Why do birds sing out of tune?

[alasanon]

My cat's whiskers are twitching gently. She is sleeping on my laptop, basking in warmth and proximity to her chosen human. From time to time she wakes, just enough to open one eye and see that I'm still present, still near, typing away in these ugly hours that belong to no one. There is pencil lead on my hands. I am cold, but too lazy to shut the door.

Summer is waning, though the days are still warm and long. Leaves are drifting in the gutters and swirling in surreptitious gusts. Soon enough, the rain will render them so much mush to slog through. But not yet.

Not yet.