by Joy Redmond
Kati, Abbie, and Tina were hungry, so they piled into the car and found a nice café a few miles up the road. Abbie was still crying about Fluffy disappearing, but she did eat. Mandy’s heart was breaking for Abbie, but she did her best to hide her emotions. She kept hoping Fluffy would come back, but good judgment told her he was gone. She just hoped he made a safe trip back to Florida and didn’t end up as road kill.
The next day, the moving van arrived.
By the end of the third day, the screened-in back porch was piled with empty boxes. Mandy was too tired to flatten them, so she latched the screen door, locked the sliding glass door that led into the kitchen, and went to bed. Though Abbie had her own bedroom, she insisted on sleeping with her mother, and she cried herself to sleep every night.
Mandy got up on the fifth day before the rest of the household came alive. She wanted some alone time to think things out. She headed for the kitchen to get the coffee going. Just as she was filling the pot with water, she heard a faint meow. It sounded like a baby kitten. Her heart leapt with joy. A kitten is at the back screen door. It’ll be a replacement for Fluffy, and maybe Abbie will stop crying. Before she made it across the floor, she heard the faint meow again.
She unlocked the sliding glass door and stepped out on the porch. Just as she headed for the screen door, she heard the meow again, but it sounded closer. She walked in the direction where the sound was coming from and when she looked down into a deep, empty box, she gasped. There sat Fluffy. She bent over and touched him, making sure he was real and not a vision. She picked him up and said, “I sure am glad to see you, old boy.” Then she glanced at the screen door. The latch was still hooked. She checked all the screens around the porch. No holes. “How did you get in here?”
She gingerly rubbed Fluffy’s ears and he began to purr as if he were trying to tell Mandy his story. “I think I know. IT brought you home. Thank you, IT. Or whoever you are.
Chapter Thirty-One
Mandy was carrying Fluffy back inside just as Abbie walked into the kitchen, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She saw Fluffy, ran across the floor and grabbed him from her mother’s arms. “He came home, Mama! I knew he would because I prayed for him to find me.”
Mandy patted Abbie’s head and said, “His name should be Houdini. He managed to unlatch the backdoor, latched it back and climbed into a deep box. How he did that, I’ll never know.”
Abbie smiled, stroked Fluffy and said, “The angels put him there.” Abbie looked up into Mandy’s eyes and there was no doubt at all that she believed it.
“Maybe they did, sweetie. Do you want Rice Crispies for breakfast?
“That’s fine. And I’ll fix Fluffy his bowl of Friskies while you fix my bowl of cereal. Abbie’s eyes lit up as bright as the stars as she opened a can of food for her beloved Fluffy.
Thirty minutes later, Abbie was ready to catch the school bus, a happy little girl; her world had righted itself. She gave Mandy instructions not to let Fluffy outside. Mandy promised she wouldn’t and even crossed her heart and hoped to die.
Mandy managed to find the cat litter and his box, and put it on the back porch. Fluffy always went to the sliding glass doors and meowed when he needed to use his litter box. “You’re not as stupid as I thought,” Mandy said, as she let him out on the back porch, checking to make sure the screen door was latched. Then she wondered if a latched door would keep him in. It sure didn’t keep him out.
After Mandy had the house put together, she put an application in at the local hospital, willing to accept whatever position that was available, and was hoping and praying for a day job as a phlebotomist. She also made the rounds to several doctor’s offices and one clinic. Though none were hiring, they let her fill out an application. She hoped beyond hope one of them would get back to her.
Two weeks later, Mandy still had not heard from nor been called for an interview. She drove over to Chattanooga, made the rounds to hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinics. No place was hiring, but they accepted her applications and said they’d call if something became available. She held high hopes that a door would open for her.
Another month passed and she didn’t get a call for an interview.
Work with me God, angels, and spirits, she whispered silently every day and night. She had made a few thousand on the sale of her house, but the rent she had paid while she was in Florida, and the rent she was paying her brother would soon eat up the profit.
Other than no job offers, things were going well. They all loved the mountains. On weekends, they packed a picnic and drove to the top of Chilhowee Mountain, where there was a beautiful lake. They loved the hikes they took to see the breathtaking waterfalls. Mandy had loved Florida, the beach, sand, and ocean, but it didn’t compare to the mountains. “My piece of heaven,” she whispered as she gazed upward. “It feels like I could reach up, touch a cloud, then open a door and walk straight into heaven.”
Every Friday night, Don, Anne, Danny, and Darla came for a family meal. Anne brought bowls of food, Darla baked cakes and pies, and Danny brought himself. They all sat around the table, laughing and talking. Danny and Darla were always cracking jokes on their dad and they kept Mandy and her children in stitches.
After the meal, they played card games and Mandy couldn’t imagine being any happier. The only thing that was bugging her was not being able to find a job.
The first six weeks passed quickly, and still no offer of a job, but the mountains were more beautiful by the day. May had brought warm weather and the flowers were in full bloom, the air full of fragrance as it floated on the air. Mandy’s heart was light and her soul was at peace. A job is waiting. I’ve just got to be patient, she told herself every day.
Though she knew she couldn’t afford it, she decided she’d go to the beauty shop. She needed a haircut and she wanted to get the gray hairs dyed. She couldn’t believe how gray she was at only age forty. While she was waiting for the dye to process, she and the hairdresser engaged in conversation. Mandy explained she was new to Cleveland and she loved it but she’d had no luck in finding work.
The hairdresser said, “Jobs are hard to find here in Cleveland. Most of the people who live here work in Chattanooga, unless they own their own business.”
“I’ve put in applications in Chattanooga. No luck so far. I’m willing to do anything, even if it’s not in my profession. Hell, I’ll dig ditches.”
The hairdresser dropped her head as if in deep thought. “Would you be willing to work as a shampoo girl and sweep floors that fill up with hair faster than me and the girls can keep cleaned up? I could use some help. This is a six chair shop and we stay very busy. There’s plenty you could do to help out.”
“I sure will,” Mandy said, and almost jumped out of the chair so she could kick her heels together. “When can I start? What days would I be working?”
“You can start this coming Monday. The shop is open six days a week, but you can have off two days. You just pick which days you want. I can only pay seventy-five dollars a week. However, I’ll pay under the table, so without any tax and social security being taken out, that would be about the same as making a hundred. I know that’s not much, but it’s the best I can do.”
“It’s better than nothing. I’ll be here Monday morning. What time do you open?”
“We open at eight o’clock. I think you and I will get along very well. And the other girls are a bunch of nuts. We usually go to happy hour on Friday’s and unwind. You’re more than welcome to join us for that too.”
“That sounds wonderful. I haven’t had a girlfriend in a while. I can’t thank you enough. But I feel it’s only fair to tell you, if I get a job offer from the medical profession, I’ll be compelled to take it. The medical profession is my passion.”
“I understand. And even if you do take another job, the happy hour invite still stands.”
Mandy left the beauty shop feeling as if she were walking on the proverbial cloud nine. Thank you, Lord. It’s not much, but I know how to squeeze a nickel
until the buffalo farts. We’ll make it.
Mandy hummed as she was getting ready to go to Abbie’s six grade graduation; the only thing that played heavy on her mind was that she was still using some of her nest egg money from the sale of her house in order to keep all the bills paid. But she held high hopes that a better job would come her way. All she had to do was hang on and keep her faith.
In mid-May, Mandy came home from work and just as she entered the kitchen, she saw Kati on the wall phone by the back door. Then she heard Kati say, “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Who was that?” Mandy asked. “Who’s coming tomorrow?”
“That was Tim. The guy that I was dating in Florida. I love him and he loves me and Tina. He misses us, so he’s coming for a weekend visit.”
“Oh, I like Tim. He was the first decent guy you ever dated. He loved Tina as if she were his own. A weekend visit will be nice. I’m happy for you, honey.”
The next day when Mandy got off work, she didn’t go to happy hour with the girls. She thought she should be home when Tim arrived and have a nice meal cooked.
Mandy was setting the table when the doorbell rang, and Kati took off running to the front door, Tina on her heels. Mandy smiled when she heard Kati squeal like a child. She stood back and waited for all the hugs and kisses to be over, then said, “Come on in, Tim. I’ve got supper cooked. I know you’re tired and hungry after that long drive.”
“I sure am. And that food smells wonderful. I need to use the bathroom, then I’ll be ready to dig in.”
“Right down the hallway,” Mandy said, pointing, “The first door on your right.”
After the meal they all went into the TV room while Mandy cleaned up the kitchen. After the dishes had been loaded into the dishwasher, Mandy called to Abbie. “Come on out on the back porch with Mama. Let Kati and Tim have some private time. And bring Tina. I’ll blow bubbles for her.”
Mandy, Abbie, and Tina stayed out on the back porch until after dark. When they went inside, Mandy told Abbie to go get into the bathtub. She stood and watched Abbie run down the hallway with Tina on her heels. She turned toward the front door and said, “What the shit?” Tim had unloaded his car and there in the foyer sat two large tool boxes, a tool belt, and three suitcases.
Mandy marched into the TV room where she found Kati and Tim with their bodies intertwined as if they were Siamese twins. She cleared her throat. “Excuse me! Tim if you’re here for a weekend visit why you did bring all your belongings. What’s really going on here?” She cut Kati a hard glare.
Tim gave Kati a look that plainly said, You didn’t tell your mother?
Kati tucked her head.
“One of you better start explaining!” Mandy said, as she took a seat on the couch.
Tim seemed to be tongue-tied, but Kati said, “I told him he could move in with us. We love each other and we want to be together.”
“So, you think you’ve pulled another con job on me. If you two want to be together, that’s fine with me. But this is how it’s going to be. Tim, you’ll find a job, you’ll find a place for you Kati and Tina, and move out. I’ve got all and more than I can afford. I’m not taking in another one.”
Tim said, “I’ll find a job and I’ll help out with the bills. I won’t be freeloading.”
Mandy gave him a fake smile. “No, that’s not how it works. I took the kids and went out on the porch with them tonight because you two chose what you wanted to watch on TV, then you put on a porn show, making out during commercials. I came inside a few times and I got an eyeful and it was sickening. This is my house. It’s my TV, I pay the cable, and Abbie and Tina will not be exposed to you two carrying on. So, you’ve got one month to find a job and save enough to rent an apartment.”
“What if he can’t find a job that fast? You sure didn’t find one in a month,” Kati said.
“He’s a carpenter. There’s plenty of construction companies in Chattanooga. One month, or he goes back to Florida. I mean what I’m saying!”
“You’re the meanest and most hateful mother in the world!” Kati yelled.
Mandy smirked as she said, “And I’ll get meaner and more hateful. You better learn to stop lying to me and pulling your stunts. I’m not the fool that you think I am. One month! Or it is bye-bye.”
Mandy walked out of the room before she blew a gasket. That little fart still thinks she can pull a fast one on me and I’ll just take it. She pulled out the thumb tack that was holding the calendar on the wall in the kitchen, then walked back into the TV room. “Do you see this date?” she asked, pointing to the square on the calendar. “Tomorrow, I’ll mark a big red X through it. Then every day I’ll mark off the next date. By the time I’ve marked off to this day,” she said, as she flipped the page of the calendar, “it will be bye-bye day if there’s no job and no place for you two to live.”
Fuming, Mandy walked back into the kitchen and tacked the calendar back on the wall. Then she headed for her bedroom. I guess I’ll write a new chapter in my journal, she thought, as she opened the top drawer of her chest and took out the journal and a pen. They can have the TV for tonight and exchange how much they hate me. But starting tomorrow night, I’ll decide what will be watched on TV and the porn show won’t be going on in front of Abbie and Tina. Kati will be the death of me yet. And Tony is running her a close race. What on earth happened to my precious babies that I had such high hopes and aspirations for?
Later, Mandy huddled in bed, her arms encircling one of the pillows as she placed her face against it and cried herself to sleep. No strong, warm arms were there to hold her as she felt her world falling apart.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Mandy came home from work every day for the next two weeks and always found Tim and Kati sitting on the couch, watching TV, and eating all the food that was in the house. Every day Mandy would ask, “Did you find a job?”
“No, but I’m trying,” Tim would answer as he stuffed his mouth with potato chips and chased them with tea.
Two weeks later, Mandy walked into the TV room holding the calendar. “Do you see the X’s on all the squares? Here goes the last one,” she said, as she marked through the date. “That means your time is up. Tomorrow morning, you’ll be packing and hitting the road. It’s not like you weren’t warned. Tomorrow is Saturday and I’ll be here to see you off.” She turned and headed out of the room, then she stopped and turned her head back to Kati and Tim. “Make the best of the night!”
“I hate you!” Kati yelled, then threw her face down on the couch.
“That’s your choice,” Mandy said.
The next morning Mandy was awakened by heavy footsteps going up and down the hallway. She got out of bed, slipped on her robe and walked out of the bedroom. She backed against the wall, stood with her arms crossed over her chest, and watched Tim drag suitcases and tool boxes to the front door. Kati’s bedroom door was closed and she figured they had said their tearful goodbyes and Kati didn’t want to watch him drive away.
Kati stayed in her room all day and Mandy took care of Tina. I guess when she gets hungry enough, she’ll come out, Mandy thought, as she set the table for the evening meal. Just as she had the plates on the table, the doorbell rang. She walked to the front door, opened it, and her eyes bugged out as she stared at Tim. “Did you forget something?” she asked.
“No. I found a job. I’ll be building houses for a big construction company over in Chattanooga. I start Monday morning. Can I stay the weekend?”
“Come on in. I’m not a heartless person, Tim. I’m just trying to protect my own. I don’t make enough money to pay the bills and soon my nest egg will be gone, then we’ll all be homeless. But you still have to find your own place to live. You and Kati living here just won’t work for many reasons.”
Just as she had finished her sentence, she heard the front storm door open and Don said, “Sis, it’s me and Anne.”
“Come in! What a surprise. It’s not Friday night, but I sure did miss
you and the others the past few Friday nights. I know you all have busy lives. Good to see you.” She peered around Don. “Where’s Anne?”
“She’s getting some things out of the car she thought you might need or want. We can’t get all our stuff in the small parsonage.”
Mandy noticed that Don was eyeing Tim strangely. “Oh, this is Tim. He’s Kati’s boyfriend from Florida. He’s moving to Tennessee. Do you have any idea where he might find a place to rent?”
“Well, that’s why we’re in Cleveland today. We’re headed over to clean out and clean up the little efficiency apartment that we own over by the college. It isn’t fancy but it’ll be clean, in a nice part of town, and it has all the necessities. It you want it, it’s yours,” he said, still giving Tim the onceover.
Tim said, “I just got a job but it’ll take me a couple paychecks before I’ll have enough to pay a deposit and first month rent. Mandy said I could stay with her until I can—”
Kati came running down the hallway. “Mama is pitching us out. She said me and Tina had to go with Tim.”
“What?” Don asked and gave Mandy a strange look.
“Trust me. You don’t want to hear the whole story. I have my reasons and you wouldn’t have put up with these two for a day. So if you have a place, I’ll pay you the deposit and first month rent,” Mandy said.
“Well, Sis, I don’t know what’s going on, and like you said, I probably don’t want the details, but I’m no fool. I can figure it out. I know you’re in a financial bind, so you don’t owe me a deposit and I’ll wait until the first of next month for the first rent payment.”
“Does the apartment have a TV?” Kati asked.
“Yes, there’s a small TV there. And if you need other things, Anne is getting rid of household stuff. Go out and see what she has in the car.”
Mandy blew a deep breath. “Thanks, Don. That’s kind of you. And I know you’re no fool. I just didn’t want you to think badly of Kati. So—”