A girl and two cats, the three of them crouched under a large tree by the road in their residential complex, murmuring back and forth as if in conversation.
CLICK, CLACK, CLICK...
Xia Qing, wearing low-heeled sandals, was returning to the complex after buying a bag of salt. From a distance, she saw her daughter squatting in front of a black and a white cat.
She had often seen these two kittens in the morning when she went out to buy groceries. She'd also heard from other parents in the complex that they weren't residents' pets, but strays. They'd said the cats had terrible tempers and frequently fought with each other.
They had warned Xia Qing to keep a close eye on her child and not let her get near the two strays, lest she get scratched.
"Tongtong!" The thought that these two strays might scratch Tongtong made Xia Qing's heart leap into her throat. Anxious for her daughter's safety, she cried out and hurried toward her.
