Away

"You were gone a long time,"  Girl Cat climbed into Camilia's arms and expected.
"No hello, glad to see you?"  Camilia was teasing, but she did like the licks on her hands.  The girl cuddled the cat and did her singy-talk while rocking back and forth on the steps.  Both girls like this, a lot.
"We went to the City, caught the ferry, and Bean drove the car for a very long time,"  Camilia talked and rocked.
"This is something you like doing, this being away?"  Girl Cat was thinking these things and in this place of cuddling and rocking, Camilia didn't need more than thoughts to hear the cat.
"Yeah, mostly we like being away ... for short trips."
"Short, long, how can you tell the difference?"  Cat time and Girl time aren't always the same thing even when the two girls were in the same place.
Camilia smiled, and thought about that.  Girl Cat didn't mind the waiting for thoughtfulness is time well-spent.  Camilia cuddled and stroked Girl Cat's belly and ears, the cat pushed harder into the rubs.
Finally, Camilia thought this might answer Girl Cat's question:
"When you go off from the tiny places alone, and we go into the sleeping place we don't see each other.  The sleeping place and the cooking place stay where they always are.  You are some where.   Bean and I say you're 'away', and then you rattle around on the rails while we're asleep and we know you're back."  Girl Cat continued to purr, and listened to the girl's words. 
"Girl Cat?"  Camelia asked.
"Yes,"  Girl Cat
"Is that a short time or a long time?" Camelia asked.
"Hmmmmm" said the cat.