The Christmas Cat Tails
Page 4
“Hello, Dar. It’s Liz, Sue’s mom. I thought you should know Chelsey offered to give her new cat to Sue today. With Ken being gone, I wanted to be sure she’s not giving him away and then wanting him back later when she’s feeling, well, better. I mean, we’ll take him if you’re giving him away.”
“No, we’re not giving Capone away. You’re right. Chelsey’s having a hard time since Ken’s death. I’m hoping she’ll warm up to Capone.”
“Fine, bye.” Liz hung up without waiting for Darla to say goodbye. Darla hung up the phone.
She called her daughter into the kitchen and explained that they were keeping Capone.
“He’s my cat. Dad gave him to me so I can do whatever I want with him, and I want to give him to Sue.”
“Don’t get that way with me, young lady. Capone’s a part of this family now so you better get used to having him here. Got it?”
Chelsey crossed her arms and went silent.
“Chelsey, do you get it? Chelsey?” Darla raised her voice to her daughter. “Do you get it?”
“Fine,” Chelsey said and stomped up to her room where she stayed until she got hungry.
Darla wanted Chelsey to love Capone but knew she some work ahead of her.
Chapter Nine
Good Friday came and went with Darla and Chelsey attending church as they had every year. Soon Easter Sunday arrived, and the Easter Bunny delivered gifts. Chelsey hunted around their home for her gifts. She found milk chocolate eggs, a white chocolate bunny, a DVD of Disney’s That Darn Cat.
“What is this?” Chelsey asked holding up the DVD.
“That Darn Cat. I loved that movie when I was a kid. Come on, let’s watch it,” Darla said with a smile.
“But it’s an old movie. I hate old movies.” Darla knew the real reason she didn’t want to watch it – because of the cat. Which is why Darla got it for her, hoping the cat would melt her heart.
“I’ll let you eat your chocolate bunny if you watch it with me.”
“Mmm – okay.”
Chelsey unwrapped the DVD and put it in the DVD player. She picked up her chocolate bunny and sat on the couch and opened the plastic bag holding the white treat. The DVD started automatically. Capone joined them, lying on the back of the couch.
They watched the previews and soon D.C. – Darn Cat – was on the screen. A Seal Point Siamese boy, D.C. stole the show.
“Aww, he’s so beautiful,” Darla said and looked over at her daughter who was watching and eating but gave no reaction. Darla laughed at D.C. trying to get some fish, and Chelsey smiled. Darla could tell her daughter – the cat hater – liked D.C. They laughed together when D.C. fought for the duck he stole. And the laughter kept coming.
For the entire movie, Capone slept and groomed himself on the back of the couch. Darla reached up and scratched him from time to time. The movie ended.
“What did you think? D.C.’s funny, isn’t he?”
“Yea and cute too.”
Darla smiled and said, “I got an Easter present for Capone.”
Darla got up and went into the kitchen and returned with a bag of green catnip. “Watch this.” She put some of the catnip on the carpet.
“Now put Capone down by the catnip.” Chelsey reached up to the back of the couch, picked up Capone, and put him on the rug by the catnip.
Capone sniffed and rolled onto the rug and into the catnip. He stretched his paws out and pushed his face into the floor. He got up and ran in a circle around the nip. And Chelsey laughed.
He ran out of the living room and back in with his back arched. He rotated his head around and rolled back into the catnip.
“That cat’s crazy,” Chelsey said and laughed some more.
Chapter Ten
- 1 -
It was 8am when Darla came into the kitchen and heard a talkative Capone meowing for his breakfast. Darla measured out a quarter cup of Cat Chow and poured it into his dish. Capone quickly ate his breakfast while Darla cleaned and refilled his water bowl.
“Sheesh, cat. It’s like you’re starving to death.” Capone loved to eat. It seemed he was always hungry. Capone finished his meal and spent a few minutes licking his chops.
Chelsey came into the kitchen, smelling of shampoo. She bent down and scratched Capone, and he leaned into her hand. She sat at the table to eat. Darla served her waffles and blueberries – her favorite breakfast. It was June 24th – six months since Ken died – and she didn’t want her daughter thinking about it.
Chelsey finished her breakfast. Darla didn’t feel like eating but ate anyway. After their meal, they got ready and were soon out the door to Webster Niblock School. Darla dropped Chelsey off and returned home. It was her day off, and she knew she would be thinking about her husband all day.
She turned on the t.v. and watched the morning news, hoping to take her mind off Ken. It didn’t work. She burst out into tears.
Capone came into the living room and hopped onto the couch. He put both front paws on her leg and stuck his face into her’s. She stopped crying, giving a little laugh. She gathered the cat into her arms and pushed her wet face into his soft fur. Capone purred. Darla felt better. Capone was a gift for daughter and mother.
- 2 -
After school, Chelsey went over to Sue’s house with her mother’s permission and on the condition she be home for supper. Darla figured Chelsey didn’t notice that six months had past since her dad was killed.
In the living room, sunshine pierced the window and made a warm glow on the carpet that Capone basked in. As the sunlight moved across the rug so did Capone, staying warm.
Chelsey arrived home a few minutes before Darla started making supper. She made one of her daughter’s favorites – teriyaki chicken wings, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and peaches and cream corn.
After supper, Chelsey asked to watch That Darn Cat again. Darla said, “Okay.” Soon they were laughing at D.C. again. When the movie was over, it was bedtime for Chelsey. She went upstairs, brushed her teeth, and changed into a nighty. She said a prayer, hoping God would help the sadness go away. Darla watched and listened at Chelsey’s bedroom doorway. Chelsey got into bed, and Darla tucked her in and said, “Good night,” with a kiss.
“Mom, why did Daddy have to die?”
“I don’t know, Honey.” Darla turned out the light. She started to close the door when Chelsey said, “No, leave it open. In case Capone wants to come in.”
“Okay.” Darla left the door slightly ajar.
Darla went downstairs and called her mother. They talked until Darla was ready for bed herself. Darla hung up the phone, turned off the lights, and went upstairs. She decided to check on Chelsey. She found her sleeping in the fetal position with her left arm around Capone. Darla went to bed happy.
Chapter Eleven
- 1 -
Chelsey’s tenth birthday came on September 14th. She expected a happy time and wasn’t disappointed. Several friends, including Sue, came to Chelsey’s birthday party. They brought gifts and got birthday cake, games, and Capone.
After some cake and Twister, the girls vacated the living room and went up to Chelsey’s bedroom, dragging Capone with them. They put Capone on the bed, scratching and petting him. He loved the attention. Chelsey and her friends joined Capone on the bed.
“He’s so cute,” Jill said. “What’s his name?”
“Capone,” said Chelsey.
“I thought you were gonna name him ‘Suits’?” Sue asked.
“No. I like Capone better. Suits him.” And the girls laughed.
“Does he do any tricks?” Jill asked.
“Cats don’t do tricks,” Sue said.
“Capone does,” Chelsey said, picking up Capone.
She put him on the floor and stood facing the black and white cat. Chelsey tapped her chest and said, “Up, Capone. Up, Capone.”
Capone looked up at her with a blank expression.
“Up, Capone.” She tapped her chest again. “I don’t know why he’s not doing –“
“Where did you get him?” Jill asked.
“I got him for Christmas. I wish I didn’t.”
“But he’s so beautiful,” Jill said. “Why wouldn’t you want him?”
“Cause her dad died,” Sue said.
A few moments of silence was followed by Jill saying, “I like Paul Jacobson.”
“Eww, gross,” Chelsey said.
The girls talked about other boys – who was cute and who wasn’t. And the giggling started.
They giggled and talked until each girl’s parents showed up and took them home. Sue was the last to leave, wishing her best friend a happy birthday.
- 2 -
Darla came out of the kitchen where she had been cleaning up after the cake and said good-bye to each girl as she left. When Sue was gone, Chelsey turned to her mother and hugged her saying, “Best party ever!”
Darla laughed and hugged her back. A few glowing moments later Darla said, “C’mon, let’s go finish cleaning the kitchen.”
They stepped into the kitchen and found Capone on the counter with his head in the icing bowl, licking the sweet stuff. Both of them laughed and said, “Capone!” together.
Darla clapped her hands together several times and said, “Get down. Cats should not have people food. Or be on the counter. Get down.” Capone ran off the counter, went to his food dish and meowed.
“Hungry kitty,” Chelsey said. “Can I feed him?”
“Yea.”
And Chelsey fed her cat, her Capone.
Chapter Twelve
- 1 -
It was mid-afternoon when Darla came into the house. She closed the front door, and leaned her back against the door.
“Oh, God,” she said. “How could they?”
She slammed her fist into the door. She slid down to the floor and slammed her hand several more times until it hurt. She sat on the floor and screamed a raging scream.
“How could they?”
She wanted to swear and curse them to Hell – especially her. Tears began to flow – angry, bitter tears. Just how much was Ken’s life worth?
After ten minutes, she let out a rumble from her throat and got up. She saw Capone hiding behind the couch, and she realized her banging and screaming frightened him. She took a deep breath and called her mother. She told her what happened. They spoke for 25 minutes with her mother reassuring her that it will work out. But Darla had doubts.
Darla hung up and started making supper. It would be an early meal, but she needed something to do to keep herself busy so she wouldn’t think about it. Chelsey would be home soon.
- 2 –
When Chelsey got home, her mother called her into the kitchen and hugged her longer than usual.
“I love you, Mom.”
She needed to hear that and decided to tell Chelsey after supper. The tuna casserole was ready 20 minutes later, and they ate. It was a good meal with ice cream and sundae sauce for dessert. Then they cleaned up. It was time to tell her daughter what happened.
Darla took Chelsey and sat her down on the couch. “I have to tell you something, Honey. I went to court today to see what would happen to the woman who killed your father. The defense and prosecutor made a deal that she would spend only three years in jail if she pled ‘guilty.’ Do you know what that means?”
Chelsey nodded, but Darla could tell she was a little confused.
“Because of our legal system, she only has to spend one-third of her sentence in prison. So she only got one whole year in jail.” Talking about it brought back the angry tears.
“Why? Why did they do that? She should be in jail forever. Her whole life,” Chelsey said through angry tears of her own.
“Murderers get life in prison. She was driving drunk and didn’t care who she hurt that night.” Darla took a breath and sighed. “It was her first offense, and she showed remorse so they let her get away with it.”
“She got away with murder,” Chelsey said. “I don’t like those people.”
“Drunk driving or murder. Ken’s still dead.”
They sat in silence and then hugged some more. After a while, Darla turned on the t.v. “Friends” was playing. It was an early episode. They watched it but didn’t laugh.
Darla got up and found Capone curled up on a kitchen table chair. She reached under the table and pulled him out and carried him out to the living room. She handed the Tuxedo Cat to her child who hugged and held him, burying her face into his fur. Something about Capone made them both feel better.
Chapter Thirteen
- 1 -
December 24th came and so did the worst ice storm in the small city’s history. The storm rained freezing drops early in the morning, coating everything from sidewalks to roads to power lines. Some power lines broke apart from the weight of the heavy ice coating and some were taken down by tree branches that broke off after being weighted down by the ice. Massive power outages resulted throughout Langston Falls. Luckily, Darla and Chelsey’s power stayed on keeping them warm as the temperatures outside dropped. The freezing rain stopped, and the snow started.
One year had past since Kenneth Ashton, loving husband and father, died.
- 2 -
Winds picked up in the afternoon, blowing the snow around, and causing high snowdrifts and whiteout conditions. Darla and Chelsey watched the snowstorm through their living room window and knew they were not able to go to Ken’s gravesite that day as planned.
Darla turned on the radio. “Heavy amounts of snow are expected overnight and into Christmas Day. The mayor and police are advising everyone to stay in their homes and only travel when absolutely necessary. We are expecting 12 to 25 inches of snow in some areas. If you can, hunker down where you are. The storm, which unexpectedly turned south into the city, is expected to clear late tomorrow morning, and then the clean up can begin. For those of you without power, city crews will be out restoring power as soon as possible, but it may take several days until all power is restored. Stay warm and safe,” the disc jockey said. Darla turned off the radio and put an Elvis Christmas CD into the player.
“Let’s decorate the tree,” she said.
They had bought and brought home a Christmas tree the day before.
“It’s a good tree,” Chelsey said, clapped her hands, and laughed.
They went downstairs and brought up the cardboard box of old decorations. “Blue Christmas” played. Capone watched them with his golden eyes wide as they unpacked the decorations. Soon, he was trying to play with the shiny ornaments. They laughed.
In a short time, the old decorations were on the tree with none on the lower branches.
“It’s missing something,” Darla said.
“What? The star is up on top. All the decorations are on the tree. Did we miss some?” Chelsey said and looked in the cardboard box.
Darla smiled and pulled out a bag from behind the couch and handed it to her daughter. Chelsey grabbed it and peered inside. She found new decorations – twelve white and purple ornaments.
“They’re beautiful,” Chelsey said. “Can we put them on the tree?” Darla nodded. Carefully, Chelsey hung each new glass ball on the green artificial tree.
The decorating was done, and the two ladies stood back and admired their work.
“It looks great,” Darla said.
“Dad would have loved it.”
They watched Capone approach and lay down on the skirt beneath the tree. And they smiled.
“He wants to be a Christmas present,” Chelsey said.
“He’s a gift alright.”
- 3 -
Dinnertime came, and they sat down to a chicken dinner. A small ham was waiting in the fridge for Christmas Day.
The weather was frigid and temperatures continued to drop. The snow came down heavily, stopping everything in Langston Falls. They were snowed in. Minus twenty was the
temperature outside when the power went out in the Ashton home. No power – no heat.
“Oh no,” Darla said when the lights went out. The sun was already down so it got dark in their home.
“I’m scared, Mom.”
A single light from an emergency flashlight lit the kitchen. Darla got some candles and set them alight. Knowing the power could be out for days, Darla and Chelsey got out extra blankets and brought the candles into the living room. They cuddled together on the couch under the blankets. It got cold fast, and Darla wished she had better insulation in her home.
To take their minds off the cold, mother and daughter talked about anything but the cold. Soon, the conversation turned to Capone.
“Where is he?” Chelsey asked and looked about but couldn’t see him.
“I’m sure he’ll make an appearance soon,” her mother said.
“Mom.” She paused. “I know I hated him at first. I’m sorry.”
“Aww, Honey. You were angry about your dad dying. That’s a lot for a nine year old to deal with. How do you feel about him now?”
“I love him,” she said quickly. “He’s so cute.” And her mother gave her a squeeze. “I love it when he runs around the house for no reason.”
“And he’s as loud as a herd of elephants.”
“Yea. And I let him lick my feet when I get out of the shower now.”
“He’s a funny kitty.”
“He loves that mouse on a string we got him. It’s so funny when bats it out of the air and then bites it and then runs away and runs back and bats it again.”
“I love his purr. He’s a loud purrer. I like to hold his throat to my ear and listen to him purr. You know, some cats hate to be kissed, but Capone just sits there and lets you kiss him –“
“Lots,” Chelsey added. “I like to kiss his milk moustache, over and over.”