AMIDST THE CATS' CRADLE - 1

C H A P T E R O N E - - - - G W E N

To put it mildly, Gwen was exhausted. The holidays had been long and exhausting, but her family was cheerful as usual—perhaps "overbearing" would be a better way to characterize them. It was also not especially pleasurable to wait in line at the busy Cebu airport after New Year's Eve.

When it was announced over the intercom that her aircraft to Laguna would be boarding shortly, she delicately squeezed the bridge of her nose and rubbed the thin skin.

Please God. She thought lightly, spreading her legs a bit, "I can't wait to be back in my own bed."