the grey duplo cat behind the couch

i would have been about two at the time

one of those memories that sticks around

for no apparent reason to a grown mind

but something important to a small girl

it must have been the last summer

that my family still functioned as such

i was experiencing blisters for the first time

my heels had been rubbing the backs

of my red shoes and making small wounds

mum told me to stop picking them

i don't know where dad was

i travelled through the lounge room

across the whole world as far as i was concerned

to see my favourite toy on the ground

my little grey cat lying under the grey couch

she had dark stripes on her back

and big paws stuck together by plastic

no one else remembers her

i don't know if i told anyone where she was

that was the last time i saw her

it will always be the last time i saw her