caroworld

Harn and Hania took good care of Mia and spoiled her so that Mia grew into a plump, small, black cat.

Hania would not mention Lilia's name, because she hated being reminded of what her rash spell had done. So Mia did not know much about her mother or her brothers and sisters. She knew only what Harn and Hania told her as they pet her and whispered to her.

Because of Hania's work on that long first walk home to the camp, and because Mia was born an extraordinary cat, it did not take long before Mia could make sense of the beautiful words that fell on her sensitive ears.

So Mia grew into a smart cat. At night she listened to the stories told around the camp fires of Jazna and Lorn, two mighty ancestors of the Roma tribe. Jazna and Lorn had tricked and conned people and together had plotted to bewitch Jharmon, a greedy emperor, into giving Lorn his most prescious treasures. The plan went off smoothly until the very end, when an evil cat had foiled the two's escape by whispering to Jharmon of their secret plans. Jharmon sealed the fate of the two by branding them Gypsys, fated to roam the country begging from others and unwelcome everywhere. Mia was fascinated by this story, and she listened to its many variations again and again. The only part she didn't like was when the evil cat came into it.

Mia's life was busy and full. By day she would follow Harn as he hunted for rabbits or watch Hania as she begged from passing strangers or made braided ribbons into colorful rope belts. There was always something to play with, some hanging strip of golden thread or small jingling bell to attack.

But as she grew out of her kittenhood, Mia liked most of all to listen to Harn and Hania's mother, Rema, as she read passing traveler's their fortunes.

When the travelers would leave, some with smiling faces, and some with furrowed brows, Rema would count her shiny coins and pet Mia.

"Someday, Mia, I'll tell you your fortune. I can see already that it will be splendid, at least toward the end of it. But I can't see clearly just when the splendidness will start. First I see that it will be tough and miserable, isn't that too bad for our dear Mia? But after that...it's too bad I can't see it more clearly right now."

Mia would bow her head to fall asleep. As far as she was concerned, her life was just fine, and she had no interest in rushing into anything tough or miserable.