A challenge story about the Blake's, the Evan's boys and a cat. It's not easy getting these words into stories when you're actively trying to.
Words required:
leisure interfere marvellous occupy neighbour queue recommend sacrifice prejudice shoulder soldier system recognise signature suggest stomach twelfth vehicle thorough yacht identity immediately variety cat
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Back a month from their honeymoon, Dr and Mrs Blake had settled back into the routine of surgery and police surgeon duties for him, cleaning, cooking and organising for her. Jean was pleased to see her system of filing patient records had not been disturbed by the locum, and that no one had deserted the list. They had a new neighbour, the old one having left Ballarat to live with her family in Bendigo, failing health decreed she needed more care than she could get where she lived. Jean pooh-poohed the idea, she could recognise scheming relatives; Betty's family had rarely come near her for years and now in her twilight years had decided they'd better step up to the plate. The new neighbour quickly got a name for being 'the mad cat lady' due to the fact she seemed to have rather a lot of the creatures who left a variety of 'gifts' in Jean's garden, sometimes it turned her stomach.
Jean still had visits from the Evans' boys who would sacrifice their leisure time to come and do her garden. They didn't seem to mind cleaning up after the cats. There was one cat that was smaller than the rest, a little silver tabby. Li'l Al had quite taken to the creature and even Jean had to admit it was the least offensive of the animals. It would sit in a sunny spot, very upright like a soldier, and so it was named, 'Major'. Major spent more time in Jean's garden than in his own home so much so that Lucien did once suggest they adopt it. Jean wasn't sure, she had had dogs on the farm, and the only cat was there to keep the mice and rats down. She didn't have mice, except for the dead ones left by the other cats. Lucien pointed out that often if you have a cat of your own you don't get bothered by others. Jean thought about this for a few days and decided that if they were to adopt Major then she had better go and see his owner. She took L'il Al with her, thinking it might make a difference.
Because the new neighbour had not made herself known to the Blake's and had not even acknowledged Jean's friendly wave, Jean had no idea what her name was.
She held Al's hand as she knocked on the door. Betty had always kept the house neat and tidy, but now the garden was overrun with cats and untidy, the door needed re-painting. They waited. Jean was just about to knock again when she heard shuffling behind the door and it was opened just a crack.
'Good morning,' Jean said, brightly, 'I'm Mrs Blake, I live just over there.' Jean pointed to the house. 'I wondered if I could have a word about one of your cats.'
'Huh,' the woman grunted. Her age was difficult to tell. She was small, smaller than Jean, her hair was unkempt and she didn't look too clean.
'There's one, a little grey one, striped.' Jean continued, trying not to grimace at the overpowering smell of 'cat' emanating from the house. 'Little Al here, has quite taken to him. I wondered, if you don't mind, if we might adopt him.' She smiled sweetly.
'Know anything about cats?' The woman grumbled.
'I used to run a farm, we had a mouser.' Jean replied.
The woman looked at Li'l Al, his eyes were wide and his face eager, 'Feed him properly, will you?'
Jean signed the question to Al, who nodded earnestly.
'Mmm...' the woman thought then looked at Jean, 'He yours?'
'Actually no,' Jean admitted, 'he's the son of one of my husband's patients. He and his brothers come over and do some gardening for me, to earn a little pocket money. Major, the cat, would stay with us.'
'Major, why call a little runt like that Major?'
'He sits as if he's at attention in the sun,' Jean explained, 'my husband was a Major in the army. It was the boys' idea.'
'Huh.' She tossed her head. For once it looked like she had a neighbour who wasn't going to interfere in her life. And what was one cat, anyway? If she remembered rightly, Major was the offspring of the twelfth cat she had taken in.
'Ok, then.' And she shut the door. Jean and Li'l Al just stood there. Al looked up at Jean, and she smiled and nodded so he knew the cat was now theirs.
'Shall we get him a collar, Al?' Jean signed. Li'l Al nodded and flung his arms round Jean, he still did this even though he was now six and quite grown up!
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The pet store was not particularly busy when Jean and the boys went in. They had sat in the car having a chat about what they would need for Major apart from a collar.
'What about food bowls, Mrs Blake?' Stevie asked.
'Mm..good point, Stevie,' Jean noted, 'but I think I've a couple of old dishes that will do. Flea treatment might be a good idea, I'll ask the shop owner to recommend some.'
The boys were happy to look for the things they needed, Jean had said the cat could eat leftovers, for the most part, although she might buy some cat treats for it. Li'l Al chose a blue collar with an identity tag on it.
Armed with their purchases the only thing Jean now wanted was flea treatment; she waited in the short queue and spoke to the store owner, asking for one that would do a thorough job of keeping the fleas at bay. His recommendation was one that would need applying monthly, but was the best on the market.
'Thank you, I think that's everything, boys, don't you?' She smiled at her young companions.
'Guess so, Mrs Blake.' Stevie agreed. Jean paid the bill and the boys carried their purchases out to the vehicle. Li'l Al kept hold of the collar he had chosen, quite excited about having a pet, even though it would live at Dr Blake's.
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Lucien was back from the station and wandering about the house wondering where his wife was, it looked as she had just abandoned her gardening. He stood staring out of the sunroom, scratching his head. A sudden noise from the hall made him turn round, giggles and more footsteps than one person. Looking through into the kitchen he saw the Evans' boys with Jean behind them. They were all smiling.
'Hello, where have you been?' He smiled back at them.
'Pet store,' Jean kissed him, 'collar and flea treatment for the cat.'
'The lady said we could have Major, Dr Blake.' John grinned.
'Marvellous, I think.' Lucien was surprised she had actually decided to go with the idea of adopting the animal. 'So you met our new neighbour?'
'Hmm..,' Jean pursed her lips, 'tell you later.'
Li'l Al pulled Jean's skirt and waved the collar at her.
'Come on then,' she smiled, 'let's go and find Major and put his collar on, and the flea treatment.'
'Shall I make some tea?' Lucien asked.
'Oh that would be lovely,' She agreed, 'and would you mind doing some juice for the boys?'
'Not at all.' He went to his task and Jean and the boys went back out into the garden.
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They couldn't immediately see Major until Li'l Al saw him up in a tree. There was definitely a connection between the child and the cat, Jean noticed that when Major saw his little friend he jumped down and wound himself round the boy's legs. Al picked him up and held him on his shoulder while Jean fastened the collar round his neck. It had a little bell on it so they would know when he was around. While Al had the cat still Jean applied the flea treatment, a few drops on the back of his neck. It was all done when Lucien brought a tray of juice and tea out for them.
He wondered what their new neighbour was like that Jean would 'tell him later'. She didn't usually show prejudice, her values had changed since they had become engaged, probably because he had told her stories about other people he had met over the years and over the countries, the different ways some cultures lived their lives. He'd talk to her later when they were going through paperwork, it being the end of the week when they tidied up the accounts.
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Jean looked at the neat pile of receipts and bills ready to be dealt with. There were also some letters requiring the doctor's signature, that somehow she had found time to type up in between sorting out the boys, the cat and dinner. It had been a very busy day, so she was glad that for once there wasn't too much to occupy them, about an hour should see everything done and they could put their feet up.
'So, our neighbour,' Lucien sat back against the couch and draped his arm over Jean's shoulder, 'who is she, what's she like?'
'Still don't know her name,' Jean admitted, sipping her sherry. 'I couldn't guess her age, she wasn't exactly chatty. Untidy, dirty, I'm afraid. The garden's a mess, the door needs painting, Betty used to keep it so neat and tidy. She was always in the garden.'
'How else was she supposed to keep an eye on us!' There was a twinkle in Lucien's eye as he remembered their unofficial chaperone before they were even courting.
'Lucien, honestly.' Jean rolled her eyes, but he was right. Betty, unfortunately was the source of much of the gossip about the doctor and, his then, housekeeper. All of it untrue. Lucien had once said that if they lived on a yacht in the middle of Lake Wendouree she would still find a way to spy on them.
'See Major's made himself at home.' Lucien observed, nodding in the direction of the cat, now curled up on a chair. Jean had put an old blanket out for him and he seemed to know which was his spot. He would probably curl up in front of the fire when it was lit.
'Mm..but I don't want him in the bedrooms so the doors need to be kept closed, as does the waiting room and consulting room.' She was adamant about this. Major was to be allowed in the living room, kitchen and sun room, but nowhere else.
'I'm sure he wouldn't dare.' Lucien grinned.
Jean slapped his shoulder playfully, 'I might banish you, if you don't behave.'
'Now, Mrs Blake, I don't know what you mean.' He turned and kissed her.
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I'm sure Major had a very happy life with Jean and Lucien, and was well loved by Li'l Al.
