Shadow Cat (7)
As the seats filled, one by one each guest offered condolence to us for our problem. Some gave us new leads which we acknowleged with promises to take action the next morning. When the curtain opened, the chatter in the great room stopped. The play began. The children’s presentation lasted for one hour. It really was delightful. They worked hard to deliver their scripts and in their efforts to mind the audible coaching emanating from behind the props. Little Emmy was on stage too. She pushed the carriage containing the holy infant; which was too low under the wraps in the carriage to be visible to the audience. At the end of the presentation the kids were given well earned applause. All the little girls were given flowers as awards for their job well done. The little boys were given bags of holiday candy. The Inn’s manager, and selected members of his staff, rounded up the noisy loose ducks hurriedly to assure the feathered creatures continued safety from an escaped cat. We stopped Emmy’s Mommy and Daddy as we were leaving the great room. “Wasn’t that clever?” we said to them. They agreed proudly. As we chatted with them little Emmy came over to join us. She still had the carriage. I surmised that it had been given to her by the Inn; perhaps as a prize. As most women are wont to do, Terri reached down to unfold the object that was the unseen infant. “Oh, my God, its pooky face“, she said in full surprise. “Its Shadow.” We all turned to Emmy with the same question in mind. “The cook had him”, Emmy said. “He is a nice man. He fed Shadow Cat. He didn’t know it belonged to someone. When I told him this afternoon about our play he said I could use the cat for the carriage part. When I told him about your cat he made me promise to return him to you. He also wants me to say Merry Christmas to you!” Terri held Shadow tightly against her shoulder. I placed my hand on her back and said “Merry Christmas to “everyone.” What is Shadow to do? Aunty is dead. The nice old lady is silent. Shadow was fond of her but he grips the terminal status of the situation. The time has come for Shadow to return to his real home. The home he has not forgotten. No one is present to arrange for his return. This frustrates Shadow. He needs for the transfer to happen immediately. An unpleasant odor hangs lifeless in Aunty’s house. Shadow needs to distance himself from the odor. He must get away from the vapid emptiness that now permeates the residence. When he can tolerate the feeling of agitation no more, Shadow runs through the rooms searching for an aperture to the outside. He finds an open window in the kitchen. With a leap, he exits; leaving Aunty’s house and the quiet countryside of Suffolk Station. Shadow’s bloodline is a mixture of many. There can be no book on his lineage. He came to our home from the wild woods. Shadow is a short hair of domestic variety. Through fortuitous urging he left the thicket to find us; and found happiness in the company of people. Amongst his endearing talents is his effort to talk. His vocal trickling quivered like someone trying to prattle under water. Shadow has evolved into a very social cat. THE YEAR BEFORE: “I placed a call today, to Aunty” I said. “Is everything O.K.?” Terri inquired. Then she said, “I’m glad you did. I’ve been meaning to do it myself.” “She could be better” I replied. “In one breath she complains about the weather in Suffolk Station. In the next breath she complains that her visiting nurse has her on limited physical activity. Aunty sounds depressed. It gives me an idea though, that I want to discuss with you. What would you say to the idea of placing Shadow with her? Aunty loves cats. And, Shadow would make a great companion for her.” “Done!” Terri returned with vivacity. “I agree only on the basis that this is for Aunty; that I am so sure she will take excellent care of Shadow. But, Shadow will always have a home with us. This has been his home for six years and he will always be our precious cat!” And so, Shadow is placed temporarily with Aunty at her home in Suffolk Station. Shadow will miss us. But a pet cat will be helpful to an elderly lady; for the few weeks or months that she has left. Of course, Shadow needs only to be himself. He has intelligence and playfullness. Of special value will be Shadow’s affectionate curiousity; enjoying giving and receiving warm attention. For the time being, Shadow and Aunty will do well. ONE YEAR LATER: “What am I going to do about the cat?” the visiting nurse cries into the telephone. “I won’t be able to speak to the cat’s owners for a couple of days. They are on their way by car. They live a very long distance from Suffolk Station. The drive alone will take about eight hours.” The voice on the other end of the line responds with,“Pull yourself together. The funeral won’t take place for another three days. When the owners arrive you can give them the cat.” “You don’t understand!” the nurse hisses into the telephone. “The cat is gone. As of yesterday, I have no idea of his whereabouts. It is as though the cat knew that the old girl has expired.” Late the next day, Terri and I arrived saddened over the loss of Aunty. An additional load of grief is placed on us when we are informed of Shadow’s disappearance. Following Aunty’s funeral, we spend two additional days in Suffolk Station; searching high and low for Shadow. No one reports seeing our cat. “Lets go home”, I said.. “You are right”, Terri replies sobbing. “I want to go too. I know of stories of cats that have made their way home over long distances. Maybe Shadow is trying to find his way home. Why are we just standing here? I want to be there when Shadow shows up.” The drive home was long and sad. On our arrival we found no evidence of Shadow. Day and night thereafter we searched the local scenery. Time passes in days and then in weeks. Nothing shows up to give us hope of seeing Shadow again. Unshakable is the feeling that the fault is ours. If we had not placed Shadow with Aunty our pet might still be with us at home. Indeed it was only a charitable gesture; to help Aunty get through a bad period in her time of difficulty. The questions remain. Where is Shadow? How is Shadow? Will we ever see him again? SHADOW”S ADVENTURE: The landscapes are unfamiliar to Shadow. He avoids people and animals. The sounds of the night are fearful. These are the sounds of nocturnal dwellers. Shadow runs and hides from intruders. He stops briefly and only occasionally to search for natural signs. Ofactory sensations are inputs to his innate compass, testing in real-time the correctness of his trail to home. Shadow eats food where he finds it. Discarded uneaten human foodstuff is found aging on the ground along the way. He drinks unclean water found evaporating in small indentations on terra firma. From the very beginning of his trek, he travels in fear and hunger. The world is in sharp contrast to the protected life that once was Shadow’s. Each new day Shadow survives in ways that are not common to his household existence. He finds that he is more strategic traveling at night; using his excellent night vision. Shadow takes catnaps during daylight hours; behind or under anything that will give him protection. Traveling through the woods he deals with his needs for nourishment. Shadow kills a small member of the wild world. The flesh is warm to the taste. A rush accompanys the excitement of the hunt; the thrill rising from deep within him. A natural emotion has been released. The food supply is plenty and all around him; as are the threats from predatory animals. Shadow becomes more aggressive; sharpening his ability to deal with nature. Shadow’s confidence takes another leap with each wild experience. Survival imbues him with a familiar sense of himself. The domestic pet has gained ground in the world of the wild; gradually transitioning to a natural independent selfsufficient being. The nostalgic visions of domestic pleasures that Shadow had stored in his mind are dashed when he performs as a feral animal. TIME AND TRAVEL: Time and travel have become seamless when Shadow beholds a concrete landscape. He sees people, sidewalks, streets and tall buildings. All he surveys is in motion. The people hurriedly walk and run with an unseen purpose. On the streets, noisy machines roll in every direction. It is a clamorous image in all. Shadow raises his head to investigate the aromas in the air; searching the atmosphere for a confirmation on his track? His inner compass has driven him day by day into weeks. His search for home has brought him to this, the strangest of all the sights. Shadow has jogged along highways and dashed in the byways of the woods. He has traveled using his keen senses to compass his direction. But now, he is faced with the moment of truth. Shadow has no clue as to where he is or which way to go. He is lost. “Here kitty kitty”, says a voice behind him. Nervously, Shadow turns to look in the direction of the voice. His eyes rest on a large woman. She is a pleasant looking lady sitting in the window of her ground floor apartment. On her lap she holds her pet cat. The woman beckons again. “Here kitty kitty. Come over here. Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. Would you like to meet my Suzie? ” In the next instant the woman is gone. Her pet cat Suzie sits alone paying no mind to Shadow. The building, a residential dwelling, has three floors providing independent units for three families. It is an old address. The concrete town has many such structures. The lady who beckoned lives in the ground floor apartment. The woman appears again. This time she is outside on the sidewalk carrying two small deep dishes. One dish contains fresh water. The other dish has solid food, cut into small bits. She places the dishes in the shade up against the building. “Come kitty, this is for you”, she calls. “Ummm, this is delicious”, she says attempting to entice the stray. “You can stand some food. You are too thin. I like plump cats. See my Suzie in the window? She is nice and plump. Have you ever been plump?” The woman goes back into the building, returning to the window from the inside of her apartment. She and her plump Suzie sit and watch the stray cat. Alone on the sidewalk, a thin and soiled Shadow surveys the area. He is unsure of the woman. The dishes have compelling appeal. He comes closer under a veil of suspicion; driven by hunger and thirst. His instincts are rife with caution; taking careful steps closer to the building. With each footfall he pauses looking for sudden threats. Reaching the dishes he sniffs each offering. When he is sure that the contents are what they seem, he eats. Just as he is finished he hears the woman’s voice again. “I knew you were hungry, didn’t I?’ At the sound of her words Shadow dashes away to the alley on the side of the building. At the far end of the alley he settles into a hiding place. The location affords Shadow with a full view of the alley’s length. Feeling safe he tends to his damaged body. His belly is full with food that is easily digestible. After cleaning himself Shadow sleeps; purrrrring quietly. Shadow stays there through the rest of the day and all night. When he awakens Shadow steals his way to the front of the building. The lady and the Cat, Suzie, are there again. This time they are both seated out doors in a chair in front of their apartment. “Well, hello again”, the lady says. “How about something to eat?” Shadow understands. The woman rises, moving Suzie from her lap to the now empty chair, and enters the building. Shadow and Suzie look at each other showing signs of interest in what they each see. The woman returns with small dishes again. One has cream in it. The other dish has cat food containing a sea food base. Shadow immediately confronts the dishes; slurpping the seafood and cream without further hesitation. The lady reenters the building. This time she returns with a dish of eats for Suzie. The lady places Suzie’s dish near to Shadow’s. Suzie floats off the chair gently and approaches her dish. Together the lady feline and the tramp cat eat undisturbed. “I think our family has just expanded”, the woman says laughing. “Don’t you think, Suzie?” And so it had. Shadow’s alternatives are few, but he has found a new home. Suzie’s household is a good stop for a lost cat. It is a home governed by a human who clearly loves pets. Shadow and the lady can communicate. All the comforts of home are provided. Not the least of which is the beauty. She answers to the name ‘Suzie’. THE LADY IN THE WINDOW: A long way from Aunty’s Suffolk Station and a short distance from the suburbs, where we reside in Northport, stands the enclave of Centre City. Mildred Thom lives on the ground floor in an apartment building there. She lives alone except for her cats. “What are you going to do with four kittens”, her friend asks. “You’re just asking for a lot more work than you need.” “I’m going to find homes for them. Every last one”, Mildred says reaching into the kittens training box to snatch up one of the four. “But, not this one”, she insists. “This little beauty I’m keeping. I’m going to name her after her sweet departed mother. Her name will be Suzie!……. Oh, how I miss my sweet Suzie.” “What happened to the kitten’s mother?” “Suzie was hit by a car, right in front of the building”, Mildred recalls emotionally. “Killed on the spot. Her trampy pal was lucky. The vehicle missed him.” “Trampy pal?” what do you mean. “We were adopted by a stray cat”, Mildred says catching her breath, When she has control again of her emotions she continues. “He showed up one day and I, feeling sorry for him, fed him. He was a skinny loner; a tramp as far as I could tell. But, he showed up again and again until he became a routine member of the family. I liked Tramp. Suzie liked him too. They got along very well.” Mildred pointed to the training box with the three remaining kittens playing in it. “See that one, the black and white body? Well that one is an image of Tramp.” Mildred paused for a moment. “Tramp was a gentle cat. He cared for us. We cared for him. But, I don’t know what was going on in Tramp’s mind. He would occasionally disappear for days. I sometimes believe that Tramp was in search of something important to him. After each absence he would reappear in front of the building, from out of nowhere. I would always know that he was home again by how Suzie would act. You know how cats sometimes communicate. Its telepathy, I suppose.” “Nice looking kitten” Mildred’s friend says. “Yes he is, but let me finish”; Mildred says getting back to her story. “One day after Suzie gave birth to a litter of six, Tramp shows up again after one of his extended absences. The full litter was one month old at the time. Suzie sensed Tramp’s homecoming presence and ran out the front door to greet him. Tramp was on the other side of the street. He was crossing over in our direction. Suzie ran toward him jumping the curb in his direction. That’s when it happened. She was struck and killed by an oncoming car.” Mildred’s friend raised her hand to her mouth to stifle an audible reaction. “How terrible”, she gasps. This was followed by a prolonged silence. Niether woman spoke for long while. After a time Mildred’s friend said in a whisper, “have you found homes for all the kittens you have left?” “Yes, except that one. The black and white tuxedo kitten has not been placed.” Mildred replies. “What happened to Tramp?” “I don’t know.” Mildred replied. “I haven’t seen him since. He just took off. It has been so long ago that I’m sure he will never come my way again. Like I said before, Tramp was on a search for something that he lost before he first showed up at my house." “Well I have an idea where that kitten might go and find a welcome.” says Mildred’s friend. “There is a very nice couple that I know living in our suburb just outside of Centre City. It is not far from here. Sometime ago they lost their cat. From the descriptions they make of there former pet, I’d say that the markings and color are quite a bit like that little fella there. In any case, I think your kitten is just what they need to perk them up. That little fella of your’s looks so much like Shadow. I think that was the name of their cat.” “Will they give the kitten a good home?” Mildred’s friend responds with enthusiasm, “the best! But before we do anything I think I should call them to test the water. May I use your telephone?” “Of course. It is in the bedroom. Help yourself.” Mildred’s friend disappears into the bedroom. She is there for what seems like a long while. Mildred suspects that the people on the other end of the line are not going for the idea. She can hear her friend’s voice but cannot make out all of the words. Bits and pieces are, “I know Terri, I know but this kitten………..” Next Mildred hears, “Yes, Yes a male kitten with the very same markings as………..” Finally Mildred hears, “Well maybe Shadow is the father……” Her friend eventually rejoins Mildred and says, “I spoke with the lady I told you about. Her husband was in the converstaion too. They were cautious over the idea. The loss of their cat was heavy. They loved that cat. But, the more we talked the more interested they got. When I described the kitten they became especially excited. The lady, her name is Terri, cried. She said that Shadow could not have been the father of Suzie’s litter. Shadow is an altered cat. She speaks of Shadow as though convinced that he is alive; and that he will return. Finally she said that she will talk it over with her husband, if you would give her a little time.” OVER COFFEE: Terri and I were seated at our kitchen table when she told me about the litter in Centre City. “Maybe we should take that kitten.” I said. “It sounds like a spiritual return to the hearth. It would be nice to have Shadow back in our midst; even though it isn’t our own cat. Call your friend up. Tell her I’ll take a drive into town to pick up the kitten.” Terri reached for the telephone book. “Are you sure?” she asked. I nodded approvingly as I turned toward the noise at our front door. Terri turned too; and saw nothing. We heard another scratching sound on the door screen. The scratching was followed by a weak articulation, like someone prattling underwater.
Copyright © 2003 John Caruso |