Shamballie: “Momma Eldora?”
Eldora: “Yes, Shamballie?”
Shamballie: “I is sorry I bite-ed you.”
Eldora: “I’m sorry I rubbed your belly. I didn’t know. I won’t do that again.”
Shamballie: “I haz a question for you.”
Eldora: “Go ahead and ask it, then.”
Shamballie: “Is it true a new year is about to be?”
Eldora: “Yes, it’s true. It’s a time for changes for the better, they say.”
Shamballie: “Well, being with you is a good change?”
Eldora: “It is for me. How is it for you?”
Shamballie: “Well, I haz always liked to be outside except when my girlfriend, Miss Beth, would be here.. But, there’s something about you that makes me want to be near you and protect you.”
Eldora: “Funny, I was thinking I was protecting you.”
Shamballie: “Is being in here with you making you happy? I is more happy than I have ever been.”
Eldora: “It makes me very happy, too. You are good company.”
Shamballie: “Is that why I am allowed on the table with you when you has breakfast? I don’t know any other cats allowed to do that.”
Eldora: “Well, I tell the others including my daughter to just let you be. She’s the one always saying the cats have to be allowed to be who they are. She needs to take her own advice. Would you like another piece of bacon?”
Shamballie: “Well, if you insist, yes, I would love another piece of bacon. We just won’t tell Momma Jacci about it, okay?”
Eldora: “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Here you go, Shamballie. Eat up!”
