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“He’s peeing up the walls, Katie.”
I laughed at the time she told me because it was truly unbelievable that his spot of choice would be a wall. So, they took him to the vet for help.
The cat was diagnosed with depression and was given medication. I couldn’t make it up if I tried. But I suppose humans get depressed. Why wouldn’t animals? I just didn’t know what a cat living in a beautiful, loving home getting fedFurball Fiestathree times a day could be depressed about.
The next time I saw Ginger, I asked her about her cat and how histreatmentwas going. “He is doing great. I realized I couldn’t live with the fact I had a cat on antidepressants. So, we hired someone to build a small condo in our backyard with the same carpet and wallpaper, and sure enough, he pees all over it night and day. It sure hurt to take money out of our retirement, but we all feel better now. Problem solved.”
Everyone drove off and I was the lone car left in the Three Maples parking lot, in deep reflection of my emotions. I wondered about the families I saw here every week; did they have pets? Was it unusual tonothave a pet?
We had one and a half dogs growing up. I say that because one was a full-fledged, happy skipper of a dog, and the other one was why guests needed tetanus shots. Both were incredibly bonded with my mother and were always sweet to her. But if you tried to approach my mother, the one would go rabid. Never approach her unless she’s put him away in the other room, like a mop bucket. And especially, never show up with a surprise birthday cake and wear a cowboy costume to re-enact a scene from her favorite western; you will never be able to explain that to the paramedics.
I enjoyed the fun dog, but the other needed intensive therapy and possibly a baptism. We tried integrating him into society, but the rescue group my parents got him from believed he was from a hoarding case, which explained his fighting for food and territorial ways. But it didn’t explain why he was only interested in toys and household objects that were pink.
“I thought dogs were color blind?” I asked my parents after they took Winston, the killer dog, on his inaugural trip to the pet store. All the toys he picked were in the same shade of rose.
“There must be something special about this hue of gray for him.” My mother threw her hands up in the air. “But you gotta admit, it makes him even cuter.” She reached down and gave him a pet. He perked his head up and took off for the other side of the house, returning a moment later with a pink shaving razor in his mouth, making a beeline for my father.
“Help! He’s out to shave my legs!”
My mother watched the chaos ensue, knowing perfectly well she could stop it at any time, but instead, she took another sip of coffee and watched Winston chase my father around the living room.
“Winnie must’ve gotten into the garbage bin again,” she smiled, and I laughed at the sweet nickname. “He just loves to dumpster dive. It’s in his nature. They said he had to fend for himself, poor thing!” My mother spoke of her new dog proudly as my father hollered for help that never came.
My mother often talked about the dogs she had in her past. Just last month,when she called, the first words out of her mouth were, “Big Al would’ve been 28 today.” Big Al was a little furry mutt she adopted when I was eleven. He was the sweet one and Winston’s sidekick.
Pulling myself together, I drove directly to the pottery cafe, the one I’dthoughtabout going to for years now—only to find it closed permanently. It was vacant inside—the only trace of its previous existence was the name on the windows, half scraped off. There was a sign on the door advertising the building was for rent.
“Now what?”
While leaning on the side of introversion, I planned on—or rather, IexpectedSundays to be out with the people, as I say, so now I was left a little unsure of my footing.
“Dear Jesus,
I’m not sure what to do here, but I’m lonely. Please send me your comfort.
In your name,
Amen”
Looking to see what else was over in this part of town, I noticed a coffee shop to the left that served fancy juices.Beans and Greens.
“No thanks,” I know my limits on caffeine and veggies.
There was a consignment store, but the CLOSED sign was lit. I drove around to the large car park behind the defunct pottery store, and what do you know, I found theNewtown Animal Shelter.It had a flashing OPEN sign illuminating so brightly it could be seen from space.
I saw Samantha’s bright blonde hair inside the well-lit building. I drove a little closer, but not close enough that she would notice me or that I might accidentally commit to something. I saw her inside, smiling at a couple holding a big orange cat. She walked them to the door, and the couple came outside. The cathad beautiful plush fur and was licking its new owner’s hand as he carried the cat to the car. The woman was carrying a bag of toys. I noticed a stick with a feather peeking out of the top.
I looked at the couple. They were happy, I could tell. My heart ached for a companion. Why was it so hard to meet someone? How did these people find each other? I heard Judy’s voice in my head. “You have to go places to meet people!” But I did go places. Didn’t I? I just didn’t have the same desire for large crowds and swarms of people that others my age might.
Samantha rushed outside to the couple with the cat. I turned my car off to bringlessattention to myself, but now I could hear Samantha tell them they forgot their carrier. They laughed and put the plush cat inside, although they realized just howplumpthe cat was, as it took up a lot of space. They all giggled, but Samantha said it was safer for her this way, to which they nodded, and the woman promised to return the carrier tomorrow on her way to work.
Samantha waved them off, the happy family now complete with a new member, when she turned her head and saw me. She looked as if she would start crying again as she ran over to me excitedly. In my shock of being caught, I rolled down my window. “I am so glad you came! I—I’m sorry I didn’t get your name earlier.”
“Katie,” I stammered, as I didn’t want to say anything that might upset her again, especially the part about how I came here by mistake.
“Katie! That’s lovely. Come on in.” She opened my car door for me, and I grudgingly swung my legs out onto the pavement.
“I didn’t plan on adopting today. I just sort of found the place by accident.”
