1.Step,Step,Roar 　　Alittleboywalkeddowntheaisleatawedding.Ashemadehiswaytothefront,hewouldtaketwosteps,thenstop,andturntothecrowd,alternatingbetweenthebride’ssideandthegroom’sside.Whilefacingthecrowd,hewouldputhishandsuplikeclawsandroar.Andsoitwent--step,step,ROAR,step,step,ROAR--allthewaydowntheaisle. 　　Asyoucanimagine,thecrowdwasneartearsfromlaughingsohardbythetimehereachedthepulpit.Thelittleboy,however,wasgettingmoreandmoredistressedfromallthelaughing,andhewasneartearsbythetimehereachedthepulpit. 　　Whenaskedwhathewasdoing,thechildsniffedbackhistearsandsaid,“Iwasbeingtheringbear.” 　　2.Step,Step,Roar 　　Alittleboywalkeddowntheaisleatawedding.Ashemadehiswaytothefront,hewouldtaketwosteps,thenstop,andturntothecrowd,alternatingbetweenthebride’ssideandthegroom’sside.Whilefacingthecrowd,hewouldputhishandsuplikeclawsandroar.Andsoitwent--step,step,ROAR,step,step,ROAR--allthewaydowntheaisle. 　　Asyoucanimagine,thecrowdwasneartearsfromlaughingsohardbythetimehereachedthepulpit.Thelittleboy,however,wasgettingmoreandmoredistressedfromallthelaughing,andhewasneartearsbythetimehereachedthepulpit. 　　Whenaskedwhathewasdoing,thechildsniffedbackhistearsandsaid,“Iwasbeingtheringbear.” 　　3.TheCatLady 　　Ihavelivedinmyneighborhoodfortwentyyears.ItseemstomethatI’vespentatleasttenofthoseyearslookingforalostpet,eithermineoroneI’dseenlistedinthenewspaper’slost-petcolumn. 　　Recently,Iwasatitagain,goingdoor-to-doorlookingforoneofmyownlostkitties,alittleblackcatnamedNicholaswho’dslippedoutthedoorbeforeIcouldstophim.Imademyrounds,visitingwithalltheneighbors,describingNicholas.Familiarwiththisroutine,everyonepromisedtokeepaneyeoutandcallmeiftheyspottedhim. 　　Twoblocksfrommyhouse,Inoticedagentlemanrakingleavesintheyardofahomethathadrecentlybeensold.IintroducedmyselfandpresentedmynewneighborwiththeplightofthemissingNicholas,askingifhehadseenhim. 　　“No,”hereplied,“I’venotseenalittleblackkittyaroundhere.”Hethoughtforamoment,lookedatmeandsaid,“ButIknowwhoyoushouldask.Severalofmyneighborshavetoldmethatthere’sawomanintheneighborhoodwho’scrazyaboutcats.Theysaysheknowseverycataroundhere,probablyhasdozensherself.Theycallher‘TheCatLady.’Besuretocheckwithher.” 　　“Oh,thankyou,”Isaideagerly.“Doyouknowwhereshelives?” 　　Hepointedafingerdownthestreet,“It’sthatone.” 　　Ifollowedhisfingerandstartedtolaugh. 　　Hewaspointingatmyhouse! 　　4.SheToldMeItWasOkaytoCry 　　Isawherlastnightforthefirsttimeinyears.Shewasmiserable.Shehadbleachedherhair,tryingtohideitstruecolor,justasherroughfronthidherdeepunhappiness.Sheneededtotalk,sowewentforawalk.WhileIthoughtaboutmyfuture,thecollegeapplicationsthathadrecentlyarrived,shethoughtaboutherpast,thehomeshehadrecentlyleft.Thenshespoke.Shetoldmeaboutherlove--andIsawadependentrelationshipwithadominatingman.Shetoldmeaboutthedrugs--andIsawthattheywereherescape.Shetoldmeabouthergoals--andIsawunrealisticmaterialdreams.Shetoldmesheneededafriend--a