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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The cat came back

The late blooming daisies salted the yard at midnight. As the cars drove passed they seemed to wave into the drawing light and then wimper away as it left. Inside the abandoned house a cat slipped through a broken dog door and warily stepped over a heap of wet cloths and after carefully observing the dusty kitchen strutted down the hallway to see what was breathing in the room at the far end.
The black and grey on it’s coat blended into the old worn flowery wall paper as it rubbed it’s scent on the trimmed floor border. When the soft rhythmic weezing of the bedroom came into view the cat happily pounced on to the carpet and then with a silent leap it cradled itself into the feet of what smelled like a gentle human under freshly washed linen sheets.

In the morning, when Tabitha woke with an abrupt scream, the cat scurried off as quickly and as quietly as it had come. Tabitha looked around the room unsure if she could remember where she was. Last night flooded back in, and she exhaled in relief. It was the last time she would be able to sleep in the house that she had made into her temporary home.
As the 42 year old woman gathered the cloths she had found in the closet into her brother’s old marine duffle bag she hummed to herself. Her mother had often sang ‘que sara sara’ to her as a child, and the words seemed to hard to say aloud as she walked to the backdoor. When she opened the door, about the only thing left in the house that worked properly, a grey and black cat stood startled at the steps. It let down it’s hackles and loudly Meewed at her.
Tabitha smiled, reached down and skillfully lifted it up into her arms. “You can’t stay here much longer buddy, the city is going to tear it down soon.” When she tried to put it down, the cat protested harshly digging it’s claws into her shoulder purring. “Well then!”
She adjusted her duffle and sat down to talk to the animal. “I can’t take you with me stranger, although I would love the company.” She brushed her fingers through the clean soft fur. “I guess we could both use for a friend.” The cat Meewed once more and lept down without clawing her. “I’m going to call you Prote.” Tabitha’s favorite movie had a character with that name, and somehow it fit the cat more then any other she could come up with. Prote walked toward the gate to the back yard, stopped at the latch and waited for Tabitha to open it.

Tabitha was not sure where she would go next, but following a cat seemed no more insane then running against the wind. Prote led the way for a long while down the dusty alleyways until they reached a choice between the national forest bike path and a paved curvey road. Prote sniffed the air, perked it’s ears west and then east. The duffle needed to be shifted to the other side, and it seemed like a fine time to take a break. Prote sat, licked it’s hind leg, then as if lighting had struck inches behind it’s tail ran screaming across the road and down the wooded path. The road was empty, and the territory had it’s fair share of critters that could kill and maim her. Tabitha threw her bag over the other shoulder and quickly walked to find the cat.

Once the fright of the cat running off wildly had worn off Tabitha started calling out, “here kitty kitty!”
Not long after she had called out once more, she could hear a soft Meewing behind some moss covered logs fallen long ago around the next curve. When she got near the logs her legs became weak. A small body lay curled up as Prote nuzzled at the small hand sticking out of oversized sleeves of a men’s fleece camping jacket. The boy made a sad giggle and began to sit up awkwardly.
Tabitha hurried over to him, stretching her long legs gracefully over the bark of the trees. “Are you allright?”
The boy, startled scooped up the cat and began sobbing into it’s fur. “Oh Kevin, I knew you’d find someone!” The cat meowed and licked at his chin.
Tabitha reached out her hand to help him up. “That is one smart cat you have there child.” The boy accepted her hand and Kevin lept down happily his tail gliding through the boy’s hands on the way.
“Can you take me home?” The boy now smiled eagerly.
“Yes, lets get you and Kevin back to the campground” Tabitha had walked the path many times when she was a child and knew exactly which forks to take back to the ranger station. She stopped the boy before the search team by the green building could see her. “I’m glad you’re ok child, but I can’t go up there.” The boy nodded and with a “Thank you!” He ran toward the throng of people. Dogs barked as he approached and Tabitha hurried back from where she came. Prote had followed her and jumped sternly in front of her path.
“Go back to your boy Kevin.” The cat stepped once more into her path as she tried to go around him.
“I’m not going back!” The cat hissed at her and stood like a mama cougar ready to pounce. “You’re crazy cat!” Tabitha felt herself welling up with sadness. The cat sat now, defiant in front of her. She knelt down running her hands under his fat cheeks. “It isn’t over Prote… I still have one more to save, Your boy isn’t the last one.”
The cat stared steadily into her eyes. A voice sternly addressed her from behind. “Ma’am. Please, I want to thank you.” Tabitha cringed. She had spent four years avoiding human contact and now… She had no choice. It crossed her mind to run into the woods, but something froze her legs, and the cat lay sprawled in front of her toes stretching out his legs and neck as he rolled.
Tabitha turned slowly and the man embraced her fiercely. She had not had time to see his face. “Tabitha!” She could feel his arms locking around her. “I thought you were dead!” Her brother twirled her around and sat her down hastily. “Why? Where have you…”
Tabitha began crying, gutteral heaving sobs. “I had to save seven… “
Her brother Russell pulled her face up, “Seven? Tabitha what are you talking about?”
“The fire… I had to save seven.” She hid her face into his broad hot chest. Her face felt so cold.
“Oh honey….” Russell put his hand on her head brushing the stray tendrils down. “That fire wasn’t your fault, the fire chief said that a gas line had fractured by the dryer another apartment was using and leaked into the stairwell.”
Tabitha stopped, her body fell limp and she held on to him in joy. “Oh Russell, I’m so sorry!”
The cat had finally run back to the boy and led him back to the two standing together at the fork in the path. “Dad?” the boy tugged at his pant leg.
“Tabitha meet your nephew Tony.” The boy cocked his head to the side and looked up at her in confusion.
She smiled down at the cat looking quite satisfied with himself as she introduced herself. “I’m your Aunt Tabitha, it is my utmost pleasure to meet you young man.” She reached down to shake his hand and he, like that strange cat lept up into her arms for a hug.
Tony looked up at his father. He beemed down at the two as if capturing the moment in every detail in his mind. Tony proudly exclaimed, “I told you Kevin was the best cat ever!”
Tabitha smiled, “He saved you and me kiddo.” She grabbed her duffle bag where it had fallen and smiled at Russell. “I’m starving, think you could make your favorite sister some of those barbecue burgers?”
Kevin the cat Meewed, Tony jumped shouting “Ya! Me too!” and Russell smiled leading them both back to the ranger station nodding and happily hushing the two, “Yes already! Lets go home.”

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