Friday, December 23, 2011

DOWN TIME

There’s only a ghost a chance…
That anyone will read this post…
With so many absent from the blogosphere now…
But this is a timely tale and I need to tell it.
As many of you may know from previous posts…
I make up and tell ghost stories to my grandkids…
But this story is true. I wouldn’t write it if it wasn’t.
Rewind two days ago…
I was in the vets office, holding my dear cat, Sweetie.
“It’s time, Leigh. You’re doing the right thing.”
I won’t go into the wretchedly sad details…
Because anyone who’s had to put an animal down knows.
But this one detail I’ll share…
Just before the final injection…
I bend forward to Sweetie’s ear and said,
“Come back to me some day, somehow.”
Fast forward to that night…
I’m lying in bed, my pillow wet with tears..
Remembering her cute habits and antics…
Particularly the night last year when the power went out…
My apartment was freezing…
And as always, Sweetie was in bed with me…
But this time instead of sleeping next to me…
She positioned herself above my head, like a cat hat…
Keeping us both warm.
Just then I heard a TICKING…
“What the…?”
Of course my write brain thought—bomb!?
Dismissing that silly notion, I turned on the lights…
And there on my nightstand was my clock ticking—AGAIN!
It hasn’t ticked for four years since the batteries ran out…
And I got a digital clock.
I have no explanation for this.
Can batteries charge up again after four years?
Is that possible?
I like to believe that somehow it’s Sweetie…
But is that possible?
So?
Can you come up with...
A possible explanation?

Always, Em-Musing

14 comments:

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

Sssscary.... A lovely tale, which I'm sure, will keep your grandchildren enthralled - if a little scared... But it is awful to lose a much loved family pet and telling stories about he/she is one way to cope with the grief, I guess. Happy Christmas to you and yours!

Anne Gallagher said...

I had my beloved Kate for almost 22 years. After she died, I still felt the bed move and her body curl around my head (like a bed hat) the same as she used to do.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Especially at Christmas.

Unknown said...

It was definitely Sweetie reassuring you that all's well in her world now. Aw, such a sad story. So sorry for your loss.

Happy Christmas to you and yours.

farawayeyes said...

You read me enough to know I'm a believer.

I had a Cocker Spaniel, Peepers. He was born in my bedroom on one ranch and died in my husband's arms on another, after fourteen years.

For years after, I would see him sauntering through the house, or curled up in places he used to sleep. He would generally look up into my face and disappear. I love that dog and I still miss him.

Karen Baldwin said...

Thank you all for your sentiments and stories. Happy holidays to you and yours.

The Blogger Formerly Known As said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sarah Nicolas said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Leigh. And your story gave me chills!

Sarah Nicolas said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Leigh. And your story gave me chills!

The Blogger Formerly Known As said...

I don’t see why a cat should want to do that, but, there’s no telling, is there? I dread to think what my dog will do when it’s her turn. There again I dread most of the things she does now.

Happy holidays.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

There has to be a logical explanation for this. I'm so sorry for your loss. My mom raised cats for years and at one point we had eighteen and the whole house smelled like cat pee.

She doesn't do that anymore, but I have been through your grief with pets. The last one died years ago and we cremated her and laid her to rest under a beautiful rose bush which has since been paved under by a Wal-Greens parking lot.

Ah well...my advice is to someday open your heart to another small kitten that needs a home.

Karen Baldwin said...

P.S...I got to wondering if perhaps my "write" brain spun a tale about the clock, and I blurred the line between fact and fiction. But thank God for my granddaughter who remembered asking me me more than a year ago, why my clock didn't work. Of course when I told her this ghost story she understood how profound it was that the clock is ticking now. My take is that batteries can store energy. If spirit is an energy force, maybe that's why my cat's spirit went there.

PM Kavanaugh said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. I had to put one of mine down last May--heartbreaking. I think yours did come back for a visit. Who knows why she chose the clock? But I'd take it as a sign. Happy holidays.

Steven Page said...

of course it was her.

Karen Baldwin said...

I guess I could say my cat takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'