Chapter 10
Unwelcomed Visitor
He yawned and stretched as he continued to go unnoticed near the corner of Tony's garage. He had been there since early morning watching, it was what he was there to do, but it was not what he did best. His favorite spot was under a Chinese hibiscus in the garden, the newly opened orange tinged flowers camouflaged him well and also blocked the sunlight making the soil cool. It was from this vantage point that he had witnessed all the morning's events, from the instant appearance of a telescope and hammock, to Roger's rude awakening. The sudden presence of an object no longer made him flinch, he had grown use to it and in fact had grown fond of the Nelson house and it's occupants. The home held much interest, many mysteries and the occasional mouse in the outside garage was always an added bonus.
Opened patio doors gave him free and fair entry, and from the outset he felt a comfortable familiarity with the owner which was not felt in return. His presence in the home was met with firm and swift removal, which usually came in one of two forms. He didn't mind the gentle toss out of the front door, but it was the instant change in scenery that left the short haired orange tabby dazed and confused for minutes afterwards. He quickly learned that if he kept his distance, stayed on the outskirts of the house, his presence would be tolerated and he could complete his task as well as hunt and torment anything that had the unfortunate fate of being smaller than him. At times he would leave the lifeless bodies of his tiny victims on the Nelson front door step. It was his way of paying homage to the owner, who after one particularly odd afternoon, had earned his respect for being the only one to have ever engaged and escaped a playful game of cat and mouse.
It was the sudden noise from inside the kitchen that caused him to emerge from the garden. He easily jumped onto the windowsill in time to see Tony grab the broom. Fearing it was yet another method of eviction, he quickly jumped to the ground and scurried near the front of the house. The bright almost noonday sun was momentarily blocked by clouds and an inviting breeze brought the cat to sit under the tall elm tree that shaded Tony's car. After a few minutes of grooming, he let out a meow of annoyance as the instantly appearing wheeled chrome object reflected a sharp beam of sunlight directly into his eyes. He closed them, waiting for the burning sensation to subside and as the irritation faded, he instinctively began to scan the wind for the scent of any prey that might be in his vicinity. It was then he knew they were near.
With fur raised, he positioned himself near the end of the driveway, unseen, just under the rear of car. He crouched lower and hissed as the unmistakable scent grew stronger and their footsteps neared, but the figures that finally came into view caused in him great confusion. For the two that were about to pass in front of the Nelson home looked nothing like what was burned into his memory.
At precisely the same moment, the front door hastily opened and out stepped his ward. He hissed louder in response, sending a warning to the passing duo. The elderly woman took notice of the angry orange creature near her feet and gently hastened her step. He heard Tony call out to the couple and with low moans and downward ears, he slowly started to emerge from under the car, prepared to halt any hint of movement toward the door. But the elderly couple quietly walked onward, the old man responding to Tony with a simple wave from an outstretched hand. The cat waited till the hand in hand couple rounded the corner and could no longer be detected. He then ran up the driveway, past the shiny chrome object and its seated occupant and began to purr triumphantly as he curled up under the Chinese hibiscus, content with a job well done and the feel of the still cool soil underneath him.
As the elderly couple reached the end of the block, the woman paused and looked back. She then asked her companion, "When he stepped outside with that young woman, did you feel it, my dear?" His very dark sunglasses kept hidden from her the glint of excitement in his eyes, but she cleary heard it in his voice when he simply replied, "I most certainly did."