title: The Truth About Cats: Notes From The Feline Underbelly
author: Ms. Molly J Brandenburg
description: Molly Brandenburg is a writer, cartoonist, comedy performer and singer. Her cartoons have been published in newspapers and magazines, as well as the political website RestoringTruthiness.org. Her first book of cartoons, EVERYDAY CAT EXCUSES was published in 2008 by Sterling Books. When not drawing cartoons, Ms. Brandenburg performs as comedy lounge singer Miss Peggy Judy, who can be seen at PeggyJudy.com. Molly lives in Los Angeles with her daughter, Emma, and their three cats, Frank, Ava and Angel.
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  For James Proimos 
  
   
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  PART I 
  "THE TRIBUTES" 
  
   
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  When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fin-
  gers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the 
  rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad 
  dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. 
  This is the day of the reaping. 
  I prop myself up on one elbow. There’s enough light in the 
  bedroom to see them. My little sister, Prim, curled up on her 
  side, cocooned in my mother’s body, their cheeks pressed to-
  gether. In sleep, my mother looks younger, still worn but not 
  so beaten-down. Prim’s face is as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely 
  as the primrose for which she was named. My mother was 
  very beautiful once, too. Or so they tell me. 
  Sitting at Prim’s knees, guarding her, is the world’s ugliest 
  cat. Mashed-in nose, half of one ear missing, eyes the color of 
  rotting squash. Prim named him Buttercup, insisting that his 
  muddy