The Christmas Cat Tails

by Peter Scottsdale

  “Daddy,” Chelsey said and ran up to her bedroom, crying. Darla felt like throwing up and backed away from the door. The officers stepped inside.

  “Mrs. Ashton, your cat survived the crash. He doesn’t appear to be hurt,” the tall cop said. He held out the cat carrier, but Darla just shook her head and burst out crying, wailing, and sobbing.

  The policeman put the carrier on the carpet. Knowing there was nothing else they could do at that time, the officers again said they were sorry and left, closing the door behind them.

  Darla’s legs gave out, and she fell to the floor. “Why? Why? Why?” she kept screaming over and over. She stayed on the floor, mourning. Both her and her daughter cried themselves to sleep that night.

  Chapter Four

  - 1 -

  The next morning – Christmas morning, Darla checked on Chelsey and found her still sleeping. So she went downstairs. Darla ignored Capone who meowed from the cat cage as she walked by and went into the kitchen. She telephoned her mother and, through tears, told her about Ken’s death. Her mother, Grace, told her she was coming over. She arrived fifteen minutes later.

  Grace knocked and opened the front door, finding Darla on the other side waiting for her mother. They hugged and cried, holding each other for a good long while until Capone started to meow.

  Hoping to get her mind off Ken, Grace said, “Since when do you have a cat?”

  Meanwhile Chelsey had woke up and came downstairs when she heard her grandma’s voice. She stood there quietly, watching, waiting but not sure what she was waiting for.

  “Yes, Ken was bringing Chelsey’s new cat home when the accident happened.”

  Chelsey gasped which got her mother’s and grandmother’s attention.

  “Come here, darlin’,” Grace said and held out her arms, but her granddaughter turned and, with head hung low, went back up to her room.

  “She’s hurting,” Grace said.

  Capone meowed.

  “Now I don’t know what to do with Capone,” Darla said.

  “Have you fed him this morning?”

  “No, he’s been in the cage since the cops brought him home last night.”

  “Well, we better feed him. Where’s the cat food?” Grace said, and Darla pointed to the kitchen cupboards. “I’ll get his breakfast, you let him out of the cage,” Grace said and stepped into the kitchen.

  Darla bent down and looked at Capone. He looked frightened. She opened the carrier gate and Capone ran out, looking for a place to hide. He ran into the living room and out into the kitchen. He left the kitchen and went upstairs quickly until he found a place he hoped he wouldn’t be found.

  In the kitchen, Grace put out some Meow Mix and water. Darla came into the kitchen and told her mother where Capone went.

  “He’s scared because he’s in a new home and everything. He’ll come out eventually. Have you put out some litter for him?”

  “We put it in the furnace room when Chelsey was at her friend’s yesterday.” Darla’s lower lip and chin started to tremble, and Grace held her daughter again, knowing any mention of Ken is going to get her upset for a long time to come.

  After a minute or two, Darla pulled away and said, “I’m alright. Mom. I’m alright. We should get the turkey in the oven. Ken’s gone, but we’re still having a Christmas dinner.

  “Good,” Grace said. “I’ll call your dad and let him know.”

  - 2 -

  Upstairs, Chelsey pushed her face into her pillow, crying. “Why did you die, Daddy? I want you back home. Please come home.”

  Chelsey didn’t see Capone come into her room. He stayed low to the floor and ducked under the bed.

  “God, please bring my daddy home.”

  She kicked all her stuffed animals off the bed and slammed her head back into the pillow. She stayed there sobbing until she felt something tickle her face. She opened her eyes and saw Capone’s whiskers were touching her cheek. He was sniffing her, and his whiskers were wiggling.

  Chelsey jumped up and yelled, “Get out of here, you stupid cat! You’re the reason my daddy died. It’s your fault. I wish I never saw you. Get out!”

  Capone darted off the bed, ran out into the hallway, down the stairs, and hid behind the couch.

  “I hate that cat.”

  Chapter Five

  - 1 -

  A few minutes after two, Chelsey’s Grandpa Tom – a tall thin man who loved to dance – arrived and went to see his granddaughter upstairs in her room. He knocked on the door and gently opened it.

  “Sweet Pea?” He always called her that.

  Chelsey looked up, tears on her face, and almost shouted, “ Grandpa.” She got up off her bed and ran to him.

  “My daddy’s dead.”

  “I know,” he said. They embraced without a sound. After a while, Tom wiped her tears away and looked her in the eye. “You need to be strong for your mom. She’s hurting, too.”

  Chelsey nodded.

  “C’mon, let’s go downstairs. Your mom and grandma are cooking Christmas dinner and need our help.” He thought it best she keep busy and maybe take her mind off her dad.

  - 2 -

  As soon as they reached the kitchen, Darla put Chelsey to work cutting carrots and then some celery.

  Soon, more family arrived, many who had plans at their own homes but decided Darla and Chelsey needed them. Fifteen relatives in all came, most bringing food. They had enough food to serve thirty.

  The home was bustling with people and conversation about Ken, saying he was a great guy, good husband and father. A family of cat lovers, soon the talk turned to cats.

  “Ken loved cats. He got one for Chelsey for Christmas.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Hiding. There’s too much commotion going on in his new home. He’s a little scared.”

  “The poor thing.”

  “What kind is he?”

  “A Tuxie.”

  “Aww, they’re so cute.”

  “Didn’t Ken have an orange one? I love orange ones.”

  “Yea, Red. Did Ken ever tell you what he brought home one day?”

  “A half-dead mouse?”

  “No. Five and a half wieners.”

  “What? Really? How did he carry five wieners?”

  “They figured he brought them home in his mouth one at a time from someone’s garbage.”

  “I guess he figured he needed to feed his humans.”

  “Ken and Darla called him garbage guts.”

  “He was such a beautiful boy.”

  “I got a Siamese. And she brought home a dead gopher that looked like it got run over.”

  “Ewww.” And they laughed.

  “You know what Scottie, my big Tabby puss, does to me? He gets between whatever I’m reading and me. It’s like he’s saying, ‘Pay attention to me.’”

  “So does mine.”

  “And mine. But she’s so cute I grab her and kiss her a whole bunch, and she quickly gets down.”

  Giggles.

  “That wouldn’t work with me. Scottie loves kisses – or at least he puts up with them.”

  “I love kissin’ cats.”

  “Yea, well, a few days ago my Billy Puss stole a piece of my fish and chips before I sat down to eat.”

  “Did you get it back?”

  “Nope, didn’t bother. I wasn’t going to eat it after he had his paws and teeth on it. Besides it hit the floor when he jumped down then he picked it up and ran down the hall.”

  Gasps and laughter.

  The conversation ended when Chelsey entered the room.

  “Dinner’s ready,” she said.

  “Do you like your new cat?”

  “No.”

  Silence.

  And then they filed into the dining room. The lively conversation soon continued over dinner and afterward with pumpkin pie and Cool Whip for dessert.

  Some relatives went home soon after supper, each hugging Darla and Chelsey and expressing condolences and Merry Christmases. Ot
hers helped with the clean up before they too went home. The last to leave were Chelsey’s grandparents.

  Darla and Chelsey sat in the living room, daughter on mother, and watched “Shrek the Halls” on DVD. Chelsey fell asleep, and Darla carried her upstairs, barely. The girl had grown.

  After putting her daughter to bed, Darla went back downstairs and turned on Ken’s favorite album – “Faith” by George Michael. She sat on the couch. The title song came on, and Darla asked, “What am I going to do without you?”

  Then she heard some crunching coming from the kitchen. She got up off the couch to investigate, suspecting what it was. She turned on the kitchen light and saw Capone eating the cat food left out for him. And she smiled a little smile.

  Chapter Six

  Three days after Christmas, Darla sat her daughter down to explain the next day. She reached out to her daughter and took her hand.

  “Chelsey, We’re going to bury your father tomorrow. Do you know what happens at a funeral?”

  Chelsey shook her head.

  “There will be a casket with Daddy in it. It will be closed.” She didn’t explain his head was too mangled to have an open casket. “We will sit in the family area. The pastor will say a prayer and your Uncle Wesley will give the eulogy. That’s where he talks about how good your dad was. Then your dad’s favorite song will be played.”

  “You Make My Dreams?”

  “Yes. When the service is over, we will go to the cemetery and bury him. You gonna be okay?”

  Chelsey nodded and hugged her mom. “He was such a good daddy.”

  Behind them, Capone jumped onto the back of the couch. He stuck his nose between them and purred. Darla smiled and gave him a scratch around his ears.

  “Mom, can we get rid of this cat?

  Darla’s mouth dropped open. “What? Why?”

  “If not for that cat, Daddy would still be alive.”

  “Chelsey, it’s not Capone’s fault he’s dead. It’s the woman who was driving drunk. It’s her fault.”

  “Yea, but if Daddy wasn’t out getting that cat, he would still be alive. He’d be here – right now.”

  “It’s not the cat’s fault. I know you’re mad, Honey, but you can’t blame Capone.”

  “I don’t want him here, I don’t want him in my room, I don’t want him at all. I hate cats.”

  “I know that’s not true. You’re hurt and angry. I understand, Honey. So am I. I want her to pay. She killed your daddy and hardly got hurt – just a few stitches.”

  “I hope the police got her too,” Chelsey said. Then a moment of silence.

  “You know, Sweetheart, getting Capone for you for Christmas was your dad’s last gesture of love to you. He wanted you to have him, to love him. Look at him. He’s so cute.”

  Chelsey looked at Capone and quietly said, “Stupid cat.”

  And Capone purred.

  Chapter Seven

  - 1 -

  Sleepy-eyed and dopey, Chelsey got out of bed. Her father’s funeral was today at 10am, and she had to get ready. She went into the bathroom, peed, and was glad she didn’t see Capone. She turned on the bathroom radio and got undressed. The Wanted came over the airwaves. She loved The Wanted and this song, “Glad You Came,” particularly. A bouncy tune. She needed that.

  After turning on the shower, she got in and let the water run over her, wondering and hoping if this shower could go on forever. She didn’t see Capone come into the bathroom. She shampooed her red hair and washed her freckled face and body. After rinsing off, she turned off the water, and slid open the shower door. She took a towel off the rack and put it on her head, rubbing her face and hair. She didn’t see Capone approach.

  Suddenly, she felt something wet and rough on her right foot. She pulled the towel off her head and looked down. Capone was licking her toes.

  “Ewww! Gross! Go away! Mom! Mom!”

  From her bedroom, Darla rushed into the bathroom to see what was going on. And laughed. “He’s drying you off,” she said.

  “Please, Mom, make him stop.”

  Darla picked up Capone and held him.

  “Stupid cat.”

  “He’s just showing he loves you,” Darla told her daughter. And her daughter let out a loud, hard, heavy sigh.

  “Okay, get ready. I’m going to start making breakfast.”

  Darla left the bathroom with Capone, closing the door behind her. Chelsey finished drying herself off, took her blue housecoat from the hook on the door and put it on. She went downstairs to eat breakfast. It was 8:35am.

  - 2 -

  After the funeral, everyone agreed it was a beautiful ceremony. Many tears flowed, and they said good-bye to Kenneth Ashton. Ken’s elderly parents made the four hour trip to attend and gave Ken’s wife and daughter hugs and gentle words. The church was full of mourners offering condolences.

  They buried Ken in the Langston Falls Cemetery with a short service. A luncheon in the church basement followed with much talk about Ken and plenty of finger food, coffee, and Tang. Eventually, most people filtered out, leaving a few to clean up the hall and turn out the lights. Darla and Chelsey went home sad yet satisfied.

  One thing had been neglected, and it was time to take care of it.

  - 3 -

  They arrived home a little after one in the afternoon and decided to open their Christmas gifts. There would be some from Ken, but they would be strong. Darla and Chelsey kneeled around the old tree. They each took a turn opening a gift, leaving the ones from Ken last.

  Chelsey got The Wanted “Battleground” CD she asked for and couldn’t wait to import it onto her iPod. Clothes, including a purple blouse, for Chelsey – she looked cute in purple and loved the color – were given. Chelsey gave her mother a set of fancy soaps and bath salts that she bought by saving her allowance.

  Darla picked up a small box that had a red ribbon on it. It was from Ken. A note attached said, “To My Darling Wife With All My Heart.” Darla barely held back the tears.

  “Open it, Mom.”

  She undid the ribbon, placed it aside, and opened the green box. Inside was a long gold chain with a sitting cat pendant and a small diamond for the eye.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, and Chelsey nodded. Darla put the chain around her neck, and Chelsey did up the clasp. Darla gazed at the pendant and ran her fingers over it.

  Off to her right, Capone had come into the room and started playing with the ribbon. They watched as he flopped to the floor, bit the ribbon, and rolled around with it. Suddenly, he got up and raced out of the living room and up the stairs with the ribbon in his mouth and dragging behind him. Darla laughed. Chelsey did not. But she held back a smile that almost leaked out.

  “He’s such a funny kitty. And he’s got that milk moustache I love. Isn’t he cute?”

  “No – maybe – I don’t know,” Chelsey said and shrugged.

  All the gifts to Darla and Chelsey were opened. The ones for Ken remained unopened. Darla decided to return the gifts to the store. They would need the money until his life insurance check arrived. It was a $200,000 policy, but she would take him back without the money if she could.

  Chelsey had about a week until school started again, and Darla decided to wait to return to work at Co-op Grocery Store until then. She needed time for both of them.

  Chapter Eight

  - 1 -

  Darla dropped Chelsey off at Webster Niblock School the morning classes started again after Christmas holidays and headed for work for her first day back as well.

  After Chelsey got out of the car, Sue ran up and hugged her. The two friends hadn’t seen each other since before Christmas.

  “Good morning, Darla,” Sue yelled after Darla had already driven away. She turned back to Chelsey.

  “I’m sorry about your dad,” she said and hugged Chelsey again.

  “What did you get for Christmas?” Chelsey asked, wanting to change the subject.

  “I got a new Barbie. I love Barbie. And a Barbie car too.
New jeans and this shirt I got on. Look.” Sue opened her jacket, revealing a pink shirt with a picture of her cat on it.

  Chelsey looked and said, “Cool” but didn’t mean it.

  “My grandma gave me fifty dollars. Mom says I can spend twenty dollars, and the rest goes in the bank. We went to see her in Calgary for Christmas. We went to the Calgary Tower. Oh, and I got this Mickey Mouse watch. I love it.” Sue showed her watch to Chelsey. “I love it, too.”

  “What did you get?” Sue asked. Chelsey listed what she got for Christmas and ended with, “And a cat I don’t want.”

  “You got that cat?” That’s so cool.”

  “No, it’s not. You want him?”

  “Really?”

  Chelsey nodded.

  “Yeah, I’ll take him.” Sue jumped up and down a few times. “I already got one cat. I love cats. Did you name him ‘Suits’?”

  “No. I don’t want to name him. I’ll bring him over tomorrow.”

  “Okay, but I gotta ask my mom first.”

  The bell rang signaling school’s starting, and the girls ran inside.

  - 2 -

  Outside after school, it snowed. The girls walked together until they had to part ways to get home.

  “Don’t forget to ask your mom,” Chelsey said while walking away from her friend.

  “I won’t. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Chelsey walked alone, getting home a little before four. Her mother was home from the grocery store, sitting at the kitchen table, holding an envelope. Darla knew what was inside. A check for $200,000.00. The money would pay for Ken’s funeral, the remainder of the mortgage, and the $26,783.27 in credit card debt they accumulated over the years. That would leave about $15,000.00. Darla decided it would go into a college fund for Chelsey they always meant to start. The phone rang. Darla answered it.

  “Hello?”