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The Strange Case of Ms. Casspaw:
Two, Another Visit with Ms. Casspaw:
To refresh your memory, you may recall that Ms. Casspaw is a neighbor of mine, who, until recently, seemed to be in a difficult financial situation. Her wage earning husband had abandoned her, leaving her a cat and not much else. That was before her cat, Mr. Snooper, began helping her.
According to what she told me, she had developed some kind of a symbiotic or psychic contact with the cat. With the cat's help, she had managed to become financially successful. She worked in real estate and invested in the market, both with extraordinary success. However she managed it, we were all happy for her. A very reserved person, she made a very good neighbor.
One evening last week I was surprised to notice that her house was all lit up. Light streamed from every window as though she had a house full of guests. Curiosity forced me to investigate. I skipped my after dinner Cognac and crossed through the back yard to her door. It was then that I noticed a small mound in her yard with a small wooden cross at one end.
"Oh dear," I whispered, fearing the worst.
As I approached the door, I also notice several cats on the deck and in the yard. There were saucers of milk and small plates of liver and sardines set out on the deck. The cats were partaking daintily. My curiosity was growing rapidly as I tapped on the door.
Ms. Casspaw opened the door and smiled with delight. She had a martini in her hand.
"Oh, Mr. Gaffer," she said. "How nice of you to come by."
I smiled and took her hand gently.
"I didn't expect any humans," she continued, "but I should have known you would come."
I must have looked confused, for she paused and put a hand to her mouth.
"Oh!" she said. "But then you don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" I inquired.
"Oh, dear," she said. "I'm sorry. I didn't tell any humans, did I?"
"I guess not," I managed. "Please tell me."
She smiled brightly, "Well, Mr. Gaffer, we are having a wake, you see."
Then I knew for sure what the mound in her yard was.
"Mr. Snooper?" I asked gently.
"Oh yes," she replied. "He passed on yesterday evening. I buried him just this morning after I put the word out to his friends."
She looked at the mound wistfully.
"Everyone has shown up," she continued. "He was well regarded in the community."
"He has certainly been an asset to you," I managed.
"And a friend in need," she added. "I'm sorry I did not think to tell you, Mr. Gaffer. I should have known you would care."
"Not to worry, Ms. Casspaw. I realize you had much on your mind, and I'm here anyway."
"And I am pleased," she said. "Please come in. Would you like a martini? I just mixed a batch."
"I would love one," I replied. " With two olives, if you don't mind."
It was not Cognac, but still better than nothing. She handed me the drink.
"To Mr. Snooper," I said, raising my glass.
"To Mr. Snooper," she agreed, clinking my glass.
I sipped. It was very dry and excellent.
"Very nice," I smiled. "You certainly have the knack."
She grinned. "It's an old skill which I have just revived," she replied.
"Old skill?"
"To be sure," she said. "This is the first alcohol I've had in three years."
"Remarkable," I said. "You interrupted your abstinence to honor Mr. Snooper."
"It's okay," she smiled. "Mr. Snooper released me just before he passed on."
"Released you?" I blurted.
"Oh, but you don't know the story, do you?" she laughed.
"I think not," I answered.
"Please sit down while I tell you," she offered. "It is a curious story."
I picked up a brown and white cat from a chair and sat with the cat on my lap. The cat stayed an instant to show that he was not angry. Then he jumped to the floor.
I looked at Ms. Casspaw expectantly.
"This happened a few years back," she began.
"I had two cats then. I got them as kittens. There was Mr. Snooper and his brother, Mr. Trouble. Mr. Snooper was the curious one and Mr. Trouble was just that. He seemed to be always looking for trouble and he found it.
"One morning, I went out on the deck and there was Mr. Trouble. He had been in a fight and lost. He just came home and lay there on the doormat and died before I got up. It must have been quite painful for he had a number of injuries.
"I cried a great deal. Then, with Mr. Snooper looking on, I put Mr. Trouble in a box and buried him in the yard. That was very difficult, but then Mr. Snooper disappeared too and I was at a complete loss. I didn't know what to do.
"You may recall that it was a time when Mr. Casspaw was being particularly unkind to me. I was drinking heavily at the time because of that. I cannot say I was grief stricken when he finally left for good. I was more concerned about Mr. Snooper.
"Anyway, as I said, I was at a complete loss. feeling very depressed. Mr. Trouble had died. My husband had deserted me and Mr. Snooper , it seemed, had also abandoned me. I could not have felt lower.
"I remember sitting in the yard with a martini when it occurred to me to pray. It is something that I had never done before. I didn't know how to do it so I just closed my eyes and talked to God.
"I recall saying that if only I could have Mr. Snooper back, I would do anything he wanted. ‘I will even give up drinking,' I said.
"Well, I opened my eyes and looked down and there was Mr. Snooper. Apparently he had finished with his mourning. He jumped up on my lap and, I must admit, I covered his wonderful fur with hot salty tears.
"Well, I did not realize what I had promised. My system was conditioned to expect alcohol in rather large and regular amounts. The first month was particularly difficult, but I did abstain.
"It was six months later when I thought that I was strong enough to take just one drink. ‘Surely just one martini will not matter,' I said. So, I had a martini before dinner and the next morning Mr. Snooper was deathly ill.
"I was having a difficult time with finances at the time, but I took Mr. Snooper to the vet anyway. The vet provided some medicine and Mr. Snooper began to improve. To be sure, I also renewed my vow; still, I had not learned.
"About a year later, I did it again and, sure enough, Mr. Snooper became ill again. I begged God's forgiveness and rushed Mr. Snooper to the vet again. Again, God was kind to me. Mr. Snooper recovered and I vowed to stick to my promise. That was the last drink I ever had until today."
"That all must have happened before Mr. Snooper began to help you," I remarked.
"Oh yes," she replied. "It has only been for the last year that we actually worked as a team."
"How will you manage now?" I asked kindly. "Without Mr. Snooper to help you, I mean."
"I think it will be okay," she replied. "We had a long psychic communication before he passed on."
"Did he know he was going?" I asked with surprise.
"Oh, indeed he did," she answered.
"He said that his work with me was finished. It was time for him to go and find Mr. Trouble. He explained that he had not really done anything for me except to give me confidence. He said I could just continue on, acting decisively on my own understanding of the situation. He said I always had that power. I just needed to believe in it.
"I think the realization came when I resisted a chance to invest big on an insider tip. I said, ‘That would be the same as stealing. I just do not need to be that greedy.' It was well I did. The tip turned out to be a trick to cheat me. Mr Snooper was very pleased with me.
"Then, he came to me yesterday afternoon and explained things. The last thing he told me was that I had learned moderation. Resisting that, so called, insider tip was my graduation, so to speak. That was the last lesson I needed. With that, I could have a drink if I wanted. My commitment was fulfilled and I was in control. Then, he just got up on my lap, curled up, and went to sleep. I cried a great deal, but I am at peace now. Mr. Snooper knew what he was doing."
I must admit I had a small tear in my eye when Ms. Casspaw finished her story. She noticed and poured me anther martini, adding three olives.
"Well," I said, looking about at all of the cats. "It seems you will have enough friends to keep you company."
She laughed. "Oh, no, Mr. Gaffer. They won't stay. They all have their own humans that they have to look after."
"Oh, of course," I managed.
"But, don't worry," she smiled. "If they find someone who is a good match for me, they'll send him around."
"How nice," I said.
A few minutes later, I took my leave. As I went out into the evening, I was sure I saw Mr. Snooper at the edge of the lot. He nodded to me and turned into the brush, then he was gone. I'm not easily shaken, but I went home and had another martini.
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