Aunt Cathy decided to take a nap herself. She certainly wasn't going to join them on the coonhunt, but she really hoped for some good pickin' and singin' the next day. She hoped Louie remembered to bring his guitar.
    As Aunt Cathy napped, a revelation came to her in a dream. In the dream, she was standing at a podium in front of a crowd of people. She was telling a story. At first, people listened attentively. As she talked, she looked around the room. She wasn't sure, but she thought there were several other people there who knew parts of the story, maybe some parts of it that she didn't know. Sure enough, a few people occasionally arose and added their knowledge or perspective. The longer she talked, the more interested she herself got in the story. She didn't notice that she began to ramble. It took a longer while for her to notice that after the first bit, no one else was particularly interested. A few polite people watched her attentively and nodded occasionally or murmured polite encouragement. Then she realized that even they had fallen asleep.
    When Cathy awoke, she knew immediately that she was being a foolish old woman to think a story about Cassie and her, and life in the holler would interest anyone in the family but herself. They liked to hear tidbits of local and family history, but didn't have the time or inclination to listen to chapter and verse. "Well, if it matters to me, I can tell the story in my head, or write it in my diary."
    She went downstairs to start supper for the men. Wouldn't do to hunt and drink moonshine on empty stomachs.
    Louie arrived with his pup right at supper. The men ate hardily. After drinking several cups apiece of Aunt Kathy's good, strong coffee, they set out back up the mountain, dogs in tow, hip flasks filled with new moonshine. The moon hung high in a clear sky.
    Aunt CAthy cleaned up the kitchen then went out to sit on the porch. Mjolnir came and curled in her lap. They sat there for a long time, watching the moon and tracking the hunt by the beautiful bell-tones of the hounds in voice. Sitting there, rocking, they both fell asleep.

THE END