SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS

Some of my favorite times in the Library are when it is fairly peaceful and I have kids in here that I don’t see as often and there is time to just visit with them.

Most of the time Alex is part of that conversation if not the main topic.

Today, Alex was in his bed on the front desk, decked out not in a bandana but in the tie he got for Dress-up Day during Spirit Week. His last place trophy was prominently displayed close by.

One of my students stopped by the desk to hang out and asked if that was Alex’s Homecoming Parade trophy.

Assured that it was, (I didn’t have to mention last place; everyone knows that!) my student went on to tell me his idea to make sure Alex doesn’t end up in last place again.

“You know,” he said, “Alex can win next year if you dress him like a lion and put him high up on a throne. Let the hair on the end of his tail grow out and let the fur on his neck grow out into a ruff. If he does that and he wears his tie he will get lst place.” I bet he would, too!

My student went on to ask, “Did Big Footsie ever win a trophy?”

No, Footsie hadn’t.

“Then I bet he’d be proud of Alex and say that he taught him everything he knows.”

Big Footsie would no doubt be proud of Alex; all the rest of us are, too! Maybe I’ll go on and give him that second can of Fancy Feast he has been asking for all morning.