Dottie Sat Down at the Old Piano. Marigold Joined Her on the Bench.
Sunlight spills through a lace curtain onto a well-worn upright piano, its lid open to show the hammers inside. Dottie sits with her silver braid over one shoulder and her fingers resting lightly on the keys, her face tilted toward them in concentration. Beside her on the bench, Marigold sits upright, orange, black and white fur fluffed, one white paw in front of the other, watching the music with big bright eyes. Plants line the shelf behind them and a basket of quilts waits in the corner.
Making music is a lovely hobby at any age. Playing an instrument keeps the fingers nimble and the mind busy, and many people find it relaxing. Cats are often curious about pianos, though they can be startled by sudden loud notes. A few simple precautions help: close the keyboard lid when no one is playing so a curious cat doesn't walk across the keys or get a paw pinched, and never let a cat climb inside an open upright piano. Soft, steady music tends to be better for sensitive feline ears than loud or sudden sounds, and many cats simply enjoy being near their person.
Marigold looks like the most devoted student in the room, though she has yet to practice a single scale. Dottie plays on, one note after another, and her faithful listener stays right where she is. The song goes on.
