Cleo

Acknowledgments

Every kitten belongs to a litter. Likewise, Cleo’s story would never have been born without help from many wonderful people. I’d like to thank Catherine Drayton at InkWell and Amy Pyle, Laurie Parkin, Michaela Hamilton, and the magnificent team at Citadel for embracing Cleo with such enthusiasm. Thanks, too, to Louise Thurtell and Jude McGee in Sydney, who believed in our cat story from the beginning. They provided me with unwavering support through various forms of self-doubt and an unexpected health hiccup while I was writing the book.

A purr to U.S. friends Helen Trammell, Faith Kaiser and Sarah Heineken, who discovered my stories on the Internet and sent generous reassurance that people laugh and cry about the same things whatever part of the world they live in.

Huge thanks to Roderick and Gillian Deane, who encouraged me to write about Cleo in the first place. And to Douglas Drury for providing soothing lunches during what seemed, to a superficial 500-word-story journalist, long months of writing. Julie Wentworth, the world’s best yoga teacher, deserves a salute for her flowers and phone calls, which arrived just when they were needed. As does Sarah Wood for regular laughs over cups of coffee, along with Heather and Mano Thevathasan for countless acts of kindness. Big hugs to my sister Mary for her loving care during my recovery.

Thanks from the depths of my heart to Philip, Rob, Lydia, Katharine, Chantelle and Steve for allowing me to share my version of our story with the world. Given the chance to write from their personal perspectives, there’s no doubt each tale would unfold differently. Their trust and generosity is boundless. An extra high five goes to Philip and Katharine for taking over cooking, shopping and laundry duties, and to Lydia for her heavenly massages.

The deepest bow is for Cleo, who loved us with all her heart for so long.

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