Ehehe, you'll see... If I gave it away now, that'd be a pretty poor story. [She clears her throat, then continues once again, looking up at the ceiling.]

“Joji,” the priest told him, “you must stop drawing all those cats! How will you ever be a priest?”

“I’m sorry, honorable sir. I’ll try to stop.” And he did try! But whenever Joji saw one of the temple cats go by, he forgot about his writing and drew another cat. That was bad enough, but then Joji started drawing on the folding screens of the temple! Soon there were cats on all the rice-paper panels... They were everywhere!

“Joji, you’ll never make a priest,” the priest told him sadly. “You’ll just have to go home.”

Joji went to his room and packed his things. But he was afraid to go home. He knew his father would be angry with him. Then, he remembered another temple in a village nearby. “Maybe I can stay with the priest there.” And Joji started out walking. It was already night when he got to the other village.

He climbed the steps to the temple and knocked. [She knocks her little fist against the wall, and then waits a few seconds in silence.] ...There was no answer. He opened the heavy door - creaaaak! It was all dark inside...

“That’s strange,” said Joji. “Why isn’t anyone here?”