“Do you like my new cat?” Andrea asked when Jamal walked in the door after a hard day’s work.

“You got a new cat?” Jamal asked in disgust.

“Yes,” said Andrea.  “Isn’t he cute?”

Jamal looked around and then asked, “Which one is he?”

“He’s...” replied Andrea, and then after a pause, continued, “I’m really not sure.  But you’ll just love his name.”

Jamal moved over to the liquor cabinet and started rummaging through the empty bottles.  “Oh, I’m sure I will,” he stated, with just a touch of sarcasm.

It wasn’t clear if Andrea ignored Jamal’s sarcasm, or just wasn’t aware.  Said Andrea, “I call him 48.”

“Forty-eight?” Jamal wondered.

“Well, silly,” quipped Andrea, “he is number 48, after all.”

“Where’s all my liquor!” Jamal finally demanded, after making certain that the cabinet really was void of any spirits, except, perhaps, for the spirits of the empty bottles that had not yet followed the light into the next world, where many thirsty parishioners were eagerly awaiting their arrival.

“Oh,” said Andrea, “that would be Bobo and Leander.  They do so dislike milk.”  And then, she added, “Where are you going?”

“Out!” snapped Jamal as he picked up his coat.  “I’m going to the Cat and the Fiddle for a drink!”  And with that, he grabbed his hat and headed for the door.

“Wait for us,” said Andrea, “the cats do so love to get out.  We can take the van.”

But Jamal never heard Andrea, for he was already gone.  She stood there sadly for a moment, and was only distracted when Bobo rubbed against her legs.  He then looked up at her and inquired, “Well, are we going or not?”