“Who’s She?” demanded Nurse. “She’s the cat’s mother.”
“Mother! Mother!” he wailed. “She always goes away from Michael.”
“And no wonder,” said Nurse. “Dear, dear! Yes—tut-tut!—but goodness gracious, she won’t be gone long. She’ll be back in June.”
“What’s June?” Michael asked.
“If you ask any more silly questions you’ll go to bed, young man; but if you’re a good boy, I’ll tell you a story.”
“A real story? A nice long story?” asked Michael.
“I’ll tell you a story about Jack o’ my Nory
And now my story’s begun.
I’ll tell you another about Jack and his brother
And now my story’s done.”
Nurse twiddled her thumbs with a complacent look, as she smacked her palate upon the final line.
“That isn’t a story,” said Michael sullenly. “When will mother be back?”
“In June. That’s enough,” said Nurse.