The Christmas Cat Tails
Page 12
"He's just fine. Meows a lot. I think he misses you. I picked him up yesterday. He's adjusting to my new apartment. I'm not allowed pets there, but I snuck him in. I'm going to find a new place that allows cats."
"I want to see Jasper, but they won't let me."
"Who won't let you?"
"The staff here."
Vera pulled up the blanket and shook.
"Grandma, you let me worry about that."
Sharon stood up and walked out to the nurse's station and stared the woman behind the counter in the eye.
"My grandmother wants to see Jasper. Do you allow cats in here?"
"No, we don't.”
"Why not?"
"They could cause an infection or allergic reaction in our patients. Also, some of our residents may be scared of or hate cats. We try to keep everyone as comfortable as possible."
"My grandma is not comfortable because she cannot see him."
"I'm sorry, we have to look at our patients as a whole. Some of our people suffer from delusions as they get closer to passing. A cat can exacerbate the problem. These patients need rest, peace and comfort, and a cat can disturb them."
"But if her kitty is in her room with the door closed, there's no chance he'll affect anyone else."
"Nope, sorry."
"Listen, my grandmother is almost gone. Jasper and I are all she has. Please let me bring him to see her. He will make her happy in her final days. She's begging to see him."
A doctor walked up to them and listened. The nurse shook her head "no."
"What's going on?"
"They won't let me bring my grandmother's cat in so she can see him one last time," Sharon said.
"Those are the rules here. We cannot allow any pets in here," the doctor said.
"But it would mean so much to a dying old lady."
"No."
Sharon made a fist and walked back to Vera's room. She sat with the ailing woman until they both grew weary. Vera slept and Sharon went home.
How can I get Jasper in to see her? I'm not giving up. But what can I do?
Chapter Thirteen
Over the next few days, Vera's condition worsened. The nurses inserted a catheter into her bladder. Her weakness prevented her from using the toilet. She lay motionless in her bed most of the day. They injected her IV with morphine for the pain. Sharon visited often.
*
Sharon's phone rang on a Saturday morning. She answered it.
"Vera had a rough night last night," the nurse said. "The doctor doesn't think she'll last the day."
Sharon hung up, dressed and put Jasper in his carrier.
"I'm doing this whether they like it or not."
She took Jasper and headed to the hospice.
*
Sharon brought Jasper into the building. The receptionist stopped her at the entrance.
"You can't bring that cat in here."
"It's my grandmother's last day on earth so I'm bringing him in."
"You can't bring it in here."
"Just watch me."
Sharon pushed past the receptionist and strode down the corridor toward Vera's room.
"Hey, come back here. I'm calling security."
Sharon made it to Vera's room and took Jasper inside.
She looks dead. Did I get here in time?
A doctor stood by her heart monitor, focused on it. Jasper meowed.
"Grandma, I have Jasper."
The doctor turned and Vera opened her eyes.
"Jasper?"
"I have him."
Sharon set the carrier on the chair and opened the gate. She took him out. Vera raised her hand and touched him. Sharon put Jasper on the bed beside Vera. Jasper sniffed at her and settled in beside her. Vera lifted her head and smiled.
"Thank you, honey."
Vera lay her hand on the soft Siamese. Jasper curled beside her, pushed his head into her hand and purred.
"Her heart rate is up a little," the doctor said.
Sharon followed the doctor's eyes to the monitor and back to Vera and Jasper. Vera smiled.
A security guard opened the door and came in with the receptionist behind him.
"You have to get that cat out of here," she said.
"Ma'am, you have to leave," the security guard said.
"Jasper, no," Vera said.
Her smile faded and her heart rate spiked.
"It's all right," the doctor said. "The cat can stay."
"But it is not allowed," the receptionist said.
"You are upsetting my patient. Please leave the room."
The woman shook her head and exited the room with the security guard behind her.
"You can stay here with Jasper as long as you like. He has a good effect on her. Maybe we should rethink our pet policy."
Sharon smiled and Vera's heart rate calmed. The doctor stepped out of the room.
Jasper stayed by Vera's side the rest of the day and into the night. Nurses and the doctor went in and out through the day and night, checking on the old woman and her cat.
"She's lasted longer than we thought," the doctor said to Sharon.
*
In the morning, Vera died with Jasper curled beside her and a smile on her face.
When they came to take Vera's body away, Sharon gathered up Jasper and tucked him into the carrier. She sat and mourned. Jasper did not meow.
"She's gone, Jasper."
*
Vera Boxton's funeral service occurred three days later. Sharon returned to work the next day. She sat at her desk and thought.
How she loved Jasper...and maybe me too.
Chapter Fourteen
Sharon sat in the lunchroom and took out her iPhone. A voicemail waited. She listened to it. Mr. Young called to make an appointment for the reading of the will. Sharon returned his call and booked a time in two days.
That day at 9:30am with only Sharon in attendance, the lawyer read the will.
"She left everything to you."
After the final arrangements, Sharon and Jasper moved into Vera's old house - free and clear. Vera also willed Sharon $260, 595.00 she had saved in a retirement account.
"That's a whole lot of cat food for you, Jasper. Best cat ever," Sharon said, hugging and kissing her Siamese.
“Thank you, Grandma.”
Thank You
Thank you for buying and reading this book and for trusting me to entertain you. I hope you’ll consider writing a blurb about “The Christmas Cat Tails” in the book listing’s review section. It would be a huge honor if you did. And very much appreciated!
Best wishes always,
Peter
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About the Author
A cat lover from an early age, Peter Scottsdale wrote his first cat tale, “The Cat and the Dog,” in a grade three creative writing exercise – the story of a cat and a dog lost in the woods, and the police shooting the dog for some reason. Peter drew inspiration for the story from Disney’s The Incredible Journey.
Inspired by such books as Hardy Boys Mysteries, Marvel Comics and Mythology by Edith Hamilton, Scottsdale wrote several published short stories with his grade nine English teacher.
Then life happened. Scottsdale stopped writing, only scribbling bits of story every so often. A family came along which turned into single parenthood. He raised his kids and wrote here-and-there.
Throughout his life, cats have been a welcome and influencing presence. From Tia (a Siamese) to Booties (a Tabby with White) to Rusty (an orange boy with little ears) t
o Sam the Siamese, Peter has loved all his felines (and still does). He’s loved all his cats so much so he started to write about them. They have inspired and delighted him to create cat stories and to find feline facts for his books.
Cat lover turned author, Peter Scottsdale published his first book, 365 Fascinating Facts You Didn’t Know About Your Cat, in 2012. He followed that with “The Christmas Cat” and more cat books both in print and as ebooks – all available online.
An English Major, Scottsdale graduated from Medicine Hat College with an Associate of Arts Diploma in 1995. He continues to research our furry felines and write cat fiction and non-fiction and hopes fellow kitty-cat people will enjoy his work.
Currently, he resides in Medicine Hat, AB with his three cats: Tanzy (the feisty feline), Alley (the mischief maker) and Tigger (the gentle giant).