Meow and Forever

by Patricia Fry

  Savannah agreed. “Yes, she likes to follow Rags, but she’ll go only so far. When he jumps up onto the windowsill perch, she sits on the floor and waits for him to come down.” She chuckled. “This seems to puzzle Rags. He’ll sometimes jump down and nudge her, then jump back up there as if he’s waiting for her to join him.” She looked at Michael. “So Doctor Butterfield thinks a polyp or swelling is hampering her quality of life—I mean more so than just the hearing aspect?” When Michael looked puzzled, she explained, “I’ve been thinking, I don’t want to subject her to serious surgery if her quality of life won’t improve.”

  “Sure it will—I mean, she’s at risk without her hearing. If she were to get out in traffic or a wild animal was stalking her…”

  “Don’t even go there,” Savannah said, shuddering. She scooted her chair out and picked up Glori, scratching the cat’s cheek affectionately. “You are so cute.” She yelped, “Michael, did you see that?”

  “What?” Michael asked.

  “She seemed to respond to my voice. She’s looking at me as I’m talking. She hasn’t done that before.” When she saw that he was grinning at her, she said, “Michael, she seems to hear me.”

  “Yes,” he said, reaching over and petting Glori. He smiled when she turned her head to look at him. “She can hear better. Like I said, we found a lot of stuff down deep in the ear. The ear canal is inflamed, and the meds could be helping with that as we speak. If all goes well, we can flush the rest of that stuff out of there and with the inflammation under control, she should be able to hear some—more than she did.”

  Savannah cheered. “Oh, Glori, isn’t that wonderful?”

  “Not too loud,” he cautioned. “Noise might actually hurt her ears for a while. She may seek out quiet spots away from the family for the next week or so.”

  “So no surgery?” Gladys asked.

  Michael frowned. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it and I’d like to talk to Diane about getting the swelling down more first—before we decide on surgery.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.” Savannah ruffled the fur on the cat’s head and smiled down at her. “Good idea, huh, sweet girl?” Just then Lily scooted out of her booster seat and joined her mother and Glori. Savannah asked, “Are you finished eating, hon…” She glanced at her mother. “I mean, Lily?”

  Gladys grinned.

  “You, too?” Savannah asked, as Teddy pushed away from his high chair tray. She released Glori to the floor and helped the toddler out of his chair. Moments later Teddy rode into the kitchen on his dump truck. Glori stiffened and turned in his direction. When she saw it was Teddy scooting the truck toward her, she trotted to him.

  “Glori, want to go for a ride?” Lily asked, picking up the cat. “Stop, Teddy,” she demanded. “Stop! Glori wants a ride.” The toddler did as his sister asked and Lily placed the calico in the bed of the truck, where she sat for a ride around the kitchen and dining room.

  When Rags saw Glori in the truck, he walked closer and sniffed her. Teddy scooted the truck ahead, and Rags jumped back. Teddy stopped again, and Rags pawed at Glori. Finally, Rags jumped up onto the truck with Glori and began licking her face.

  Savannah grabbed her phone and took a few photos. She laughed. “How cute is that?” When she saw Buffy step out of her canopy bed, she said, “Look, Buffy, sweet Glori is all better.”

  Buffy let out a soft mew and Glori turned her head. She jumped off the truck and trotted to Buffy, rubbing against her. Surprised, Buffy stepped back, then moved forward and sniffed Glori suspiciously.

  Savannah laughed. “That’s Glori, Buffy-girl. Does she smell different?” She ran her hand over Buffy’s fur. “Yeah, she was at the clinic yesterday and now she smells funny, but she’s still our Glori.” Savannah petted both cats until Rags joined them and tried to herd Glori toward the living room. Everyone laughed when Glori stopped, faced him, and batted him with a paw. She sauntered back to Buffy and begged for more petting from Savannah, leaving Rags sitting alone and watching from a distance.

  His solitude didn’t last long, for Rags saw something off to the side of the room and he made a leap for it.

  “No!” Savannah yelped, but it was too late. Rags was already in midair heading for a crash course with Lexie, who was on the same mission as Rags.

  “What is that?” Gladys shrieked, clasping her hands against her chest.

  “A lizard!” Savannah shouted. “No, Rags! No, Lexie!” she called, just as the feline and the pooch collided. Lexie was knocked off balance, and Rags fell to one side, slid across the floor, and slammed into a wall.

  “Are you okay?” Savannah asked, attending to Rags, who seemed to be glaring at Lexie. She laughed. “It wasn’t her fault, Ragsie. I think you’re okay.”

  “Oh no,” Gladys said, pointing.

  When Savannah turned and saw Buffy walking away with the lizard in her mouth, she grimaced. “Not you, Buffy. Come on now, that’s gross. Give me that thing so I can turn him loose.” As Savannah approached Buffy, Glori kicked into high gear and batted the lizard out of Buffy’s jaws, then pounced on it. What happened next surprised everyone. Buffy recovered and sprinted after Glori, landed in the middle of her back and wrestled her to the floor. Glori wasn’t about to let her catch go, and she rolled over and kicked with all fours, finally thwarting Buffy’s attempt to regain control of the lizard.

  When Savannah saw Rags’s body tense up, she grabbed him and kept him from lurching forward, murmuring, “We don’t need you in the kitty-pig pile.”

  “Mommy, Buffy hurt Glori. Make them stop!” Lily shouted.

  Laughing hysterically, Savannah continued to hold tightly to Rags. When she saw Lexie quivering with excitement while watching the two fluff balls tangle, she commanded, “Stay, Lexie.”

  Lexie glanced at her and whimpered.

  “Michael, do something!” Savannah shouted.

  “Me, break up a girl fight?” he joked, walking toward the two cats and lifting Buffy into his arms. He attempted to get Glori to release the lizard. When the calico pulled away from him, he handed Buffy to Gladys and trotted after Glori. “Give that to me, you silly girl. You’ve made your point. You’re the best hunter in the group. Now, let the poor little fellow go.” Picking up Glori, he removed the reptile from her mouth, examined it, and said, “He’ll live.” He looked into Glori’s eyes. “He probably would make you sick if you ate him. Don’t you know that? Stay away from lizards, okay?” He placed Glori on the floor and released the lizard outside.

  “Whew!” Gladys said. “That was quite a rumble.”

  Savannah nodded. “Yes, it was. I can see that these guys need more enrichment.”

  “Enrichment?” Gladys repeated.

  “Yes—jobs, things to do, more challenging toys and play time,” she explained.

  “You want them to get a summer job?” Michael asked.

  “You know what I mean, Michael,” Savannah insisted. “Maybe a larger and more complex cat tree.”

  “They have a whole staircase to climb,” he reminded her.

  Savannah squinted. “Well, I’ll think of something. Hey, we can move their toys around so they have to hunt for them. We need to play with them more often and maybe give them more outdoor time.”

  “So they can chase lizards and get fleas?” he asked.

  “Oh, no!” Gladys said, pointing. She laughed. “He’s back.”

  “Who?” Savannah asked, turning.

  “The lizard,” Gladys barked.

  “Oh, my gosh!” Savannah picked up the lizard and looked into his face. “What are you thinking? Are you on a suicide mission?” She asked, “Lily, want to go outside with Mommy to find a nice home for Mr. Lizard?”

  Lily nodded. “A house?”

  “I’m thinking maybe in the garden where he can hunt for insects that are bothering our vegetables.”

  “My peas?” Lily said. “My carrots?”

  “Yes,” Savannah said. “Got your shoes on? Let’s get your jacket and w
e’ll go out and find him a new place to live where there’s lots of breakfast.” On their way back to the house, Savannah stepped up onto the porch and began to laugh. “Well, will you look at that?”

  “What?” Lily asked.

  Savannah pointed at the large kitchen window, where three adorable kitty-cat faces peered out at them.

  “Glori’s on Rags’s shelf!” Lily exclaimed.

  “Yes, his perch,” Savannah corrected.

  “And Buffy too.” Lily looked at her mother. “I didn’t know Buffy could jump.”

  “I guess they really, really, really wanted Mr. Lizard,” Savannah said, chuckling.

  ****

  “I still can’t believe you have time for a walk,” Iris said when she and Savannah met up later that morning. “You just got back from a trip, you’re writing a book, you have two small children, and you’re planning to entertain—what—twenty people at your house day after tomorrow.”

  “Gosh,” Savannah said, “you’re right. I am busy. Maybe I should go home and get to work.”

  Iris grabbed Savannah’s arm and chuckled. “No. Never mind. Come on, let’s walk. This is the route I like most,” she said, leading Savannah to a walking path. “It’s a pretty walk through a wooded area, past some interesting houses, and alongside a charming park.”

  “Ahhh,” Savannah remarked, “it is pretty out here. I forget we live in a forest—or so close to one.” She laughed. “It’s like when we lived in Los Angeles. We weren’t very far from the beach, but when I’d drive down there and walk along the surf, it was like being on vacation. I considered it a mini-vacation.”

  “I know what you mean,” Iris said. “I’m finding that a walk in a natural setting can recharge my batteries—refresh my spirit.”

  Savannah grinned at her friend. “My, aren’t you philosophical?”

  “Yup,” Iris said, “that’s how these spring outings affect me.” She nudged Savannah. “So what’s new?”

  “Not much since we saw each other a few days ago in San Francisco,” Savannah quipped.

  “That was last week,” Iris said, “and we didn’t get any girlfriend time while we were there. You were busy with that play and there were a lot of people around. I miss our get-togethers—you know, shopping, walking, just sitting and chatting.”

  “I do know,” Savannah said. “I miss them too. I’m glad you called. So to answer your question, like I told you, we have a new cat.”

  “Oh yes. You got her in San Francisco.” Iris cocked her head. “She’s hard of hearing?” Savannah nodded. “Yes. We took her because we thought she was deaf, but it appears she might get her hearing back, so we’re happy about that.”

  “You wanted a deaf cat?”

  Savannah chuckled. “No, but we wanted to adopt a special-needs cat that no one else would want and that we might be able to help.”

  “How nice of you,” Iris said. After thinking about it, she said, “I imagine there are cats with all sorts of problems, aren’t there?”

  “Oh yes, everything you can think of. So what have you been up to, Iris? Been busy at the inn?”

  She nodded. “Yes. We’re turning guests away, the cuddle cats are all healthy, Mattie is still preparing wonderful meals, my two younger boys are doing well in college, I love my granddaughter, and I’m contented with my life as a whole.”

  “You can’t ask for more than that,” Savannah noted. “Is anything new happening?”

  Iris chuckled. “Well, I went to San Francisco last week and watched a marvelous performance by a talented friend of mine and her cat!”

  “Yes, you did,” Savannah said. “So you enjoyed it?”

  “Yes. That was a lot of fun. I missed seeing Cats , the stage play, so this made up for it—probably topped it, actually. It was very entertaining. Are you glad you agreed to perform with Rags and all?”

  “Yeah, I think so,” Savannah said. “It was fun and kind of nerve-wracking, but it turned out well, and I’m glad it’s over.”

  “I’ll bet,” Iris said. “I can’t imagine doing all of that rehearsing.” She shivered. “And performing in front of an audience. Not my cup of tea.”

  “Really? As theatrical as you are, I thought you’d love that lifestyle.”

  “Theatrical?” Iris questioned.

  “Yeah, you dress dramatically and you’re—you know…”

  “What?” Iris pressed.

  Savannah grinned. “So you wouldn’t like to be a performer?”

  “Uh-uh,” Iris said. “No thank you.” She faced Savannah. “You think I’m theatrical?”

  “What’s that?” Savannah shouted, hopping to the other side of the trail.

  “What?” Iris asked, smiling widely.

  “I don’t know.” Savannah rubbed her ankle and looked around suspiciously. “I felt something.”

  Iris couldn’t contain her excitement. She jumped up and down a little. “So you felt it? You actually felt it!”

  “Felt what?” Savannah asked, frowning. “What was that? Did you feel it?”

  “Not just now, but I’m aware of it. I’m kind of surprised that you felt it. I wasn’t sure…”

  “How could I not?” Savannah groused. “Where did it come from? What is it? Do you know? It made my leg sort of tingle.” She shuddered. “Ohhh, freaky!”

  Iris spoke more softly. “It’s something from the spirit world, perhaps.”

  “What?” Savannah yelped. “A ghost?” She shook her head. “Uh-uh. No way. I don’t do ghosts!”

  Iris shrugged. “Or maybe a window or a door opening into another dimension. What else could it be?” She grabbed Savannah’s arm. “Listen, I feel it almost every time I walk past here, and I’ve noticed others who seem to be affected by it.” She became more animated. “One gal told me she felt something similar once in Arizona, or was it New Mexico? She’s pretty sure it’s a vortex.”

  Ignoring her, Savannah walked off the trail and looked around. “Hello!” she called.

  “Who are you talking to?” Iris asked.

  “I don’t know,” Savannah admitted. “Whoever zapped me with whatever the heck that was—a taser or an air pistol, maybe? It’s probably kids playing tricks on people who walk past. Hello!” she called again.

  “There’s no one around,” Iris insisted. “I’m telling you, I’m pretty sure it’s a vortex—a coming together of energies occurring right in that spot—an atmospheric phenomenon. Sometimes the vortex is under water. This one could be leaking from deep inside the earth.”

  Savannah stared at her friend. “You’ve been doing some research, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, of course. Wouldn’t you if you’d found one of these?”

  Savannah glanced around again. “Well, I think I just found one, and the last thing on my mind is conducting research, unless it’s to round up the kids who are terrorizing people with their taser guns.” When Iris didn’t respond, she said, “Actually, my first instinct is to run away—far, far away.”

  “Oh, Savannah, this is just too juicy and delicious to walk away from. I’m thinking about expanding on it in some way.”

  “Huh?” Savannah questioned.

  “Maybe I’ll buy this piece of land and tie a spiritual experience to the Kaiser Bed-and-Breakfast Inn,” Iris explained.

  “Spiritual?” Savannah questioned. “That wasn’t what I’d call a spiritual experience. It was startling, creepy, weird, and…well, creepy.”

  “Vortexes come in different forms, you know,” Iris said. “I haven’t decided which one this is, but I think it may be magnetic, because of the way it sort of gives you an electric-charge feeling.” She faced Savannah. “People all over the world have created healing spas in vortex areas. These things have spiritual properties, you know.”

  “So, Iris, you’re going into the woo-woo business? What will you do, bring people out here to stand under that tree and charge them to get zapped? What if they get burned or paralyzed or it scares the bejeebers out of someone and they have a hea
rt attack?”

  Iris spoke with an air of divinity. “What if they’re healed from a painful injury or a serious illness?”

  Savannah wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “Let’s keep walking, shall we? I don’t really like the feel of it here.”

  “Okay. Yeah, we’re out for exercise, right?” Iris was silent for several moments, then she said, “I’m pleased that you felt it, Savannah.”

  “Why?” she asked, sounding a little irritated.

  “Because I believe that if you can feel it, anyone will.” Giddily, Iris added, “I think I’ll bring your doubting-Thomas aunt out here next. She has even less sense of spirituality than you do—you know, the supernatural kind of spirituality.”

  “Iris,” Savannah said, “what if this is a bad-energy vortex? Maybe that’s why no one has bothered with it—you know, opened a spa here or something.”

  “Hmmm, could be, I guess. So it made you feel—what—uneasy?”

  “Yes, kind of,” Savannah said.

  “You know, I don’t love it out here, either,” Iris confessed.

  Savannah glanced at her. “I thought you liked walking out here.”

  Iris nodded. “Yeah, I did and I do, up to a point. And then I sort of feel drained. I thought it was because I was getting tired—that the walk was tiring me out.”

  “Have you talked to anyone else about this?” Savannah asked. “I mean, other than that one woman?”

  “Yes,” Iris said. “A couple of days ago I met up with another woman right in this area. She had a little dog with her.” She grabbed Savannah’s arm. “Oh, kiddo, you must bring Rags out here.”

  “What?”

  “Yes. If any being is sensitive to this thing, it would be Rags.”

  Savannah grinned. “And what would he tell us about it? What would we learn from Rags?”

  “Oh, ummm…,” Iris stalled. “Whether or not there really is something here, I guess.”

  “I think you’ve had that validated, haven’t you? What did the woman and her dog do?” Savannah asked. “Did they react?”