She sat wordlessly in her chair.

Barely noticing that we were there.

Then,

She reached out with a single manicured nail,

Pink paint peeling,

And tentatively touched the poodle’s head.

.

There was a long pause, and then the air was filled with thousands of ringing silver bells,

Her mouth open,

Teeth having vacated their residence long ago.

Peels of laughter fell out.

And joy filled the world.