
“He couldn’t sit still for more than three seconds.”
Echo’s ears perked up.
“I like him already.”
She scooted a little closer to Mom.
“He’s clearly the coolest.”
Mom turned the page.
“Another dog was afraid of almost everything.”
“Thunder.”
“Leaves.”
“His own hiccups.”
Che-Ni-Mon quietly raised one paw.
“…I understand.”
Everyone smiled.
Mom continued.
“The oldest dog loved quiet.”
“He wanted peaceful naps.”
“He sighed every time the puppies started another game.”
Every head…
Slowly…
Turned toward Lily.
Silence.
Then…
Everyone burst into laughter.
Except Lily.
She slowly looked at each of them.
One by one.
Her expression never changed.
The famous…
Lily stare.
“…”
“…I don’t see what’s funny.”
Nobody laughed any harder.
Mostly because they were trying very hard not to.
Mom smiled as she turned another page.
“And outside the RV…”
“…their best friend watched over them.”
“He was a unicorn.”
Dragon Claw blinked.
“A unicorn?”
“He was kind.”
“He protected the RV.”
“He always encouraged the puppies.”
“And whenever they were sad…”
“…he reminded them they were braver than they believed.”
Dragon Claw smiled.
“I like that unicorn.”
“So do I,” said Mom.
The story slowly came to its end.
“The puppies eventually became sleepy.”
“The energetic dog finally yawned.”
“The scared dog found a cozy blanket.”
“The grumpy old dog found the softest pillow.”
“The unicorn watched over the RV.”
“And their Mom tucked each one into bed.”
Mom slowly closed the book.
Then she looked around.
Without saying a word…
She gently scratched Chad behind the ears.
Then Agaricus.
She rubbed Echo’s head.
She tucked Che-Ni-Mon’s blanket around her just a little tighter.
She smiled at Lily, who pretended not to enjoy the extra-soft pillow.
Finally, Mom reached through the open window and gently rubbed Dragon Claw’s giant nose.
“Goodnight, my gentle giant.”
Dragon Claw smiled so warmly the stars seemed brighter.
One by one…
The kittens drifted to sleep.
Echo was still smiling about the energetic dog.
Che-Ni-Mon hugged her blanket just a little tighter.
Lily was already asleep…
Though she’d never admit it happened that quickly.
Dragon Claw quietly watched over the RV beneath the moonlight.
Mom looked around at her little family.
Cats.
Dragon.
Home.
She smiled.
“…My favorite story…”
she whispered,
“…is the one I’m living.”
🐱 Chad
🐱 Agaricus Bisporus
🐱 Echo
🐱 Che-Ni-Mon
🐱 Lily
🐉 Dragon Claw
💙 Mom
The End
🌙📖🐾
“Every family has its own story. The happiest ones are the stories where everyone belongs exactly as they are.” 💙✨
