The university library decided at the last minute to inform the housemate that oh yes, her books had to be returned by the end of the month, so we wound up making an unplanned extra evening trip to San Jose for me to stuff them in the box. Negotiating the downtown streets afterwards, we repeatedly passed and were passed by a woman in a black tunic and long dreadlocks, riding a skateboard fast and straight. When we got home, Mama Violet was waiting impatiently for her dinner. A kitten fled as the housemate got out of the car, but later we saw Monty and one of the tabbies sharing the wet food with Mom.

