Ghost Cat - Thelma's Dilemma

by Carol Colbert

  Sarah poured herself a cup of coffee and then walked into the girl’s room to wake them up. She then sat down at the kitchen table to wait for them to get dressed.

  “This sounded like a better idea last night than it sounds like this morning.” Riley said, coming into the kitchen still half asleep.

  Suzanne ran into the kitchen holding her stuffed toy. “Me and Mr. Pickles are ready to go eat, mom!”

  Riley noticed the paper on the table. “Dad left you a note?”

  “Yes, we had a discussion last night and I guess this is his way of making up for it, although, I don’t know why he only made enough coffee for one cup, not even.” Sarah said.

  “We will make it work, don’t worry, enjoy the coffee, love Jim.” Suzanne read from the note. “Make what work, mommy?

  “I’ll tell you in the car, make sure you bring your book bags with you, I’ll be dropping you off at school after breakfast.” Sarah told them.

  “Can we go to I-Hop?” Riley asked. “You got it!” Sarah said.

  Thelma made herself and Cooper French toast and bacon and she made herself another pot of coffee. She went to the computer and keyed in Gertie’s address, which she got from Sarah’s address book on the desk. She found the route between there and where she was now. The only problem that Thelma could determine was getting herself and Ophelia into Jim’s vehicle when they went back to Tennessee. They had to be there, they could do nothing from here, especially if someone were given the task of pet sitting them.

  Thelma really wanted to go next door and talk to Ophelia, but as she had told Thelma, Mrs. Johnson rarely went anywhere. Thelma inspected the trunk again and found nothing new of interest there. She was successful in finding the red ring. Sarah had placed it into a jewelry box that was sitting on her bedroom dresser.

  Thelma thought about it, then placed the ring back into the jewelry box. As long as I know where to come to get it before we leave, it makes more sense not to take it now. If Sarah notices it missing, there would be a big search, that won’t do.

  Thelma wished that she could let Ophelia read her mother’s journal, but she just did not see how she could make that happen. It was imperative that Sarah read the journal before their trip.

  Gertie had made it very clear in the journal how she wanted her ashes to be taken to the Kentucky/Tennessee border. She actually gave the latitude, longitude and elevation. Thelma knew that Jim would have to have time to determine the exact spot. Thelma did not want to rely on Don’s memory of what Gertie might have told him.

  The other problem which was also bothering Thelma, was the ring. If Sarah read that the ring had powers, she would certainly not want to part with it until she found out what they were. She might even take it back to Gertie’s house with them to ask someone there about it.

  Thelma knew that Sarah had already seen the page with the poem about the ring, but she also knew that Sarah had not finished reading the journal, mostly because of Thelma hiding it, but also because she has been busy and apparently forgotten about it.

  Thelma carefully inspected the pages that held the sentences about the ring and it having power. The other side of that page was mostly about how much she had loved John. Thelma very carefully took that page out of the journal. Sarah could not read what was not there.

  Although there were references about Gertie being ‘different’ than John and about how he would never understand her life, there were no clear cut words stating exactly what she meant. Thelma read those parts over several times, trying to put her mindset in the human way of reading and understanding. She finally was satisfied that no secretes would be learned by Sarah reading her journal. Gertie had been very careful.

  Thelma jumped when the phone rang. She quickly logged off of the computer and went to stand by the kitchen to hear if someone would leave a message. If it were the vet asking for a reschedule of Sarah taking Thelma in for shots, she would answer it and make quick work of that notion.

  “Hello Sarah, this is Adela Johnson, your neighbor. I was just wondering if you would have time to help me out today. It should not take long, but I would love to go to the mall and get some new pajamas for our trip. I don’t drive that way myself anymore because I would have to get onto the expressway and I am not comfortable with driving so fast. If you are too busy, I understand. Please let me know, thanks, bye.”

  Cooper barked and Thelma did not even take time to look out the window. She spun herself and was Gertie the cat again. She was glad that she had turned off the computer and washed up the breakfast dishes she had used earlier.

  Sarah came in the back door, keeping it open so Cooper could run outside. She petted Gertie on the head and then noticed the red light blinking on her phone. Sarah listened to the message and then microwaved herself a cup of tea and took out several pumpkin cookies. She gave one to Gertie, which Gertie devoured quickly, and then she sat down at the table to drink her tea and have her cookies. After a few minutes, she let Cooper back into the house.

  “Well, Cooper, it looks like Jim was right – Mrs. Johnson does sound like she is planning to be gone longer than we wanted to be gone for. Adela, I will have to let Jim know that I do know Mrs. Johnson’s first name. I guess I’d better get to it.”

  Sarah went to the bathroom and then called her neighbor. “Good morning, Adela. I have some time now if you would like to go to the mall. No, it is not necessary that you treat me to lunch, I am happy to help you. Well, we will see, are you ready to go right now? Yes, I spoke with Jim about the trip. Well, we haven’t figured out an exact day or time yet, but we will. Yes, we will give you plenty of notice before we leave. Come over now and we will go.”

  “My goodness that woman is chatty. This will really be a long trip with her in the car.” She told Cooper.

  To Sarah’s chagrin and to Thelma’s delight, Mrs. Johnson appeared at the door holding Snowball.

  “I thought we could let the two cats visit with each other while we are gone. Snowball is not used to being left alone.” Mrs. Johnson said, putting the cat on the floor.

  Sarah did not know what to say about that, so she said nothing. “Let’s go then.”

  If anyone would have been driving by the house they might have noticed a heavy cloud of blue smoke. Thelma and Ophelia stood face to face in Sarah’s kitchen.

  “Coffee?” Offered Thelma. “Oh my God, YES!” Ophelia said. “What else do you have?”

  Thelma got out the cookies, pumpkin bread and as a special treat, made Ophelia an omelet with bacon. “This is heaven!” Ophelia purred, even though she was in human form. Thelma also made sure to give Cooper a few more cookies. “I am just glad that Sarah bakes in bulk!” Thelma said.

  Thelma got Gertie’s journal and showed her the page she had torn out so that Sarah would not see it. Ophelia also wanted to see the trunk and whatever was in it. She especially lingered over one of the quilts that Sarah had at the end of her bed now.

  “I remember when my mom made this.” She said. “Tell me all about Enchanted.”

  “I promise I will, but I think time would be best spent now planning how we are going to be able to be in the van when the rest of them go back.” Gertie said.

  “Could I please take a shower first? I tried jumping into the bathtub when Mrs. Johnson was done bathing a few times, but the old lady always catches me and then shuts the bathroom door.” Ophelia said.

  “I think we have time, use the bathroom downstairs, less chance of someone noticing that the tub is wet. Don’t take too long. I will clean up these dishes while you are doing that.”

  “Thank you a million times!” Ophelia said, running down the stairs to the basement.

  Chapter 12

  Thelma used her time wisely. She printed out the exact location of the phantom exit using something the computer called Google Earth. She had two other copies and put one of them into the journal, folded up many times, trying to make the paper appear old. She finished up in the kitchen and did some serious thinking before she becam
e impatient for Ophelia to come back upstairs.

  Thelma went to the basement and spoke through the bathroom door asking Ophelia if she were done yet. Ophelia said she was and opened the door, standing there in a big bath towel.

  “What on earth is that smell?” Thelma asked.

  “Something called Summer Rain, it was in that bottle over there. It smelled so good I used it on my hair and in the bath.

  “You can’t be smelling like that when they get back home. There would be no explanation for it. “Thelma told her much younger cousin.

  Ophelia turned and knocked the bottle over, letting what was left of the contents run onto the floor. “Now there is!” She laughed. Put that towel in the hamper and let’s get back upstairs. Cooper is very good about barking to let me know when someone is on their way in, but what if he takes a nap and does not hear them.’

  “I can hear that garage door open all the way in Mrs. Johnson’s kitchen.” Ophelia said, only getting to the second to the last word of her sentence before Cooper started to bark.

  Ophelia started to spin, hitting Thelma in the face with the towel, which she neglected to take off before spinning.

  When Thelma and Ophelia ran into the kitchen, they were both surprised to see Jim standing there instead of Sarah and Mrs. Johnson.

  “Is that you, Snowball? How did you get over here?” Jim said, and then noticed the still red light on the answering machine indicating a message that Sarah did not delete. Jim listened and groaned.

  He made himself a sandwich and grabbed a can of beer out of the refrigerator. Thelma licked her lips.

  Jim picked up the phone and dialed. “Hey, Bob, this is Jim. I know this is short notice, but would you be able to run over here to let the dog out and to make sure the cats do not tear up the house?” Jim listened and then said “We are planning to leave as soon as the girls get out of school, actually. Well, I took several days off of work, but I am determined not to use them all up on this trip. Sarah and I got stuck having to deal with Gertie’s ashes and….Oh, Barbara told you? Yeah, well, what do you think? Yeah, two cats, one is the neighbor’s pet, she is going with us, that is a story for the ages, tell you about it when we get back, you won’t believe it! Oh, I forgot about that, and John and Jennifer are going with you? No, than is O.K., I knew this was a long shot since its short, or make that no, notice. We will figure out something. Tell Barb we send our best. Bye.”

  Thelma and Ophelia looked at each other in panic. Leaving right after the girls get out of school? Jim went to the bathroom and Thelma ran into the living room and dragged out Gertie’s journal with the new map in it. She put it right by the kitchen chair that Jim had been sitting in. She had to make sure that he saw it, and saw it now!

  Instead of walking over to the kitchen table where he had been before his trip to the bathroom, Jim instead went to the computer and turned it on. Thelma and Ophelia did not know what to do.

  Thank Goodness that Cooper did. He picked up the journal carefully in his teeth and took it over to the computer and plopped it right into Jim’s lap. “Whoa, Cooper, what is this?” Jim said, right before he took it and sat it down next to the computer screen. He then got back up and came into the kitchen to retrieve his beer. Before going back to the computer he went to the kitchen and cut himself another slice of pie.

  Gertie made a mad dash and jumped onto the computer table, knocking the journal onto the keyboard. Jim scolded the cat and was about to push the notebook aside again, when he saw the map sticking out of it. “Hey, this is just what I need, thanks Gertie!” He then got up, not taking the journal and he walked into the bedroom.

  He has the map, but can’t know what it is for. Gertie was trying to figure things out.

  Cooper started to bark and in a moment, Sarah, Mrs. Johnson, Riley and Suzanne walked into the house. “Look mom,” Riley said pointing to the beer can on the table, “Thelma is drinking beer again.” She said, laughing. “I think your father is home, at least his car is.” Sarah said.

  “He is too. What is this about Gertie drinking my beer?” Jim walked into the kitchen laughing.

  “Riley was saying that Gertie was drinking all of your beer the night she kept farting, because that is when you do.” Suzanne laughed.

  “I did not!” Riley said, pushing her sister.

  Jim looked uncomfortable and Sarah tried to suppress a smile.

  “Hello, Mrs. Johnson, I understand we are going on a road trip together, are you packed and ready?” Jim said, trying to quickly change the subject.

  “I was born ready!” Mrs. Johnson said. Sarah gave her husband a full on stare. “Just how many cans of beer have you had today, Jim? You can’t mean ready to go, like now.”

  “Actually, I do mean right now. Girls, just go change out of your school uniforms and grab one change of clothes and pack them in the same duffle bag, No dresses or fancier clothes this trip, not like last time. Mrs. Johnson – Adela – if you are packed, I will come over and carry your suitcase for you.”

  Adela said “It will just take me one moment to put these new things in the case and then I am all set to go.” She said happily. Jim then noticed the several bags she had in her hands with the names of various departments’ stores in the mall on them.

  “You go ahead, Adela, I will send Jim over in just a minute or two, I need to speak with him.” Sarah said.

  As soon as Mrs. Johnson cleared the driveway on her way to her own house, Sarah turned to her husband. “Jim, are you serious? We are leaving right this minute? What about the animals, who is going to watch them?”

  “Well, here is the thing, I called Bob and he and Barbara are going away for the weekend with John and Jennifer. So, it looks like if you want to go, we have to take Cooper with us.”

  Cooper’s ears perked up, Thelma’s and Ophelia’s ears pointed downwards.

  “What about the cats? And how do we know if Cooper will get car sick or not? He hasn’t been in the car for a long drive since we got him, don’t you think that is taking a chance?” Sarah said.

  “The cats will be just fine. We will leave them both in our house so they will have each other as company. As long as we leave them plenty of food and water – maybe fill the sink or tub with cold water, they should be fine. We won’t’ be gone for a week or anything. As far as Cooper going with us, that might be dicey, but I called Don today and had him read me what Gertie left for him, as far as where the ashes are supposed to go, and apparently, it is right on the border line of Kentucky and Tennessee, so we won’t have to go a long ways out of our way to accomplish this mission!”

  “Sounds like you have it all figured out.” Sarah said.

  “I got the van oiled and gassed up already today, told them I would be taking a few days off work, and I really would like to get on the road – like now, Sarah. Just throw a couple of things in the duffle that the girls are using, no need for a lot of clothes, no one will see us besides Don anyway.” Jim said.

  “Yes, but you forget that we are apparently traveling with Cooper, how will we smell after an hour in the car with him?” Sarah asked.

  “Bring air freshener and a bottle of wine and let’s book!” Jim said, smiling and walking out the back door to get Mrs. Johnson and her suitcase.

  Sarah threw up her hands in mock frustration. She could see the humor in the situation and although she knew it would be hard traveling with the girls and Cooper and Mrs. Johnson, she was glad that she did not have to leave her daughters with someone and also glad that Cooper would not be left to wonder where they were so soon after the last time.

  Snowball ran and got the journal off of the computer table and tried to jump onto the kitchen table with it, but it was too heavy for her cat form to carry. Cooper tried to help her, but just ended up growling “momma.” Sarah walked into the kitchen and saw what they were doing, or trying to do.

  “What is that?” She said. “Oh, good, I need to finish looking through this.” She said and then tossed it into her purse and walked
downstairs to the basement. Thelma lost no time in rushing to Sarah and Jim’s bedroom and jumping on the dresser and taking the red ring into her mouth. She almost swallowed it by accident when she made a very long jump down and back into the hallway. She did not know if she could get her and Ophelia into the car fast enough, but she would not let them take that ring, she and Ophelia needed that ring to get home.

  Sarah came upstairs carrying a medium sized duffle bag. Suzanne and Riley came into the kitchen holding their clothes in their arms and Suzanne also had Mr. Pickles under her arm. “We are ready, mom!” Riley said.

  “Put the clothes in this. Which one of you were using my Summer Spring bath gel?” Cooper tilted his head to look at her, Thelma put her head down, and Ophelia walked into the living room and started rolling around on the carpet.

  “Not me.” Riley said. “Me neither, you know I don’t like going into the basement, might be another ghost down there.” Suzanne said, referring to their last house, which had an extra occupant in the basement.

  “I don’t mind you using it, but someone spilled it all over the downstairs bathroom.” Sarah said. “I had to take time to clean it up so Snowball and Gertie don’t lick it and get sick from it. I can’t believe someone just left it all over the floor.”

  Jim called out to Sarah from their drive way. Sarah felt annoyed at being so rushed. “Riley, go fill the bathtub half way full with water, same with the kitchen sink, the cats have to have enough water to drink. I know that might be overdoing it, but I worry about them.”

  Jim yelled out for Sarah again. “I’m coming, Jim hold your horses!” She said, walking into the driveway and seeing Jim standing there with a very big suitcase. “Oh my.”

  “Yeah, Adela here has everything she needs packed in her suitcase. Are you ready to go yet?”

  “Not really, where exactly are we supposed to put that suitcase with all of us, plus Cooper, already in the van?” Sarah asked.