(Not So) Fresh Lullaby

The bed-sheet parachutes down, squeezing out a puff of freshly laundered lavender air. Purring comforts the darkness, lulling a singing cricket trio and their frog chorus to sleep. A tingle creeps to my nose, luring me to scratch it. Eventually, my hand rouses a single finger to softly brush my nose-tip. Wait, there's my finger and... a cool, smushy softness.

Instantly, my sleepyhead orders up a nimble reflex: Jerk head. This inserts finger and a doughy ball into my nostril, smearing the nasal cavity. Smearing? The stench of poop wafts to my brain. Each inhalation draws in the odor of digested Science Diet cat-food, so strongly I taste seafood and ocean whitefish. Primevally alert, I recoil from bed and hit the ground running. At the sink I hear myself cursing feline gastrointestinal tracts and the morsel my cat laid in bed. I jam soap up my snout—Relaxing Sandalwood & Myrrh, Citrus Fresh Dish Soap, and Softsoap Antibacterial—knowing they will never cleanse the memory.

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