Grandma Ellie's Familiar - Short Story - NYC Midnight Entry

 

Synopsis

The loss of Clara's Grandma Ellie was a turning point in her life she was not prepared for. Inheriting her Grandma's cat Simone, she feels this task is her responsibility to care for the cat even as the curious feline gets her into some trouble with her Mom.

There are a few times in one's life that can be explainable. Moments so complex we dismiss them as a fantasy because there was no way it could happen. I thought I was only a lonely child, but now I know  what I experienced was something magical. But all magic starts with a moment of loss. My own loss was when I was twelve years old, the summer before starting middle school. Grandma Ellie had passed and what transpired for the following year was both a test of patience and a test of love.

Everyone knew that I, Clara, was Grandma Ellie's favorite. Although I didn't know it at the time, I reminded her a lot of her son, my late father, who passed away in war before I was born. My mom, Tia, had brought me over to see her frequently through the years and even more so when her health started failing. I would stay the night one weekend a month usually and always have a story to tell when I came home. My Mom would just laugh and let me pour my heart out as I told her about all my adventures.

We would garden, do crafts, and cook all weekend long before my Mom would pick me up sometime in the Sunday afternoons. There were even days that I would go to the park and Grandma would tell me about the different plants I saw and would bring to her.

"If you like them you pick them, but if you love them like I do then you should just keep them there. Take in their smell, their shape, and texture and I will tell you what they are," she would say after I over-did my rambunctious picking one day. I remember crying so much that day that I was so sorry that the plants didn't feel like I loved them.

She just patted my head as I'm sure everyone watched and told me that "...it's okay to not know something, but once we know it's wrong that's when it is time to change our behavior if we truly want to grow as a person."

I never did forget that lesson.

Simone would always be waiting for us, basked in the sunlight of the head rest of the oversized couch. Grandma would say that Simone didn't like a lot of people, but she liked me when she put her head to mine and blinked at me. It showed that she trusted me and that I was accepted. Of course, then I screamed with joy, and she would take off startled. Grandma laughed as I gave chase to try to convince poor Simone I was sorry. So, when my Mom told me the worst news I could receive at that point, I was devastated.

When the funeral took place a few weeks after my last day of elementary school, I was in a place of loneliness. My heart was hurting, but I had no idea how to start telling my Mom about it. I would cry myself to sleep, shut myself in my room, and wouldn't eat much. I would hear Mom talking to the pastor that spoke at Grandma's funeral, but I didn't care. However, one of those visits brought forth a visitor I wasn't expecting.

"Clara, dear, we were asked if we'd like to have Grandma Ellie's Simone. I'm sorry I didn't ask you first, but I couldn't say no. Is this okay?" While she spoke this to me, my heart was beating so fast that I couldn't say anything. I saw the animal crate and cried as I knelt before it and my Mom hugged me and cried too. The responsibility was mine to take care of Grandma's most precious treasure. What I didn't know was how much trouble it would also cause us.

After we stopped, we let Simone out, and she seemed to understand as she put her head on my hand and purred. I finally had a part of her here with me besides the small trinkets we got. I loved those small memories looking back on it, but back then I was too young to be grateful, and too upset for that. However, it didn't take long that Simone had changed too in the time my Grandma passed.

"Mom, do cats straighten laundry?" I asked her one day when I came downstairs for lunch.

The funeral had been a couple weeks ago by this point, so I was coming out of my shell thanks to Simone. That cat hated when I stayed in bed and would glare and moan at me until I finally got up. Grandma always hated it when I slept in too much.

"Not usually... why?" My Mom was hesitant as she handed me the ham sandwich and applesauce on a plastic plate.

"Simone gets mad at me when the corners get messed up on my shirts," I exclaimed as my Mom burst out in laughter. Even as a called out to her, she couldn't stop the laughing even though she tried.

"Well, Grandma Ellie must have taught her some fun lessons then. I'm sorry dear, it just took me off guard."

I puckered my face in annoyance as I finished my lunch. Then Mom and I talked about other things like different places to go and what to get for groceries.

"Why do I have to help? It's not like I'm the adult," I muttered under my breath when I was still salty about her laughing at me.

Simone came out of hiding and jumped on the counter and moaned at me with her tail bushed out. I just stared at her wide-eyed as she glared at me and my Mom just looked in shock.

"Excuse me, young lady! I do all I can for this family and that was very rude. Go to your room, and we will talk later about your responsibilities."

Simone growled at me the whole way to my room and refused to leave as I shut the door. She only stopped glaring at me when Mom and I talked later, and I apologized.

One day I was playing outside when I followed Simone out to an area behind the fence of our yard. I was trying to get her back, but this was when everything that was weird made sense.

"You are certainly a piece of work with your mother, Clara. I didn't believe it until I came here."

I heard my grandmother's voice when I reached a small patch of clearing amid thick pine trees. Stopping dead in my tracks, I looked up and saw Simone with an annoyed look in her bright yellow eyes.

"Grandma?" I questioned, but she just swished her tail until I heard a sigh.

"I thought you better than that, but then I suppose this has been hard on you too. I heard you weren't eating and that worried me."

I hugged that cat as hard as I could. Crying as I've never cried before as her voice kept telling me it was okay. Maybe I was going insane or the result of a lonely girl, but I knew what I experienced. She was here with me, if only in spirit with Simone. That was enough for me to keep going.

"Mom, why do we have to go see them? I don't want to go see dad's family."

"Why would you say that? They are family?" she told me trying to not yell and keep calm.

"I want to stay home and play with Simone," I complained to her as I crossed my arms and pouted.

"Too bad Simone won't be home either. She's coming with since you seem to be joined at the hip. I don't know where you keep disappearing to, but it's time we go and see family since they're in town to visit Grandma Ellie's grave," she sternly proclaimed as she pointed to the garage door to get in the car.

I remember that being the longest car ride although it was only across town. Simone was quiet, but I was not. My Mom was trying to hold onto her increasing frustration as she tried to realize that I was lashing out. Looking back, I'm surprised it took her as long as it did to put me in my place.

"You are not the only hurting by her death. I do not have any help from my family, and she was the only person let alone family who helped. It's a simple fact that she's gone, and we have to move on. It's been over a month and I don't know what to do. You keep disappearing and reappearing from out of the yard and not telling me. I think we need some help here because I'm going to lose my mind, Clara."

We parked in the supermarket parking lot, and she cried as I ran out of the car.

I was so mad that I didn't care that she called out to me. She was scared because I was running straight for traffic. I don't remember much, but I do remember feeling claws in my leg as I fell just before getting to the sidewalk. My face hurt and there was blood, but I was alive with Simone having stopped me and my Mom carried me back to the car and rushed to the hospital.

Five stitches to my forehead later, I was home, and my Mom was giving Simone so much fish I swear that cat would burst with joy. I was grounded for a week, but in that time, I did manage to sneak out to talk to Grandma Ellie just a bit. I didn't see the weight of my Mom's words then, but I remember them well now.

One day Mom came out of her office early and tried to find me. I was in the pine tree clearing as usual and I tried to keep quiet. Little did I know that she knew just where to find me.

"Well, that was sneaky of you. Your dad was obsessed with this spot, and I think it's time you told me what you're doing sneaking out when I'm working, and you're grounded. I thought it was time we talked about you being more responsible for your actions."

"Oh, Tia," came Grandma's voice, "kids are just adventurous, and I found this is where I can talk to her the most."

"What the actual fu--stuffings was that?" My Mom looked around nervously as I recognized that voice and smiled.

"Simone and I talk here." As much as that was a simple sentence, I know now that what she experienced was far from simple. I always did feel bad with how she found out.

"Oh, Tia, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I wanted to talk more to our Clara about her grandfather, her father, and how to garden correctly before I go. I wish I could have let you know but I truly didn't mean to instigate this much trouble--oh my, this isn't good."

That was the first and only time I saw my Mom faint. Waiting for her to wake up, I just told her she found me and must have been dizzy as she thought she was losing her mind muttering on about Simone talking. That was also the first and last time Simone talked to Mom, we both thought it was a bit too much for her. However, she never did question me again about going to that spot, so I think deep down she just let it go.

School was starting and I was so nervous. I didn't really have friends, but I wanted to have a friend this year. Simone was purring next to me that morning in bed as I wished I could be 'sick' and stay home. Mom came in a rushed me out to get ready and sighed as she shook her head.

"That child, right, Ellie?" she sighed looking at Simone as Simone just meowed with content. I stuck my tongue out at both as I shut the bathroom door behind me.

I remembered that morning I went to the clearing and Grandma told me that "sometimes the best beginnings have nerve-wreaking starts, but they're all worth it" and that "she was sorry for causing so much trouble, but she just had to be sure we would be okay."

As I went to school, I was still nervous. My Mom dropped me off and waved me good-bye. I waved back and took in a deep breath.

"Hey, your shoe is untied," I heard a boy's voice behind me. Looking in his direction, I blushed as he was pointing at my shoe.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry." I started to tie them but could hardly make my hands move. I never felt so lame up to that point in my life.

"Why are you apologizing? I'm Gabe, my dad and I just moved here over the summer, and what's your name?"

After school, I ran up to my Mom and told her all about my friend and how I had to tell Simone. She was smiling ear to ear and when we got home, I rushed into the house and found Simone curled up on the couch. With a started hiss, she glared at me as I picked her up and ran her out to our spot. I started telling her everything, but she didn't seem interested. Questioning her, I called out to Grandma. Nothing. I cried as I didn't hear her voice, but then what she said that morning made sense. I smiled sadly as Simone put her head to my hand.

Going inside with Simone following me, Mom must have sensed the sadness and came to me to give me a hug. That was the start of the true healing process for me. While Simone made some problems come to light, it was just Grandma Ellie trying to make sure we would be okay no matter what. At least, that's how I think of it. I wasn't truly alone after that ever since no matter what life threw at me. That summer made me stronger than I ever could have imagined. The definition of responsibility changed for me that year, and I was forever grateful for that.

Copyright: Sarah Clements 2021