by Steve Vernon
Copyright © 2017 by Linda Jordan
Published by Metamorphosis Press
Eclipse
Brenda walked down the sidewalk, breathing rapidly. Her early walk felt invigorating. The morning had that crisp dryness that only comes once summer moves toward fall. The leaves hadn’t begun to turn yet, not in this well-watered section of town. The air smelled fresh from the bay just over the hill.
Well, except for the rental next door, which she was nearing. The grass had turned straw yellow and even the rose bushes stood bare of leaves. There were no trees. The old cherry trees long since taken down. Everything was dead in that yard. The house badly needed painting. The renters were probably sleeping. They were always up till the middle of the night. It was a crack house. Cars coming and going all hours of the night and day. The police had been out several times, but hadn’t arrested anyone that she knew of. Certainly not the main residents.
“Get out you little bastard!” yelled one of the men from the doorway. “Nobody wakes me up!”
The skinny yellow-striped kitten ran outside and the door slammed after it. The kitten looked longingly at the door for a minute, then spotted her and ran down the sidewalk, mewing.
Brenda stopped and bent over to pet the tiny thing, just as she had every morning for the last week. Her back ached from all the work she’d been doing. Getting old was not for sissies. What movie was that from? She couldn’t remember.
The kitten wove through her legs purring and rumbling. Its soft fur felt lovely against her bare legs. Loud little thing. She picked it up and the kitten rubbed its face against her own. What a sweet heart. She looked at its underside. Male, probably un-neutered. Those people wouldn’t have taken him to a vet. And he had flea poop, she could see it on his white belly. Poor thing.
She hadn’t had a cat in two years. Annabelle had died of old age during the time Mom was sick, before she too died. It had been difficult flying back East to take care of Mom all the time, and finding a decent cat sitter at a moment’s notice. Brenda had never gotten around to getting another cat, even though she missed the company.
“You are so cute, you deserve nicer owners. But I’ve got things to do. You better go home now, little one.”
She put him down and scooted him back towards his own yard. A wasp flew in front of him and he took off chasing but luckily not catching it.
Brenda continued on to her house next door. It had sold in June, when the neighbors yard looked just unsightly, not dead. It had taken a very long time for the loan to close. The new owners were moving in later this week. Her belongings were nearly all packed and the movers were coming tomorrow morning.
Inside the cool yellow-brick house, she put the kettle on and made of pot of citrus zest tea. The caffeine would keep her awake and the orange smelled so good. She had a million details to take care of. Including going down her list and making sure everything had been done.
The retirement cottages were half an hour away. She had gotten a tiny little cottage, with a postage stamp of a garden that consisted of two raised beds. They would be much easier on her back. She’d already transplanted some perennials there. Things that would be interesting to look out at during the rainy winter. It would all be so much more manageable.
Brenda spent the day finishing up packing her clothes in a suitcase, which she’d put in her car in the morning. Then she boxed up everything in the kitchen. She poured the extra tea into her cup and stuck that in the fridge. She’d microwave it in the morning. Then she put the last of the refrigerated things in her old ice chest. The freezer was empty, defrosted and cleaned.
She walked through the house searching, once again, for anything she might have left behind. A month ago, Brenda hired an estate sale lady to handle the sale of everything she hadn’t wanted to take with her. So, all of the extra furniture, clothes and things were gone. It was so empty that she could hear echoes.
She smiled. It hadn’t occurred to her how that would make her feel. All that downsizing left her much freer and lighter. She looked forward to living in the cottage. Even though this house had lovely memories in it. The house had been much too large for the last twenty years. Since the divorce. She’d simply spread out and taken over all his spaces.
The house with off-white walls and beige carpets looked so empty and generic now. It didn’t look like somewhere she should have lived. Why hadn’t she ever had the walls painted more interesting colors? Ripped out all the carpet and put in hardwood floors? It simply hadn’t occurred to her. Her work as a high school English teacher had taken nearly all her time and energy. That and the garden.
Finished with checking all the rooms, she went into the garage. It felt chilly inside, all the concrete pavement held the coolness of the evening before. She’d left the new owners some of her old gardening tools. There on the shelf was Annabelle’s old litter box, some leftover cat litter and a cat carrier. The estate sale lady, who was allergic to cats, suggested Brenda either put them in the garbage or donate them.
She decided to donate them to a women’s shelter tomorrow after she opened up for the movers. Many of the shelter’s clients were fleeing abusive relationships. If men were abusive to women, they were even more so to pets. And she’d found one shelter in town that accepted pets. Maybe one of the women there would need her old things, so they could take their cats with them. The carrier might even work for a small dog.
She stuck them in the trunk of her car. The garage was empty of her belongings, except for the car.
Brenda spent the rest of the day finishing up cleaning the entire house. She didn’t want to have to come back and do it after the move. Unpacking would be enough. Once she left here tomorrow, that would be it.
The living room held all her old and new furniture. After the sale, she’d bought a new double bed and left it in the living room. It had only been for a couple of weeks and she couldn’t sleep in her bedroom any more. It was on the side of the house next to the druggie neighbors.
She’d downsized from the huge couch to a love seat and a chair. It would all fit perfectly in the cottage. She’d measured and knew exactly where every piece would go.
Dinner was a frozen cheese enchilada with black beans and corn, which was delicious. And everything, including the plastic fork went into the garbage or recycling. Marvelous.
After dinner, she took one last walk through the back garden. Her place of solace and contemplation. Surrounded by tall cedars and medium-sized Parrotia persica and dogwoods, the garden was almost entirely shade. Brenda had filled it with Hydrangea in various shades of pink, blue, purple and white. Hellebores in black, ruby, pink and white lit the garden up in winter. Coming into fall, it was full of lush Hosta, ferns and quite a few Fuchsia. It was so beautiful. The real estate agent said the new owners had been sold by the garden. They were experienced gardeners.
Brenda had watered every evening this week, just to make sure the plants would make it through the transition to the new owners. She’d only taken a couple of her favorite Hellebores and three rare small ferns for the cottage. And the small metal cafe table and chairs for her new little patio. The large table, umbrella and chairs were staying here.
She sat in one of the swiveling chairs, taking in the smell of damp, rich soil. How she loved this garden. It always gave her a sense of peace, even when it looked bare in the winter.
Finally, Brenda stood, said, “Goodbye garden,” and went inside. She would miss the garden, but not the maintenance.
The evening, she spent reading the rest of old gardening magazines so she could recycle them in the morning. The tv and everything else was already unplugged.
There was loud music coming from next door. It was so deafening she could feel her house shake and the bass reverberated in her own bones. Cars driving up and screeching to a stop.
She felt so relieved to be out of here tomorrow. Maybe she was just getting old and crabby.
The house had once been owned by her dear friend, Martha. But she’d passed
on and her son, who lived in far-away Chicago, owned it now. The police had said they’d be contacting him, about his tenants and the state of the yard, which they said was highly flammable. Besides being an eyesore. Nothing had been done yet. Although she had seen a man out in the yard one evening with a hose. Watering the leafless bushes.
Too late by then.
At one point during the evening the police arrived and the music got quieter. One of the other neighbors must have called.
Brenda couldn’t figure out why this was happening on a Sunday night. Usually they had their parties on Fridays or Saturdays. Tomorrow wasn’t a holiday.
Finally, she closed the curtains and changed into a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt. Her pajamas. Turned the light out and tried to sleep. It took a long time. Partly, it was the noise. Partly, it was excitement about being in her new home. It felt like she was beginning a new life.
It took at least one more visit by the police before the noise died down. She saw the red and blue lights reflected on her cream-colored curtains, but didn’t get up to look outside.
She woke at seven the next morning. Ate a breakfast of frozen mac and cheese. Drank her warmed tea from yesterday. She showered and dressed, putting her shampoo and soap in a box and wiping down the already clean shower, tub and sink with her towel. She put the towel in the dryer for a few minutes.
She stripped the bed, putting sheets, blanket and pillows in the waiting box. Took the lightbulb from the small table lamp and carefully wrapped it in part of the sheet. Unplugged the lamp and put that between the pillows and sealed the box with packing tape. She stuck her book in her purse, along with the to-do list.
The kitchen was spic and span. She cracked open a window to let in the fresh air, locking it open. The house smelled too much like cleaning products.
She even remembered to get the towel from the dryer, tossing it into the trunk along with her suitcase.
All of the appliances were staying with the house. Even the microwave. She’d bought a smaller one for the cottage. She took the garbage and recycling out to the curb. They were staying too, and would be emptied today.
It was foggy outside. Light fog, from Puget Sound. It always came over the hill and settled in this valley. A lovely day in August and it hadn’t even gotten to sixty yet. Brenda shivered.
She’d need a sweatshirt for her walk. Hoody, they called them these days.
She went back inside and looked around the house again. Every single thing was ready for the movers. Glancing at her watch, she noticed there was an hour till they came. Plenty of time for her thirty-minute walk.
She put on her hoody, got her cell phone and keys and left, locking the door.
As she walked down the block, misty fog wafted past her. It certainly was low this morning. Two houses down, Jannie poked her head out the door and said, “Great morning for it, isn’t it Brenda?” She wore funny paper glasses. Probably playing dress up with her kids.
“It’s a glorious morning.”
“Is this your last day here?”
“Yes. The movers are coming in an hour.”
“Do you have your glasses?”
“I don’t wear glasses.”
“Your eclipse glasses,” said Jannie, pointing at her glasses.
“What?”
“The eclipse, it’s already begun. Hopefully, the fog will blow away and we can see it.”
“Is that today?” Brenda had completely forgotten about it.
“You’ve been a little busy, I’d guess,” said Jannie. “Here, I have an extra pair.” She disappeared in the house and then came out to the sidewalk, in her bare feet, and handed Brenda a pair of cardboard glasses with dark plastic lenses. “You don’t want to hurt your eyes.”
“I had forgotten, thank you. When is it supposed to be totally covered?”
“Twenty nine minutes, but the moon’s already carving a bite out of the sun. It won’t be totally covered here. 91%.”
“Good enough for me. Well, I better get going.”
“Good luck in your new home. We’ll miss you.”
“Thank you. Good luck to you too.”
Brenda walked on, putting the glasses over her eyes. They were too dark with the fog this thick. She took them off and carried them. Ten minutes later, on the next block over, the sun came out again, so Brenda put them back on. She could see part of the sun was covered by the moon.
People were standing on their front porches, or sitting out in lawn chairs, looking up at the sky, making a party out of it. All wearing funny glasses. Or using cardboard boxes with pinholes. She’d done that as a kid once.
How auspicious this day was becoming.
The temperature dropped and she was glad for the warm hoody. She hadn’t expected that to happen. The world around her grew darker. Not quieter though. Everyone was outside.
She rounded the end of the block and went down her side of the street. The fog kept coming and going, making the whole world hazy and strange looking. It felt like she was in an alien place. Another town, almost.
It kept getting colder.
She walked past the next door neighbors’ house. It looked quiet. Except for her small friend running down the walk and mewing at her, worriedly.
“Well hello, little one,” she said, “It’s just an eclipse. The sun will return soon and you can curl up somewhere and bask in the heat again.
The kitten rubbed against her calves, mewing.
They really didn’t take care of this little guy. He was too small to be outside unattended. There were coyotes and bald eagles. And too many cars came here with too many bad drivers. Or maybe they were drunk or stoned. Or both.
The kitten was always lonely or hungry, she couldn’t tell which. He clearly wasn’t being cared for.
Should she?
Brenda had never stolen anything, or anyone in her entire life. She followed the rules and the law. Didn’t even speed.
And yet. …
She’d spent so much of her life teaching kids who were unwanted or just badly parented. Teens whose parents weren’t there to support or discipline them. It broke her heart every time.
She felt tension creep into her neck and shoulders. Her breathing grew rapid.
Should she?
Brenda looked up at the sun. It was as dark as it was going to get. The strange light combined with the thick fog, making everything blindingly white and dark all at the same time. If not for the distraction of the eclipse, she would never have dared. The few people who were out, were looking up at the sky.
She scooped him up. He rubbed against her cheek, such soft fur. His purr got even louder.
“You are such an affectionate little thing. They don’t deserve you, bunch of druggies.”
She made her decision. Unzipped her hoodie and tucked him inside. “You must be chilly this morning.”
He purred loudly in response.
She continued walking.
“I’m going to give you a new home,” she whispered to the kitten. “One where you’ll be loved and adored.”
Just then she heard muffled voices and then the front door of the ratty house opened.
“Hey dude, it’s happening. Come see.”
“It’s too early.”
“C’mon on everybody.”
Four darkly clothed bodies came out into the yard. None of them had eclipse glasses. Two of them were staggering.
“Wow, that’s so rad.”
Brenda kept walking, her back to them now. She looked up at the sky. Some of the fog had blown off and she could see some blue sky up there.
Her heart beat wildly against the warm kitten who’d snuggled up inside the hoody and closed its eyes.
What was the punishment for catnapping? She felt as if she’d done something terribly wrong, yet it was exciting, too. A nice revenge for all those sleepless nights they’d caused her.
She turned into her own yard and walked up the sidewalk and steps. Her hands shook as she unlocked the door.
&
nbsp; The conversation next door turned loud and boisterous as the fog wrapped her yard in dark the white mist once again.
Brenda closed the door behind her and tossed her glasses on the kitchen counter. Her watch said 10:22. The movers could arrive any time.
She went into the garage, pulled the cat carrier out of the trunk and set it on the workbench. She put her towel inside and slid the kitten out of her hoodie and onto the soft towel. He stirred slightly, but curled up and slept. She put the carrier in the front seat of the car and closed the car door.
Smiling.
“Sleep, little one.”
She heard the doorbell ring and went back into the house.
It was the movers, two strong men, Joe and Bob, with their large truck.
They looked at her pile of things.
“It should take us maybe three hours to load things. Maybe a little longer. We’ll make sure to put padding around your nice furniture. It won’t take us long to unload. The Cottages have planned things out well and there’s plenty of access for our truck.”
“Wonderful. I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got an errand to run, won’t take long, then I’ll be back.”
They began to move things outside.
Brenda made a quick phone call. Then she got her purse, slipped her phone into it and went to the garage, opening the big door. It was still foggy out, but the sun was returning and with it a bit of warmth.
Inside the cool car, the kitten was still sleeping. Poor tired thing. They’d probably kept him up all night too. She started the car and backed it out of the garage, leaving the door open. Nothing to steal anymore.
At the vet’s office, they signed in the kitten, looked at him and determined he was un-neutered. She told them he was a stray. They checked for a microchip. Luckily, there wasn’t one.
“What an adorable little guy. This is the perfect time to neuter him,” said the receptionist. “He’s just the right age. A bit scrawny, but then that’s to be expected with strays.”
