"Well, goodness me,"said Miss Wetherspoon, as the cat nestled in Alison's arms and stretched its neck to lick her face. "I've never seen her do that with anyone but June. She must like you."
"I'm Alison Metcalfe,"Alison said, laughing as the cat's rough tongue tickled her cheek. "I work with Miss Blacker."
"Ah, you're a teacher at Graystones. I expect that's it. You probably smell like June. Chalk dust and so forth, don't you know."
At this Alison did burst out into laughter. "Well, I don't know about that, but it's very nice to be given such a welcome."She smiled down at the little cat. "What's she called?"
"Jessica,"said Miss Wetherspoon, with a slight grunt of disapproval. "Rather fanciful name for a cat if you ask me."
"Oh, I don't know,"said Alison, quick to counter any possible
