Chapter One

Opening the fridge, coolness settled into the air in front of me. Scanning the high and low shelves filled with an unnecessarily amount of organic products, I pushed tubs of different fruit out of my way.
“Do we have any blue berries?” I asked shoving a carton of soy milk out of my way.
I heard her little feet tap into the kitchen, “Lowest shelf, Maya.” Kneeling down, I followed her direction and spotted the small circles behind a bottle of ketchup. Walking away, I left the door fall close on its own.
Circling around the marble counter, I took a seat at one of the stools. Peeling the blue cover from the suction body, I spotted Feah watching me over her newspaper. “What?” I questioned popping a berry into my mouth.
The flesh broke at my teeth; the detectable blue kiss cold and soft to the touch of my tongue, a lot like its sweet mushy taste.
Setting the paper down in front of her, she shook her head. “Nothing, nothing,” her thick Bristol accent denied. She watched me a lot, it was one of those creepy things she did sometimes. Looking away from her tiny blond figure, I stared down at my endless amount of blue kisses.
Rolling a few between my fingers I pushed them past my lips. The sound of the door click shut, made me force the berries down quickly not bothering to admire their taste.
“Dad?” I called at the rattle of his keys.
“Yes?” I heard him say. Not a second later, he walked in from the end of the hall, to stand in the threshold of the kitchen.
Smiling, I reached into my pocket for the folded up paper I had received today. “I got my-“
A chiding finger from his hand pointed up at his blue tooth hooked at his ear. Sighing, I ran my hands along the creases of the paper. Another business call? I thought with a hint of annoyance. He left the office, why was there more to take care of? Weren’t his working hours up for today? Intently and impatiently, I watched him reply back to the voice a few times.
“Wendy,” he said probably ignoring or interrupting her, “Wendy, just move her appointment up an hour or something. Your job isn’t mine, do yours and I’ll do mine.” Dad could be harsh, actually, Dad was harsh a lot, but you just had to live with it. He was the kind of person who did what he said, not said he’d do something and work at it, he did it right away, always perfect the first time.

hi, i’m italian…who can help to make me a summary about this chapter of "the mysteries of Udolpho" by Ann Radcliffe….not very long, thanks! kisses:

chapter 26: ‘Up this stair-case the Signora lies,’ said Barnardine.

‘Lies!’ repeated Emily faintly, as she began to ascend.

‘She lies in the upper chamber,’ said Barnardine.

As they passed up, the wind, which poured through the narrow cavities in the wall, made the torch flare, and it threw a stronger gleam upon the grim and sallow countenance of Barnardine, and discovered more fully the desolation of the place—the rough stone walls, the spiral stairs, black with age, and a suit of antient armour, with an iron visor, that hung upon the walls, and appeared a trophy of some former victory.

Having reached a landing-place, ‘You may wait here, lady,’ said he, applying a key to the door of a chamber, ‘while I go up, and tell the Signora you are coming.’

‘That ceremony is unnecessary,’ replied Emily, ‘my aunt will rejoice to see me.’

‘I am not so sure of that,’ said Barnardine, pointing to the room he had opened: ‘Come in here, lady, while I step up.’

Emily, surprised and somewhat shocked, did not dare to oppose him further, but, as he was turning away with the torch, desired he would not leave her in darkness. He looked around, and, observing a tripod lamp, that stood on the stairs, lighted and gave it to Emily, who stepped forward into a large old chamber, and he closed the door. As she listened anxiously to his departing steps, she thought he descended, instead of ascending, the stairs; but the gusts of wind, that whistled round the portal, would not allow her to hear distinctly any other sound. Still, however, she listened, and, perceiving no step in the room above, where he had affirmed Madame Montoni to be, her anxiety increased, though she considered, that the thickness of the floor in this strong building might prevent any sound reaching her from the upper chamber. The next moment, in a pause of the wind, she distinguished Barnardine’s step descending to the court, and then thought she heard his voice; but, the rising gust again overcoming other sounds, Emily, to be certain on this point, moved softly to the door, which, on attempting to open it, she discovered was fastened. All the horrid apprehensions, that had lately assailed her, returned at this instant with redoubled force, and no longer appeared like the exaggerations of a timid spirit, but seemed to have been sent to warn her of her fate. She now did not doubt, that Madame Montoni had been murdered, perhaps in this very chamber; or that she herself was brought hither for the same purpose. The countenance, the manners and the recollected words of Barnardine, when he had spoken of her aunt, confirmed her worst fears. For some moments, she was incapable of considering of any means, by which she might attempt an escape. Still she listened, but heard footsteps neither on the stairs, or in the room above; she thought, however, that she again distinguished Barnardine’s voice below, and went to a grated window, that opened upon the court, to enquire further. Here, she plainly heard his hoarse accents, mingling with the blast, that swept by, but they were lost again so quickly, that their meaning could not be interpreted; and then the light of a torch, which seemed to issue from the portal below, flashed across the court, and the long shadow of a man, who was under the arch-way, appeared upon the pavement. Emily, from the hugeness of this sudden portrait, concluded it to be that of Barnardine; but other deep tones, which passed in the wind, soon convinced her he was not alone, and that his companion was not a person very liable to pity.

When her spirits had overcome the first shock of her situation, she held up the lamp to examine, if the chamber afforded a possibility of an escape. It was a spacious room, whose walls, wainscoted with rough oak, shewed no casement but the grated one, which Emily had left, and no other door than that, by which she had entered. The feeble rays of the lamp, however, did not allow her to see at once its full extent; she perceived no furniture, except, indeed, an iron chair, fastened in the centre of the chamber, immediately over which, depending on a chain from the ceiling, hung an iron ring. Having gazed upon these, for some time, with wonder and horror, she next observed iron bars below, made for the purpose of confining the feet, and on the arms of the chair were rings of the same metal. As she continued to survey them, she concluded, that they were instruments of torture, and it struck her, that some poor wretch had once been fastened in this chair, and had there been starved to death. She was chilled by the thought; but, what was her agony, when, in the next moment, it occurred to her, that her aunt might have been one of these victims, and that she herself might be the next! An acute pain seized her head, she was scarcely able to h

My 3 year old male (neutered) persian cat is acting odd. He slept in the basement alone for about two hours this morning while I was upstairs. Usually he stays where I can see him, so I went downstairs to check on him. He kept on sleeping when I picked him up, which he usually doesn’t do. I brought him upstairs so I could keep an eye on him. He walked over to his food and water bowls and looked between the two for about 30 seconds before finally taking a few sips of water. Then he very slowly hopped into one of the barstools and meowed pathetically. I petted him and he gave me a lot of "kitty kisses" (his tongue feels normal). His eyes were watering profusely yesterday and he recently started having dandruff on his lower back area. While he was asleep I turned him over and felt his belly, which feels sort of "full" if that makes sense.
Two days ago he had quite a bit of milk. I was eating some Kashi Blueberry cereal and set the bowl down on the floor. It had milk and some
cereal in it. I don’t think he ate any of the cereal but he drank quite a bit of milk.
He is also walking strangely. I can’t really describe what’s wrong with his walk, but about a year ago his back (left I think) leg was inflamed and he had to take a pink antibiotic.
Does anyone know what could be wrong? Am I just overreacting to a normally active cat’s sleepiness?
I just looked at him again and he has some brown wax in his ears. I don’t think it’s an abnormal amount, but I don’t clean his ears that often so I really don’t know.
I just cleaned his litterbox and there were three "pee pads" in it, but no poop. I cleaned it yesterday at 12:00 and there was both #1 and #2 in it (but nothing abnormal). He sat in the car for about 2.5 hours yesterday (he is used to doing this and it was cool outside and he had water).
He just ate some food and is heading down to the basement (where his litterbox is) so I will update in just a second if he goes #2.
Yes, he went #2, which is something of a relief.
I think he is ok now. He is hyper and running around like he usually does. I guess he just had an upset tummy and after he pooped he was OK. However, if anyone else’s cat has gone through something similar, I’d love your input.