Zoe according to Clare...
She loves cats—especially me!
But Clare! This is for an article for the Pan Historian. I just can’t say that Zoe loves cats. That is not enough.
Clare took a moment to groom her tail before looking at the younger cat and replying Isn’t the fact that she loves cats the most important thing about Zoe?
Well, yes, but I think Captain StarCastle and the rest of PanHistoria want to know a little more about her.
Clare stretched and then recited. She loves cats. She does not like snakes. She was not thrilled with shoveling snow—though why she just did not stay inside since there was enough cat food to feed us all, I really do not know. She is a quilter. She loves her garden, and is thrilled with all the beans she has this year since the woodchuck and his family took off for places unknown. Is that enough?
I think, Clare, that they want to know more about Zoe and PanHistoria. After all, this edition is a celebration of Pan’s first decade and Zoe was one of the founders. Can you tell me about Zoe and the site?
I am a founder as well! Why don’t they want to know about me? Too many humans around here and not enough cats!
A low growl issued from Clare's throat.
Daphne considered backing away and giving up on this interview, but Clare washed her face, sat up regally as only a Siamese can do, and began.
Zoe started over at Ancient Sites in the Thorikos section of Athens. It was a place for history quizzes and contests. No creative writing. Your human, Clio, hung out there as well, but that was before you were a gleam in your mother’s eye. When AS closed down, Zoe got an invitation to test out Pan from Sekhmet Meritamen; she came and lurked. What eventually kept her coming back to Pan over other cyber options was the creation of the reference books. For some strange reason, Zoe does not think of herself as a creative writer, although her posts in Athens totally contradict that notion. Of course, Daphne, I am more creative than she is, but then she is only human.
So when Zoe saw the reference books, she decided to become a founder?
Not only did my human become a founder, but she was soon made an editor and began to oversee the library. She was very happy puttering in the stacks, but Clio started to write regularly in Athens, and pretty soon, Zoe was dragged into writing. Zoe defended me from a horrible newcomer to Athens and then helped unmask a murderer. She went on to have other adventures—but she thinks too much before she posts. She should know that only cats can be perfect, so she should not try for perfection.
When Zoe started in the library, her quest for perfection led her to try to master the hodge-podge of code to make sense out of the library. She did so; and then came the Crash.
I remember the crash! Everyone was scattered to the four winds until they washed up in Pan’s Den. I know Clio was really happy to find Zoe and the others there in chat. They had a lot of fun there getting to know each other as more than characters.
Clare moved over to a more sunny spot, stretched out and began to tell Zoe tales again.
After the crash, Zoe with the help of Taniko, Sam Service, Captain StarCastle and others put the library back together again. She was really proud of all she had done, but in time, the Library disappeared. Zoe stepped back from her editorship. She still writes in some of the reference books and magazines, and promises that she might get back to Athens.
So should we say in the article that Zoe’s biggest contribution to Pan, other than being one of the founders was her work in the library?
Definitely NOT! Zoe must always be remembered for the Risen Phoenix Parade—this year is the Fifth Annual Risen Phoenix Parade celebrating our comeback from the great meltdown.
Wait, I think Clio asked her something about it… yes, here in these notes I shredded, Zoe said she had gotten the idea from the parades that Athens used to hold and the idea took hold for all of PanHistoria. Wasn’t there a parade in Athens that you rode on the mast of the..???
Never mind, Daphne. Now what are you going to say about Zoe in this article of yours? I am very protective of my human, you know. She does give me nice treats.
I will talk about Zoe the founder, the librarian, the editor, the gardener, the quilter and of course, the lover of cats who thinks that she really is not very interesting, but who we know and love here at PanHistoria.