Suna zipped her backpack and slipped the cat inside. She stepped outside. The wind tugged at her shirt.
In Istanbul, Suna pointed at a street sign. 'Merhaba,' she whispered. The cat batted at a loose letter on the ground.
The fishmonger smiled and nodded. 'Merhaba!' he called. The cat let out a soft mrrp.
In a Cappadocia village, Suna practiced at the bakery. 'Günaydın!' The baker laughed and handed her a simit.
The cat watched a flour cloud swirl in the sunlight. Suna took a bite of the simit. It was perfect.
In Antalya, Suna tried 'Nasılsın?' to children playing. The cat wove between their legs. One child giggled.
The child giggled and patted the cat. Suna's shoulders dropped and she smiled. She was doing it.
At the bazaar in Izmir, Suna spotted a girl with a kite shaped like the letter Ş.
Suna took a deep breath. 'Merhaba! Günaydın! Nasılsın!' she said, every greeting flowing out together.
The cat jumped onto a stall and knocked over a pile of Turkish delight boxes. Colors and sweets scattered everywhere!
Suna laughed. The girl with the kite smiled and held it out. 'Sen de biliyorsun!' she said.
Suna took the kite. The cat purred loudly and rubbed against her leg. It was the best day.
Back home, Suna set the kite by her window. The cat curled on her lap as the sun dipped.
She whispered 'Teşekkürler' to the quiet room. The cat stirred but did not wake.
Morning came. Suna opened the door. The cat stretched and trotted ahead into the bright new day.
'Merhaba!' Suna called to the neighborhood. The cat added a cheerful mrrp! And the day began.