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ôEasier said than done. You should have seen her this morning, Max. She was devastated. And gossip is such a hard thing to fight, you know. ItÆs ephemeral.ö

I cast an admiring look at my friend.ôVery perceptive,ö I said.

ôI heard it from Marge. She used it to describe the general atmosphere in town right now. Said plenty of people have been gossiping behind her back, too. About Tex being on that list of cheaters.ö

ôYeah, but he explained that, didnÆt he?ö

ôI know, but who cares about the truth? People still talk, calling him a cheat, and Marge his poor victim, and freely speculating about their impending divorce.ö

ôIt will all die down soon enough,ö I said. ôWhen the next big thing hits this town Valina Fawn and her site will be all but forgotten, and so will TexÆs so-called infidelity.ö

ôEven Odelia is having trouble. You should hear the kinds of things people are saying about her. Pregnant and with a cheat for a husband. ItÆs not pretty, Max. Not pretty at all.ö

ôBut he wasnÆt even on the list. Someone simply used his name and likeness.ö

ôTell that to the gossipers. TheyÆre a hardy bunch. And they donÆt care about a silly little thing like the truth.ö

We both studied Harriet for a moment, then I said,ôSo maybe IÆll have that chat now.ö

ôYou think thatÆs a good idea?ö

ôItÆs not going to get any better, is it?ö

ôItÆs only going to get worse,ö he said resignedly.

ôYou better leave us, Brutus.ö

He gave me a grateful smile.ôThanks, Max. YouÆre a true friend. In fact,ö he added after a moment, ôyou and Dooley are probably the only friends we haveùthe rest are all backstabbers.ö And after expressing this harsh view, he slipped out through the pet flap and was gone.

So I took a deep breath and strode up to Harriet. After a silent whisper into DooleyÆs ear had dispatched him as well, it was just me and Harriet.

ôItÆs a hard life, isnÆt it, Max?ö she asked. ôTough, if you see what I mean.ö

ôIÆm sure it will all settle down soon enough,ö I said. ôCats are like people, Harriet. They like to latch onto the latest drama, but they also forget easily. Tomorrow there will be something new to gossip about, and your little predicament will be yesterdayÆs news.ö

ôI donÆt care. They said some nasty things behind my back, Max, and IÆve seen them for what they really are: a bunch of nasty gossips. You, Brutus and Dooley are the only true friends I have, and frankly I donÆt need anyone else. So from now on I wonÆt stray past this house and the backyard, and thatÆs fine by me. IÆll be little miss homebody from now on. Queen of my own domain.ö She gave me a brave smile. ôIÆm sure IÆll be perfectly happy.ö

ôYou wonÆt be happy,ö I said. ôYou canÆt be happy unless you can shine. And in order to shine you need an audience. You know that, Harriet. YouÆre a star, not a homebody.ö

ôI am a star, arenÆt I?ö she murmured. ôA star without an audience. Because my audience has turned against me.ö

ôThey havenÆt turned against you. On the contrary. They think you handled that whole business with Jack with grace and poise and thatje-ne-sais-quoi only a true star possesses.ö

She drew a tiny wrinkle across her brow.ôYou really think so?ö

ôOf course! Look, what is gossip other than admiration tinged with a touch of jealousy? These cats all admire you, Harriet. I mean, who else but you has ever been serenaded by a bird, of all species! Who else inspires such unbridled devotion?ö

ôKeep going,ö she murmured, having closed her eyes as she took in these words.

ôPeople donÆt just gossip about anyone, you know. They only gossip about the people they secretly or not-so-secretly envy. Deep down every cat in Hampton Cove looks up to you. They either aspire to be like you, or to be near you. ItÆs the fate of every diva. Look at Meryl Streep, or Oprah Winfrey. Or even Beyonc? or Taylor Swift. The things people say about themùall because these people are the brightest stars on our firmament.ö

ôAre you saying IÆm such a star, Max?ö she asked, her eyes brimming with tears now.

ôThatÆs exactly what IÆm saying. YouÆre Hampton CoveÆs biggest star, Harriet. And stars like you catch a lot of flak and attract ridicule. But they are also loved and admired by all.ö

ôOh, Max,ö she said, her chest heaving and falling rapidly. ôCould you be right?ö

ôYou know IÆm right. Now go out there and shine, bright star. Light up that stage.ö

ôThank you, Max,ö she said fervently. ôI guess I lost faith there for a moment. Faith in my own abilities. ItÆs something that happens sometimes to us special ones, you know.ö

ôI know, Harriet,ö I said with an encouraging smile. ôOf course I know.ö

And I watched her glide to the floor with one graceful, fluid movement, then prance in the direction of the pet flap, her head held high, like a true feline princess, which she was. And she had just reached the pet flap when the flap flapped and a bird strutted through.

ôOh, Harriet!ö he cried. ôIÆve got another little poem prepared especially for you!ö