I reached the lounge area in the middle of the mall, and stopped to listen to the string quartet playing. The musicians, in formal attire, looked bored and played well, so I decided to sit and listen for a while. I’m not a classical music fan; I didn’t know the piece they were playing. I was so enthralled, I didn’t move until they took a break, thirty minutes later. When I got up to leave, I saw the handsome violinist who had made eye contact with me once or twice, walking towards me. Okay, don’t laugh. I was in a hurry to avoid him and I nearly ran into a decorative column that wasn’t there before.”
That started Maggie laughing. “I’m sorry, you’re so funny when a man pays you the slightest attention, and I can’t help laughing.”
Alyx smiled and said, “I’m glad you think it’s funny.”
“So you still don’t have a dress for the event of the year on New Year’s Eve?”
“Yes I do. I found a dress that I think is perfect for the occasion.”
Alyx described the simple elegant green satin gown that she found at a little dress shop in what used to be the downtown commercial area in Agape Beach.
“The gown sounds gorgeous. Do you know what your mask looks like?”
“No. David said he wanted to surprise me. I’m sorry that you and George can’t make it. It would have been fun.”
“Yeah, I know. George didn’t want to tell his son to change his flight reservations, so we have to pick him up at the airport that night and, of course, we can’t leave him home alone.”
“Who made his reservations?”
“His son did––since he had no plans to go out. Anyway, you have fun. Have a glass or two of champagne for me, and I want to hear all about it.”
“If I have fun, for sure you won’t hear all about it,” she joked. “Okay, now do you want to know the other reason I called?”
“Sure, why did you call?”
“Sit down if you’re standing because you’re going to be shocked when you hear this. Do you think your cleaning lady would be interested in another client?”
“Betty Quattelbaum would be delighted. She mentioned the other day that a client had moved away and she was looking for another. Who’s interested?”
“It’s me. I admit it; I’m not superwoman, and I can actually afford to pay someone to come in to do the one job I have always hated. It doesn’t mean I’m lazy or pampering myself; it means I’m choosing where to direct my energy.”
Maggie chuckled. “You don’t have to explain or justify it to me, sweetie. I’m glad you’re finally starting to put yourself first.”
“It’s easy to put myself first now that I’m the only one standing in line.”
“Good point. Hold on, I’ll get you her number.”
Later, while Alyx was busy around the house, Pooky took the opportunity to sneak a few morsels from the non-diet food bowl. She understood she had special food to eat and she was not to eat the other food. Still hungry and food still in the other bowl, she sat far enough away, yet close enough to scoop out a few morsels, and casually drag each one over with her paw. Alyx saw what she was up to and allowed her to sneak another paw-full before she cleaned up the leftovers.
The day was going fine, until Alyx dragged the arch-enemy––the vacuum cleaner––out of the hall closet. I was grateful that she waited a bit before she turned it on, giving us the opportunity to run. The female cats scattered to their safe places; I stood my ground––it was personal with me. I knew it was a machine, yet something about it distressed me. I tried to fight the menace by staring it down as it came my way sucking everything in its path. I even tried to attack it––the infernal machine kept on whining, and since my housemates were in hiding, I gave up and ran for cover.
“To err is human, to purr is feline.”
––Robert Byrne
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The Encounter
A new year arrived along with Alyx’s New Year’s resolution, which was to donate most of the goodies that customers dropped in the basket to the animal shelter, which managed colonies of free-roaming, abandoned, and feral cats in the area. I think she selected that shelter because of Pooky.
Alyx made up a simple tent card and placed it next to the basket on the counter. We thank you for your generosity and we will share with our less fortunate brothers and sisters who have no home. Thank you kindly for your continued support. (Paw prints). Murfy, Misty, Pooky.
The desk was now back in the store much to Misty’s chagrin; I wasn’t interested in inspecting it or any of the other pieces of furniture that had come back from Althea’s. On the other hand, Misty had put in a considerable amount of time inspecting the desk. Alyx saw her trying to paw open one of the small drawers and joined her. Misty watched Alyx closely as she pulled all the drawers out, checking each one.
Coming up behind Alyx, Maggie asked, “Are you looking for hidden treasure?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes, I am. I can’t help but wonder if this desk had anything to do with Althea’s murder.”
“In what way?”
“I don’t know exactly. I have a feeling about it, is all.”
“I think Smarts needs more than a feeling. Never mind that; I want to know about the masked ball. How was it?”
“It started out great, and turned into the strangest experience I’ve ever had.”
Alyx looked around. “Come on; we can talk in the workroom,” she said mysteriously. I followed the two women as they talked. “David arrived promptly at seven. Oh, Maggie, he was positively gorgeous in his black tuxedo, the silver at his temples accentuating his soft blue-gray eyes. I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing with pleasure when I saw the elaborate mask he’d brought me––it was gold, decorated with multi-colored feathers and doodads. We left the house laughing; our conversation on the way to the ball was light and festive. When we arrived at the Atlantic Hotel and Conference Center, the President of the Music Theater Society, who’s a familiar face associated with all the elite of Beachside, was directing guests to the ballroom. I greeted her. She’s an older, attractive woman and she was wearing a lovely gown, but, oh, you should have seen the gaudy diamond necklace she was wearing! She smiled at David then turned back to me and said in this snooty voice, “I do believe this is the first time I have ever seen you in something other than jeans. Alyx, you look lovely.” Alyx was pretending to be the lady she was describing and she looked very funny doing her imitation. If cats could laugh, I would have.
Then she continued with her story. “David came to my defense and told the woman that I looked lovely no matter what I was wearing.”
“Good for him,” said Maggie.
“He put his arm around my waist and led me to our table,” continued Alyx. “He asked me if I knew the woman well. I told him she considered me an enemy because I’d refused to redecorate her house when I found out that all her choices were based solely on buying the gaudiest and most expensive of everything.”
“Who did you sit with?” asked Maggie.
“I didn’t know any of the people sitting at our table. Except for the young couple sitting next to me, none of them seemed to be interested in knowing who I was, and that was fine with me. I did recognize some of the city’s prominent citizens from their pictures in the society pages of the local paper.”
“How was the dinner?” Maggie grilled her friend. “I hope at least that was good.”
“Well, let me put it this way,” said Alyx, “The only thing that made dinner memorable was David’s attentiveness. Just before the dancing started, the evening got really weird. I trooped to the ladies room with some other ladies and out in the hallway, a woman in a Marie Antoinette costume wearing a mask grabbed me by the arm and pulled me aside.”