Wings and Faith

by Joy Redmond

  Abbie carried him inside and Mandy opened a can of tuna. Cat sniffed it, then turned his head and walked into the living room where he hid under the couch. “What a stupid cat,” Mandy said. All cats like tuna.”

  “Maybe he’s just scared, Mommy,” she said as she reached under the couch and pulled out the shaking kitten. Maybe we can get him some Friskies. The cats on TV really like it.”

  “I guess it’s worth a try. But honey, he might be sick and he won’t want food. If he’s real sick, we’ll have to take him to the pound—”

  “No, Mommy, no!” Abbie cried. We can get him well. Please don’t take him off. Or maybe he’s just stupid, like you said.”

  “Come on. We’ll go get some Friskies and a litter box and a bag of litter. We’ll do our best, but I can’t promise we can get him well.”

  “I’ll pray for him,” Abbie said as she laid her hand on his head with tears rolling down her face as she prayed, “Dear God. Please make this stupid cat well. Amen.”

  Mandy was touched by the faith her sweet daughter had, but she almost laughed when she called the cat stupid. They went to the grocery store a few blocks away and Mandy bought a bag of litter and a litter box and some Friskies. They came home and Mandy fixed a plate of Friskies for him. He decided to eat.

  While he was eating, she fixed the litter box and placed it by the back door that led out to the garage. After eating, the cat started turning in circles. Mandy picked him up and took him to the litter box. He ignored it, then squatted beside it and did his business. “That cat is just plain stupid! And there’s no cure for that. He did eat, though. I’ll fix him a bowl of water.”

  “Oh, Mommy. I forgot about my new bike! I want to ride it. Will you get it out of the car?”

  “We got all caught up with Stupid and forgot the new bike, didn’t we? Okay, come on outside and I’ll get it out for you.”

  “Are you gonna name him Stupid?”

  “Well, the name seems to fit. But, he’s your cat so you can name him.”

  “I want to call him Fluffy.”

  “Then Fluffy we shall call him. Now, let’s go get the bright orange bike out of the car.”

  The driveway wasn’t long enough for Abbie to ride her bike as far as she wanted to, and Mandy wasn’t about to let her ride out of her sight. There was a church parking lot across the road with a lot of space to ride. Mandy pushed the bike across the road, then went back to the front yard, placed a lawn chair in the driveway and watched Abbie ride. Fluffy stayed by her side. It was as if he wanted to keep an eye on Abbie too.

  Every afternoon, Abbie pushed her bike across the road while Mandy and Fluffy sat in the driveway and watched. One afternoon a young boy joined Abbie in the parking lot on his black bike. Mandy sat in the driveway and watched them riding, and smiled as she saw what a little gentleman he was. He always stayed a few feet behind Abbie and never crossed her path.

  Mandy was petting Fluffy, her heart swelling with love as she watched the two riding and laughing. Suddenly, Abbie tumbled off her bike. She got up and got back on and continued riding. A few laps later, she took another tumble. Mandy thought Abbie was nervous because a boy was riding with her. A few more laps and Abbie took another tumble.

  Mandy jumped up and hurried across the road. By the time she reached Abbie, she was in the little boys face, screaming and letting him know she would do damage to him if he pushed her again. The boy did his best to explain that he hadn’t touched her, but she wasn’t buying it. The little boy cried as he continued his plea of innocence.

  Mandy intervened and said, “Hey, he didn’t push you. I’ve been watching and he hasn’t been close enough to touch you. Cool your jets, kid.”

  Abbie was frothing as she yelled, “I felt his hands on my back and I felt him push me. He pushed me hard.”

  “Abbie, I haven’t taken my eyes off of you. He didn’t push you. He didn’t get close enough to push you.”

  “Then who did? I felt hands on my back three times, and they pushed me, hard.”

  Chills ran down Mandy’s spine. I don’t know. But I don’t doubt you. She turned to tell the little boy that she was sorry Abbie had accused him of something he hadn’t done. The little boy was gone.

  For the next week, Abbie rode her bike every day and never fell off. Then one afternoon, the little boy came back to ride with her. It was a rerun. Him following a few feet behind. Her taking tumbles. Her accusing him of pushing her. Him swearing he didn’t touch her. Her swearing she felt hands pushing her. Mandy watching and knowing he didn’t touch her.

  Mandy told Abbie to put her bike in the space she had made for it in the garage, then to go get into the bathtub. She saw bruises on Abbie and her dander was up. Who or what would want to hurt her child?

  Mandy wasn’t sure what to make of the situation. “Stinky Purse. Fairy Dust. Phantom Farter. Music Player. Beer Can Thumper. Now we have Bike Pusher to add to the mix,” she mumbled, wondering how many spirits were with them. And who were they?

  It seemed like it only took one breath before summer ended. It was time for Tony to go back to Kentucky and Mandy’s heart broke as she took him to Tampa and put him on a plane. She watched the plane take off and wiped tears and reminded herself she’d see him during Christmas break. She was going to send him a plane ticket.

  Mandy and Kati were knocking heads worse than they ever had before. Kati was headstrong, and was totally out of control. She and Marti ran wild, she never came home by curfew, which was midnight, and some nights she didn’t come home at all. Mandy was at her wits’ end, and was trying to figure out what to do or say to make Kati listen to her as she explained the dangers of going off with strange boys and men.

  Every day they had the same conversation. “For all you know they could be serial killers. And you staying out all night will stop! I’m going to report you as a runaway. See how you feel when the cops find you and drag your butt home. If you think my lectures are harsh, you haven’t heard a lecture until the law lays down the rules, kid. You’re not eighteen yet. And those scallywags that you’re running with can be arrested. You’re still jail bait.”

  “Oh, like you don’t have plenty of boyfriends. You’ve got one for every day of the week. They sure aren’t Prince Charming. And you’ve been known to stay out a night or two. So don’t you—”

  “You hold it right there! I’m thirty-six years old, not an underage teenager. No, I haven’t met Prince Charming and I’m not looking for him because he doesn’t exist. When I stay out it’s with a person that I’ve known for a long time. And I might mention, they have jobs. They’re not beach bums who leach off of people and take advantage of a teen who doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground.”

  “You won’t rule me for much longer. I’m getting out of here. You’re mean and hateful, just like Granny Pearl said you were. I wish you weren’t my mother! Sometimes I hate you!”

  “Hating me is your choice, but I’ll always be your mother. You’re stuck with me.”

  “Not for long. I wish you’d drop dead!”

  “You might get out of here, but I’ll always be your mother. So yeah, you’re stuck with me because I’ll be the only mother you’ll ever have. And someday, I will drop dead. Let’s see how that works out for you.”

  Kati teared up. “I didn’t mean I wish you’d drop dead. I don’t ever want to lose you. It’s just you make me so mad and I spout off.”

  “I know,” Mandy said and gathered her daughter in her arms. They hugged and exchanged ‘I love you`s’. “How about we make a Wendy’s run and get a Frosty?”

  “Now that’s my idea of a good mama,” Kati said, and they hugged again.

  Just as Mandy thought things had calmed down, Kati announced that she wasn’t going back to high school.

  “Kati, this will be your senior year. You can’t drop out. I won’t allow it! Now get that silly notion out of your head.”

  “I’ll be eighteen next month and you can’t tell me what I can and can’t do anymo
re! I hate school. I’m not going back!” She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at her mother with contempt.

  “No, I can’t make you go to school. And this is what I won’t do either. I won’t be buying you clothes, shoes, all of your toiletries, and all the other things that I’ve worked my ass off to make sure you had. And you’ll find that you won’t have a plate at the table. Let’s see how that works for you. You can get a job and support yourself since you’re too cool for school.”

  “Marti said her parents will let me live with them. So I don’t need you. See how you like it when I’m gone!”

  “And you really think that Marti’s parents are going to let two dropouts live with them and be freeloaders? Let’s see how that works out. But, if you want to move in with them, pack your bags.”

  Kati stomped off to her room, giving Mandy a dirty look over her shoulder and completed it by slamming her door.

  Mandy hung her head. Lord, have mercy! I’ve got a knife-wielding, fist-fighting son and a high school dropout daughter and she’s going to tell the world how things are going to be. Where did I go wrong? Then the question of nature versus nurture came to mind. It doesn’t matter what you teach a child or how hard you try to guide them. When those genes kick in, they’re gonna be controlled by their DNA. I’ve got a Jack Walker Jr. and a Pearl Walker clone. Please, God, don’t let Abbie grow up and be an alcoholic like her daddy. I’ll kill myself.

  Just as those thoughts were running through Mandy’s mind, the doorbell rang. Mandy felt as if her feet were lead and her heart was skipping beats as she headed for the door. She opened it to find Marti standing in front. “Is Kati here?”

  “Yes, she is. She’s in her room packing. She said she was going to move in with you. So, I guess you can go help her get her stuff together. I can’t believe you two dropped out of school. I won’t lecture you, you’re not mine, but I can tell you, you’re making the biggest mistake of your life.”

  Mandy turned to walk away when Marti said. “I came to tell Kati that my mother said Kati couldn’t move in with me and that I had to get a job or get out of the house.”

  “Well, in that case, I guess you two can compare your horrible mean mothers and console each other.”

  Marti gave Mandy a harsh glare and headed down the hallway to Kati’s bedroom.

  Mandy made her way into the kitchen, her heart not into cooking, but she made supper for her and Abbie. She sat the table and called her youngest child who came and sat beside her. Mandy looked at the empty chairs that had once held her precious children and burst into tears.

  “Don’t cry, Mommy. Kati is a shitass!”

  Mandy did her best not to laugh, but a slight chuckle erupted, then she said, “Abbie, that’s not nice. Don’t use that kind of language. And don’t call your sister names. She’s a teenager and the teen years are very hard to get through. She’ll come to her senses and things will be okay.” From my lips to God’s ears.

  Just as Mandy was clearing the table, Kati marched into the kitchen. “I hope you’re happy. I can’t go live with Marti. But we’re gonna find jobs and get us an apartment. It won’t be long and I’ll be out of here for good!”

  “Whatever you say, Kati. Good luck with finding a job without a high school diploma that will pay you enough to buy tampons, let alone rent, food, and your fancy clothes that you like so much. And I’m done talking.”

  “I’ve got nothing else to say to you! I’m going out with Marti. And I might stay out all night! Call the cops. Do what you think you can to stop me.” She turned to walk out of the kitchen, then turned back and added, “See how that works out!”

  When Kati reached the living room, she let out a scream.

  Mandy ran to her. There in the middle of the coffee table sat Houdini, blowing out his red throat. Just as Mandy went to shoo him away, he jumped and landed on Kati’s chest. Fluffy arched his back and hissed as if he were ready to attack Kati.

  “What the hell?” Kati yelled as she slapped at Houdini and kicked the cat.

  “That’s a warning, dear. Danger is waiting, and if you continue with your ways, things aren’t going to be pretty. Trust me on this,” Mandy said.

  “I’ll take my chances,” Kati said and ran out the front door with Marti on her heels.

  “God, take care of her. I’ve done all I know to do short of chaining her to the bedpost. She’s in Your hands. Purple Angel, if you’re still with me, please watch over my daughter and keep her safe from harm.”

  In one year, my life went from heaven to hell. And I’m not sure which place some of these spirits came from either.

  Chapter Twenty

  Mandy arrived home from work and collected Abbie from the babysitter. She smiled at her daughter as they headed for home, and Abbie chatted away about her day. When Mandy opened the door and came into the house, Kati was waiting for her in the living room. Before she could say a word, Kati proudly held out a hand full of money. “See what I’ve got? I’m not going to find a job and take orders from anybody. I’m going back to Missouri and live with Cheryl. I called Delta Airlines, and I can catch a flight in one hour. If you won’t take me to the airport, Marti will. I just thought you might want to see me off.”

  “Where did you get that money?” Mandy asked, and she felt sick at her stomach.

  “Don’t worry about it. I got it. Are you going to take me or do I call Marti?”

  Abbie said, “I heard her on the phone a few days ago and she was talking to Grandmother. She told Grandmother that you were hitting her and you were going to pitch her out in the streets. She told Grandmother that she was going to live with her boyfriend unless she and Granddaddy sent her enough money to find a place to live.”

  “You shut your mouth, you little brat!” Kati yelled and raised her hand in the air, ready to slap Abbie.

  Mandy grabbed Kati’s wrist before she could land the blow. “If you ever touch Abbie, I’ll do exactly as you’ve accused me of. I’ll slap your head around backward. And aren’t you the little con artist? You knew the thought of you living with a boy would be enough to make your grandparents sell their souls in order to save you from living in sin. Very clever! But we’ll see how this all pans out in a few months. Life on your own isn’t going to be what you think, Missy. But if you think life will be easier and happier away from your mean, hateful mother, then give it a try.”

  Tears welled, but Mandy kept her composure as she squared off with her oldest daughter. Abbie ran to her room, as if she knew a bigger fight would ensue. “If you’re packed, then let’s go to the airport,” Mandy said. “I’ll be waiting in the car.” Mandy called out, “Abbie, come on.”

  With Abbie in tow, they headed outside. Mandy opened the car door. “You can sit up front with me. I’m not about to help her load her stuff. She’s on her own as soon as the airplane lifts off the ground.” She was seething and her heart hurt and her soul was on fire.

  A few minutes later, Kati came out the front door, lugging two suitcases. She tossed them into the back seat, then got into the car and didn’t say a word.

  Mandy drove to Tampa, fighting tears, but she wasn’t about to let Kati know she was breaking her mother’s heart. Mandy tried to comfort herself by thinking that maybe Kati needed to experience the world on her own, then maybe she’d appreciate a hard-working mother who had given her an easy and good life.

  Abbie cried all the way to the airport. She had lost Tony, and now she was losing Kati.

  Mandy thought she would truly choke on the knot that formed in her throat, but she managed to keep herself strong as she watched Kati buy a ticket and check her luggage in. Kati hugged Abbie, but didn’t look at Mandy, then quickly turned and headed for the gate area.

  Mandy watched Kati walk away from her as if she were leaving a stranger. How can a child be so cold to her mother? When Kati was out of sight, Mandy let the waterworks flow as she held Abbie tightly. Kati had left a hole in Mandy’s heart, but she hoped her daughter would come back to her some
day.

  The world around her seemed to slow down and time had no meaning. A piece of her heart had been ripped out and it had gone with Kati when she boarded the plane. Abbie reached over and grabbed Mandy’s hand and held on to it, then time righted itself as they made their way to their car.

  When Mandy and Abbie crossed Tampa Bay and were back in Clearwater, they had stopped crying and Mandy said, “How about we go to Wendy’s and get us a burger and a Frosty? I know you’re hungry. I’m not sure I can eat, but I’ll try.”

  “All I want is a Frosty. I’m not hungry. My stomach hurts,” Abbie said, and rubbed her tummy.

  Mandy went to the drive-through window and ordered two Frosties, hoping she could keep one down. Once they were home, Mandy wiped her eyes and said, “It’s just you and me, baby,” as she hugged Abbie.

  “You, me, and Stupid Fluffy,” Abbie said in a cheerful voice, as if adding Stupid Fluffy to the mix would make up for the loss of Tony and Katie.

  “Mandy smiled. “You, me, and Stupid Fluffy, it is. We’ll be fine, honey. It’ll just take some adjusting. But, we’ll have more one on one time. Sometimes, I felt as if I were cheating you because I spent so much of my time trying to keep up and control your brother and sister. So, do you want to read to me tonight or do you want me to read to you? I’ve bought you several new books and I haven’t had a spare minute to listen to you read.”

  “I want you to read to me. You make the stories funny by using silly voices for all the characters. I don’t know how to do that.”

  “Great! You pick the books and we’ll have a reading fest. Fluffy might like to hear the stories too. He seems to understand everything that’s said. He just acts stupid when it comes to normal cat things. But we won’t call him Stupid Fluffy. He might understand it and it might hurt his feelings.” Mandy laughed and Abbie laughed with her.

  Abbie brought two Nancy Drew books into the TV room and sat down beside Mandy. Fluffy jumped into Abbie’s lap. As the stories began, Fluffy purred as if he did understand and was enjoying the stories.