Meow and Forever

by Patricia Fry

  “How many do they want to accommodate?” Michael asked.

  “They hope to sell a hundred tickets at thirty or forty dollars each, plus we’ll solicit donations outside the event. They’re calling it A CATastic Spring Celebration. If we get almost everything donated, we could potentially raise five thousand dollars.”

  “Great. Hey, we haven’t sent in our donation yet for the rescued cats,” Michael reminded her. “We can do it through the Cat Alliance if you’d like.”

  Savannah nodded. “Sounds good.”

  “And that will be when?” he asked.

  “Teddy’s party is this Saturday—the eleventh.” When Michael frowned, she explained, “I know, it’s five days before his birthday, but he won’t know the difference. And the fundraising event is the following Saturday—the eighteenth.” When she noticed him looking at her, Savannah asked, “What?”

  “Do you ever rest?” he asked. “You’re an on-the-go mommy.”

  “Go-go Mommy,” Lily chanted.

  Teddy chimed in, “Go Mommy, go Mommy.”

  “Is Mommy going someplace?” Gladys asked when she returned to the kitchen.

  Savannah shook her head. “No. I’ll be home all day. My family’s just giving me a cheer.”

  When Rags meowed, everyone laughed and Gladys said, “Looks like even your cat’s getting into the spirit of things.”

  Savannah leaned over and petted him. She sighed. “Hi, boy. You want to be on the go too, don’t you?” She raised the cat’s chin so she could look into his eyes. “Oh, Rags,” she lamented, “what am I going to do with you? You’re such a good boy and such a problem.”

  “Uh-oh,” Michael said after taking a swig of coffee. “What has he done now?”

  She took a deep breath. “Michael, something happened yesterday after we got home from San Francisco; I received a strange call. You were at the clinic getting caught up with Bud and your staff. The more I think about it the more I…” She paused, then admitted, “Well, I’m a little puzzled by it and kind of concerned.”

  “About what?” he asked, creasing his brow.

  “Some guy called and offered me money for Rags.”

  Michael frowned. “Rags?” He pointed at the grey-and-white cat, who was sitting next to the high chair looking up at Teddy in anticipation of a potential food drop. “Money,” Michael repeated, “for that Rags?”

  Savannah nodded.

  “What did you tell him?” Michael chuckled, then asked, “How much did he offer?” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Enough for us to retire on? Shall I pack Rags’s bags?”

  “No, Michael,” Savannah insisted. “Quit being funny. He scared me a little.”

  More seriously, Michael asked, “He scared you? The man who called?”

  Savannah nodded. “Yes. He sounded kind of, well, odd and really, really determined to buy Rags. He seemed to expect me to turn him over just like that.”

  “Why?” he asked. “I mean, why did this scare you? Did he make any threats? Do you know why he wants the cat?”

  “He didn’t say, but...”

  Michael interrupted. “How much did he offer? How serious is this guy?”

  “He got up to two thousand dollars before I hung up on him,” Savannah said. “I told him that Rags isn’t for sale at any price. That’s when he got huffy with me.” She shuddered. “He said he will have the cat and that’s all there is to it. If I wouldn’t sell him, he’ll just find another way to get him.”

  Michael ran his hand through his hair and winced. “Well, I don’t like the sound of that. It’s too close to being a threat.”

  “Neither did I,” Savannah said. “The whole thing gives me the creeps.”

  “Did he give you a name or contact information?”

  “Just Joe. That’s all. I didn’t think to ask any questions, but I can see now that I should have.” Savannah took a deep breath and let it out. “Michael, I just don’t know what he has in mind or what he might do.”

  “And he didn’t say why he wants the cat, huh?” he asked. “No. He caught me off guard, as you can imagine, and I probably didn’t handle it very well. I told him that Rags is a pet and not for sale. I suggested he go to a shelter and find a cat that looks like Rags, but he insisted that only Rags will do.”

  “Well, isn’t that peculiar? Oh, hon,” he said, comforting her when he saw tears filling her eyes, “that was probably just a fluke. Someone is playing a prank, or maybe he has seen the documentary and decided Rags would be a cool cat to have. You probably won’t hear from him again.”

  “I hope not,” Savannah said. She took a breath. “At least he didn’t call on my cell phone. I don’t give out that number much.”

  “So he called the landline?” Michael asked. “Yeah, if he knows our name, that number would be easy to get. And with your writing and your acting debut, you’re putting your name out there.”

  “What about that guy who paid so much attention to Rags at the theater the last night of the play?” Gladys asked quietly.

  Savannah squinted at her mother. “Who?”

  “The man wearing the tam cap.”

  “Tam cap?” she asked.

  “Beret,” Gladys explained. “It was plaid, and he had a matching tie and a pipe to go with his outfit.”

  “A pipe?” Savannah asked.

  “I saw one in the pocket of his tweed jacket. He was quite an interesting-looking man—maybe a writer of science fiction straight from the 1920s or thirties. You didn’t notice him?” Gladys asked. “He was awfully taken with your cat.”

  Savannah thought for a moment, finally shaking her head. “I met so many people over the weekend.” She faced her mother. “You say he was particularly interested in Rags?”

  “It seemed so, although he wasn’t the only one, so it might mean nothing. It may be that he caught my interest because he reminded me of one of Dad’s cousins who dressed kind of like that. He drove a sports car.”

  “The cousin or the author look-alike?” Michael asked.

  “Dad’s cousin,” Gladys clarified. “I don’t know what that guy drove. Oh, wait, I’m pretty sure I saw him hail a cab.”

  “What would make someone try to practically bully you into selling your cat?” Savannah asked.

  “He bullied you?” Michael asked.

  “Kind of, yes,” she insisted. “I felt like I was being bullied. He put the pressure on, only in a quiet way. He wasn’t yelling or anything.”

  Michael stood up and slipped into his jacket. “Well, like I said, you probably won’t hear from him again. But if you do, let me talk to him, will you?”

  Savannah left her chair and picked up Rags. “But Michael, what if he…”

  “Hon, you know better than to play the what-if game.”

  Michael rested his arms on her shoulders. He peered into her eyes and said tenderly, “Most likely that was just some big-city fruitcake playing a game or something. He probably won’t call again.”

  “I don’t know, Michael. He sounded pretty insistent.”

  He lightly kissed the tip of her nose. “Well, you let me know if he calls again and I’ll take care of it.” He stepped back and glanced around the room at the others, asking, “So what do you girls and baby guy have planned for today?” He looked expectantly at Lily. “Will you be on the go as usual?”

  Savannah shook her head. “Tell Daddy there will be no going anywhere today. Helena and Mommy are going to clean house. It’s time for a deep cleaning.”

  “Yes, it is spring, isn’t it?” Gladys chirped while refreshing her tea.

  “Spring?” Michael questioned.

  Gladys nodded. “Yes, you clean in the spring.” When he looked puzzled, she explained, “Haven’t you ever heard of spring cleaning? That’s when you air everything out after the house has been closed up all winter. You wash walls and carpets and bedding to freshen up the place.”

  “I thought housecleaning was year-round,” he said. “I’m always seeing you gals and
Helena scrubbing, dusting, cleaning, and fluffing something around here.”

  Savannah chuckled. “Yes, there’s everyday cleaning and there’s spring cleaning, which we generally do in spring and fall, right, Mom?”

  Gladys nodded.

  “Spring cleaning in the fall?” Michael asked.

  “Can I clean with you, Mommy?” Lily asked.

  “Hey, I’m not going to turn down any help,” Savannah said. “Sure, honeybun.”

  Lily grabbed Savannah’s arm. “Can I wear my apron, huh, Mommy?”

  “Okay.”

  “You wear your apron, Mommy,” Lily suggested. “Yes, I guess I can.”

  Lily smiled. “Then we’ll match.”

  “Helena helped Maggie clean last week,” Gladys said, clearing some of the dishes off the breakfast table.

  “Oh, she’s doing spring cleaning too, huh?” Savannah asked.

  Gladys nodded. “Yes, and guess what she found while they were reorganizing her closet.”

  “What?” Savannah asked, wiping down Teddy’s high chair.

  Gladys lowered her brow. “She didn’t tell you about it?”

  Savannah shook her head.

  “Money in her pockets?” Michael asked, picking up a small cat carrier and placing it on a chair. “Dust bunnies?” He glanced at Savannah, then Gladys. “Isn’t that what you call those little fuzz balls that hide under the furniture?”

  Gladys chuckled. “Yes, I’m sure they found a few of those, but no. It was a box of Grandpa’s neckties and a manuscript.”

  “Old ties? How cool.” Michael said. “Were they wide or narrow in those days? Plain or striped?”

  “I haven’t seen them, yet, but as I recall Grandpa wore some pretty fancy ties. He liked pigs, so he wore some with pigs on them. Those were my favorites. He also had some classy ones—striped, paisley, polka dotted...”

  “What kind of manuscript?” Savannah asked.

  Gladys brightened. “That was interesting. At some point I guess he planned to write a novel.” She laughed. “It was about a pig farmer. Maggie said it’s a pretty good start, actually. She’s not sure he intended it to be humorous, but it sure made her laugh.”

  “Oh, I’d like to see that. Will she let us borrow it?” Savannah asked.

  Gladys shrugged. “I don’t know why not. She should be finished with it by now. I’ll get it from her.”

  Michael picked up Glori and eased her into the carrier. “Well, I’ll leave you ladies to the spring cleaning and vintage ties. Time to go to work and visit some real pigs.”

  “Pigs, Daddy?” Lily asked. “Baby piggies that go wee-wee all the way home?” “Something like that, punkin.” He grinned. “The pig I’ll be seeing today is having a little trouble in the wee-wee department.” He picked up the carrier.

  Lily ran to him and peered in at the cat. “Where’s Glori going, Daddy? Are you taking her to work? Can I go to work with you?”

  “No, punkin. Glori has to see a cat doctor today.”

  “Is Glori sick?”

  “No. We’re going to see if we can help her to hear better,” he explained. “Remember, we talked about that earlier.”

  “So Teddy won’t run over her tail anymore?” Lily asked.

  Michael nodded. “Yes, punkin. If she can hear him coming, she’ll move out of the way.”

  Lily put her face close to the calico’s and said, “Don’t be afraid, Glori. You’ll be all better.” She kissed the swatch of fur that was pressing through the mesh.

  Savannah joined Lily at the carrier and crooned, “We love you, Glori.” She said to Michael, “Let us know what Doctor Butterfield says.”

  “Sure will,” he agreed, walking out the door with the cat.

  “So, Mom, who called earlier?” Savannah asked as she steered Teddy away from the cats’ kibbles bowl.

  “A telemarketer.”

  “You talked to them? I usually just hang up, if I answer at all.” She looked at her mother. “You didn’t buy solar panels or something, did you?” “No. No one responded when I answered, so I hung up. Then I heard my phone ringing upstairs and went up to get it. That was Karl.”

  “Is he here now, or in Arizona?” Savannah asked.

  “Here,” Gladys said. “His daughter and her family came to celebrate his birthday, and he wants me to join them for dinner tonight. His son-in-law’s hobby is cooking, and he’s going to prepare a special meal.”

  “How nice,” Savannah said. “Sounds like you two are still enjoying each other’s company.”

  Gladys nodded. “Yes, he’s an interesting man.” She looked at Savannah. “I’d like to invite him to Teddy’s birthday party if it’s okay with you.”

  “Of course,” Savannah said. She grinned. “I guess it’s about time he was initiated into the family. Has Bri met him?”

  Gladys shook her head. “Not yet. Your sister keeps so busy, I hardly ever see her myself. Will she make it to Teddy’s party?” “She said she and Bud will be here,” Savannah said. “I haven’t seen her either, but then we’ve been gone a lot. At least that’s what Bri tells me.” Mimicking her sister, Savannah said, “‘You’re never home. You’re always gone someplace interesting and fun. My niece and nephew will be in high school before I even get to know them.’”

  Gladys laughed. She craned to look out the kitchen window. “I think Helena’s here.”

  “Oh darn,” Savannah said. “I’d hoped to have the children bathed by the time she got here. Oh well, I can have her start upstairs.”

  Meanwhile, Lily shouted, “Where’s my apron, Mommy? I want to help you and Helena with my apron. Where is it, Mommy?”

  “Teddy,” Savannah called as the toddler crawled toward the door. Savannah picked him up before opening it so he wouldn’t be hit or crawl out. “Hi, Helena,” she greeted. “Come in, if you dare. I’m afraid we’re running a little late today.”

  “Where’s my apron, Mommy?” Lily persisted.

  “Here, sweetie,” Gladys said, approaching Lily with her hand out. “Grammy will help you get your apron. Come on.”

  “How’s this big boy?” Helena asked, stepping inside and tweaking one of Teddy’s pudgy feet.

  “He’s full of energy,” Savannah said, smiling at her son. She hugged Helena with one arm. “Good to see you. It’s been a while. I’ve missed you, as you can probably tell by the accumulation of dust.”

  Helena smiled. “Your house will always have dust somewhere. It’s a big house. You dust here and by the time you have finished the dusting everywhere else, the dust is back here.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” Savannah agreed, laughing with Helena.

  “It’s a full-time job,” Helena said. “Ongoing.”

  Savannah nodded. “So how have you been, and your family? I see your brother-in-law Antonio often, now that he’s tending this year’s vegetable garden. He and Juan did a lovely job landscaping the yard. Have you seen their beautiful work?”

  “No,” Helena said.

  “We’ll take our lunch break out in the gazebo,” Savannah suggested. “I think you’ll love it.”

  Helena smiled. “That would be very nice.”

  “So you’ve been well?” Savannah asked. “Yes. All is good. My sister Esperanza and I went to Mexico to visit relatives over the holidays.”

  “How nice,” Savannah said. She nodded toward Gladys. “Mom and Auntie took a sister road trip to Los Angeles just before Christmas too.” She grinned. “I hope you and Esperanza weren’t as wild as those two.”

  “Oh?” Helena said, raising her eyebrows.

  When Lily ran to Helena to show off her apron, Helena kneeled and gave her a hug. “You look beautiful. All ready to help, are you? I hear you’ve been helping Uncle Antonio in the garden.”

  “With my digger and my watering can,” Lily said, wide-eyed. “I’m growing peas and carrots and tiny baby tomatoes.”

  “Wonderful. I’d love to see your garden,” Helena said.

  “Okay,” Lily agreed, taking
Helena’s hand and leading her toward the door.

  “Later,” Savannah said. “How about at lunchtime? We’ll eat outside and you can show Helena your garden then, okay? Right now, you can help me get your brother bathed and dressed.” When Lily pouted, Savannah said, “Come on, you can pick out his clothes.”

  “He has sure grown since I last saw him,” Helena said. “He’ll be two soon, right?”

  “Yes. Saturday we’re celebrating here with cake and ice cream and maybe a piñata. Two thirty. Put it on your calendar.”

  “I will. Does he still like trucks?”

  “Oh yes,” Savannah said. “And cats and dogs and horses and cows—toys, I mean—replicas.”

  “A budding veterinarian,” Helena said, smiling.

  ****

  “I can’t believe how much we accomplished this morning,” Savannah said, placing a plate of sandwiches on a small table in the gazebo just after noon. Gladys poured iced tea into three glasses and opened juice boxes for the children.

  Helena arranged the small plates and napkins. “With everyone working, it goes pretty fast.” She smiled. “Even Teddy-boy helped with his little shovel.”

  Gladys ran her hand over the toddler’s hair. “He certainly stayed busy pulling toys from his toy box and shoveling them back in.” She asked Helena, “So what do you think of Lily’s garden?”

  “It’s magnificent,” she said, smiling at the child. “She showed me how she waters everything. She even spoke Spanish to her tomato plants.”

  “She spoke Spanish?” Savannah asked.

  “Yes,” Helena said. “She says Antonio taught her bonito and bello .”

  Savannah smiled. “I didn’t know that.”

  “I told her a little Spanish while we were chasing dust balls in her bedroom. I hope that’s okay,” Helena said.

  “Of course it’s okay,” Savannah said. “We want her to be well-rounded and able to communicate with people from all cultures.”

  “So what did you teach her?” Gladys asked, amused.