‘You’ve been giggling away for ages.’ ‘It is,’ Mrs Trifle said, wiping away her tears. ‘It’s a children’s book called Sylvia’s Secret. It’s about a cat that can talk but she’s keeping it a secret.’ Selby’s ears shot up. ‘It sounds a bit like those books about what’s-his-name, the talking dog,’ Dr Trifle said. ‘More than just a bit,’ Selby thought. ‘Sylvia’s Secret sounds exactly like the books about me!’ ‘Only this cat lives with the author and talks to her all the time,’ Mrs Trifle said. ‘That’s what she claims, anyway.’ ‘Hmmm,’ Dr Trifle hmmmed. ‘So why are you reading it?’ ‘Because the author of the book, Fiona Fullstop, has asked me to launch it.’ ‘Launch it? Will it float?’ ‘No, no — a launch is just a party they have when a book is published. This launch is going to be at the Bogusville Bijou Theatre and I’ve been asked to talk about the book.’ ‘I’ve never heard of the author.’ ‘She lives in the city, but she came to Bogusville once and loved it.
