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THE CAT BURGLAR

Joyce Peterson

When she heard the little cry, Janet woke up to see two gold-colored eyes staring at her. She sat up

to look at her bedside clock. Almost 8 AM. She knew why the cat wanted her to get up. It was ½

hour past his morning feeding time.

"OK, Peaches, "she told the orange colored cat. He was a tom cat but "Peaches" seemed to fit him "Let

me get my robe and we'll get our day started." She loved animals. Peaches was her current and only

pet. The cat had learned to come in and go out the dog door on Janet's screened in back porch. There

had been dogs and cats before Peaches.

Janet was feeling her age these days. Her gray hair and slightly overweight figure didn't give her

anything to feel happy about. Her husband of thirty-five years had left her ten years ago, and since their

only child now lived a thousand miles away, Janet had found any current pet to be her sole confidant.

At the present time, that happened to be this two-year old tiger cat who seemed to return any affection

showered upon him.

"What's for breakfast, you old scoundrel?" she asked as she turned on the kitchen light. It was an

unnecessary motion because daylight had started some time ago, but she felt It helped when she read

the daily paper. She remembered she hadn't retrieved today's edition from the porch yet.

"OK, I know you want some of your favorite canned food." She confided

As she looked down, she gave out a a squeal. "What on earth have you brought me this time? It looks

like a length of pipe. Peaches," she scolded, "Someday you're going to get us arrested. How on earth

did you get over the back fence with a piece of pipe almost twice as long as you are?" She leaned down

to pick up the cat's latest gift. It only looked like a pipe but was sponge and seemed as if it might go

around a pipe. Maybe it was for insulation. "Have you been over on the next street where they're

doing that construction?" She asked as he straddled the piece, took the end of it in his mouth and took it

to the living room where she could hear the faint sound of his playing with his newest gift for her. When

he heard her put his morning breakfast plate on the floor, he came back to the kitchen. He seemed to

inhale food.

Peaches had started about six months ago to, periodically, bring her gifts that she usually found on the

kitchen floor when she came to get her breakfast. Once it was a dead tree-rat that she had gingerly

picked up with a paper towel and buried it in her garden to help fertilize the plants. However, most of

the time the cat had brought her a pool toy or something a neighbor had left on a barbeque, a glove or

cloth She had so many that she had started a pile of them on her back porch. She had told her

neighbors that, if they were missing anything, to come to take a look there. Some did, but most of the

"gifts" were still in the pile. Occasionally, the cat had taken the "gifts" directly there instead of the

kitchen. Maybe he thought they weren't good enough for her. She was afraid to throw anything away

unless a neighbor might miss a rubber duck or other pool toy, in fact anything left lying around in their

yard , and realized where it had gone, and would come to retrieve it.

Janet decided that later today she would walk around the block and tell someone about the sponge

pipe covering that Peaches had brought in this morning.

Before Janet could get her breakfast, the doorbell rang. As she went to answer it, she saw a small figure

in the glass panel.

"Good morning, Billy." She greeted her little neighbor "What can I do for you this morning?"

"Mom said I could come over to ask you if Peaches brought my rubber duck home. I was playing with it

by the pool last week but I can't find it now." He told her as he handed her the morning paper. Janet

liked the little boy. She knew he wanted a pet but his parents thought the six year old would not know

how to care for one. Janet was proud of Peaches who had figured all this out in his wise cat mind. He

often went over, when he saw the boy playing in the yard, so the boy could pet him.

"You know where the pile is on the back porch. Go have a look." When the boy left to look for his duck,

Janet made her breakfast. Cereal, juice and milk didn't take long to get on the table. As she sat down to

eat and read, Peaches decided to come in and curl up on her feet.

She almost forgot about Billy's going to find his toy. He liked to look over all the things in the pile. Janet

jumped when his little voice at her elbow asked "Could Peaches come over to play with me?"

"He had a rough night, Billy. Maybe he'll come over later if you're still out in the yard. Did you find your

duck? "

""Yes, m'am," he told her. She saw that he was clutching the toy tightly against his chest. " I 'll be

in the yard. Tell Peaches I'll wait for him. Bye, Janet." She had asked him to call her by her name.

It made her smile every time he used it. "You can see that the door is closed tight when you go,"she

warned. Billy leaned over to pet the cat. As he left, Janet heard the door bang.

She finished her meal and put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. It wasn't full enough to start.

"Maybe I'd better get dressed and walk around to that construction site on the next block. Hope they

understand." She had addressed this to Peaches who got up and followed her until he saw a sunny spot

on the living room carpet. He decided to finish his nap. "That's it, you little thief. You do the

robbery then take a nap while I have to go to apologize for you." She knew he was pretending not to

hear her.

When she was finished dressing she looked down to be sure that the comfortable shoes she was

wearing were presentable. Not too bad. Besides, at her age no one would notice anyway.

She didn't get as much exercise as she should. To her, it seemed like a mile around the block to where

they were building a new house.

By the time she got there she was glad to be able to stop for a conversation when she saw one of the

young workers coming toward her. "Young man", she called.

He ignored her and went on to pick up something that looked like the sponge pipe that Peaches had

brought home.

An older man, who looked like he might be the boss, had witnessed what happened. He came over to

her. "Sorry lady. He didn't mean to be rude but his wife just left him and he ain't responsible for the

way he acts."

"Oh, my. I'm so sorry." Janet immediately knew how the young man felt. She noticed that he seemed

to be listening in on the conversation. "I just wanted you know that I have a cat that steals things to

bring home as a present for me. This morning I found a length of something that looks like that piece

the young man is holding now. It must have come from here. I'm afraid that he chewed a couple of

pieces out of it. If he comes home with anymore, I'll try to save it for you. If you miss anything else, let

me know. I live at 320 on the next street over," she pointed to her right. " There's a pile of all kinds of

things on my back porch that someone could look through."

"Thank you, ma'am". He sounded like he was trying to make up for the younger man's rudeness.

"You're welcome and tell that young man I understand how he feels." She stopped herself from telling

him about her husband. That was old news.

When she got back home, she decided to treat herself to a lemonade but first she had to take off her

shoes.

She had just got back to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door when she heard the doorbell 's

ring followed by a loud banging on the door. When she answered it she saw Billy's Mother, Susan,

standing there holding out a dirty work glove. Susan was a beautiful redhead who looked to be in her

early thirties.

"Janet," she said in a loud voice, "how could you?"

"Susan?" she asked as mildly as she could. "How could I what?"

"Give my son this to play with" she demanded as she shoved the glove at Janet.

As she took the glove, Janet could feel that it was heavier than she might have thought. "Why on earth

would I give Billy a dirty glove?"

"He said he got it over here." Susan sounded like the storm was blowing over. " Besides, look at the

inside."

Janet tipped the glove only to watch a sharp knife slip into her hand. "Oh,dear. I can see why you're so

upset. I'm sorry Susan. I should have gone with him when I told him to look in the pile on my back

porch to see if his rubber duck was there. This must be something that Peaches brought in and put on

the pile by himself. You remember I told you about my cat burglar's gifts out there. He's never

brought anything like this before."

She had been carefully turning the knife over on her hand.

"It looks awfully dirty." Susan observed.

"I'm afraid that's not dirt. It looks more like blood . If I weren't so tired, I'd take it down to the station

and turn it over to the police. I'll do that tomorrow." Janet was very concerned. Billy might have hurt

himself if he had tried to play with a knife.

Susan was suddenly calm. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Janet, but you know how careful we are with Billy."

"I know and it was my fault. I won't let him go back there alone again." Janet conceded.

Susan started to leave but turned back. "I could take it to the police for you. Billy and I have to go out

shopping this afternoon."

Janet shook her head. "I'd better do it. I'll get out my old Chrysler in the morning and go down there.

They may have trouble believing a story about a cat burglar. I could invite them out to see the pile on

my back porch." she laughed.

"Good Luck," Susan said as she left.

Janet decided she had better check the pile of "gifts," but there was nothing that looked remotely lethal

when she pulled it apart. "Oh well," she thought, "I'd better try to get rid of some of it." She had put

the glove with the knife in it into a plastic bag before putting it in a kitchen drawer. She thought the first

to go would be the knife. Maybe she should take it to the police today. She shook her head. The long

walk had tired her too much to think about it. Tomorrow would do.

She went back to the kitchen and pulled out the drawer that held the stolen knife in a glove. Something

seemed to pick at her memory. She tried to think of what it was but the weariness took over. Maybe it

would come to her in the morning after a good night's aleep.

The rest of her day was spent in doing all the little daily things she had to do to keep the house in order.

Things that didn't take any planning or hard work, like doing the dishes, folding the laundry and putting

it away, sweeping the front porch, watering the plants she had there. She decided that a frozen dinner

would be just the thing today. By evening she was ready to sit down and watch her favorite TV shows.

At 10 o"clock she decided to forgo the late news and go to bed.

"OK, Peaches, let's call it a night." Peaches always spent the night in her room but tonight he wouldn't

follow her. " Too early, huh? I understand, you burglar you. But please, don't bring me any more

surprises like a knife in a glove. Behave yourself and I'll see you in the morning."

She fell asleep reminding herself that she had to go to the police station tomorrow. It was a habit she

had known for many years, plan for tomorrow the night before.

She was sleeping soundly and the bed felt so comfortable that she tried to sleep through the noise she

could hear coming from the back porch. It was probably Peaches trying to drag something too big

through the cat door.

Then she heard the cat's "Meow". It sounded like it was coming from out side. Over the cat's cry,

she could still hear the banging and what sounded like a man cursing. She felt a sudden chill as she

pulled the covers over her head.

She knew she should call the police but was afraid she was imagining things. Besides, just thinking of

reaching for her bedside phone was enough to start her trembling. However, when she

definitely heard someone yell," Get off of me you damn cat," she grabbed her phone and managed to

dial the operator. When the operator answered, Janet lost any cool she had remaining. "Help! Send

the police!!'

One moment,ma'am, I'll connect you."

"I don't want to be connected. I want the police." Janet shouted, but the police station answered

before she finished.

"…. …may I help you?"

Janet realized she had the right place. "Thank God Someone is trying to get in in my cat door. Send

the police." She thought she heard a smothered laugh..

"I'll need you address, ma'am"

"Oh, yes. Of course." Janet felt stupidity had taken over her brain as she had trouble giving tham her

address. She finally got it out.

It seemed like ages but finally,the police car came with its siren blaring. The man breaking in surely

heard it and would be long gone before the officers got there. Either way, she would be rid of him.

However, as she went to the front door to let them in she could still hear her unwelcome visitor

swearing at the cat in a voice loud enough to wake up the neighborhood.

She opened the front door before the two uniformed men reached the porch."This way officers. I think

he's still here. This way." She led them through the house to the back porch. She opened the door so

they could go in first.

When she heard the two men start laughing, she followed them in. There, stuck tight in the cat door

was the young workman who had ignored her yesterday, when she had gone to tell the men working on

the new house about the cat. As he got part of his body through the pet door, the plastic flat sheet that

he had lifted so part of his body could get in, had fallen down in back of his head. He had found that his

bulky frame could neither go in nor back out. Sitting on top of the outside part of the young man was

Peaches.

He had just been trying to get into the house but found his door all filled up with a human.

Janet went outside and brought the cat in with her.

One of the policemen laughed. "Well I've heard of a cat burglar but I never heard of a cat catching a

burglar," he said. "And what on earth were you doing trying to get in here.? All I can see is a pile of junk

in the corner."

Janet's mind kicked in. Of course, that's it, she thought. She touched the officer's arm. "Sir,I have to

admit my cat is a burglar, too. Those are all the things he steals and brings home. My neighbors all

know about him. Wait here," she told him. She went to the kitchen and retrieved the glove with the

knife. "I think this is what he was after but my little neighbor found it first and got me into trouble with

his mother." She handed the glove to the officer.

"A dirty glove?" he asked.

Janet smiled, "Look inside, officer. Then you might ask this young man to tell you about his wife. It

seems he's been saying that she left him.

The two officers managed to pull the victim through the door. As they marched him threw the house ,

Janet asked the Officers their names. "I really would like to know what he has to say for himself. Maybe

one of you could tell me if I call tomorrow."

One of the men answered, "I'm Officer Maloney, ma'am. I'll give you a call when we find out what this

is all about, if that's all right."

Janet smiled, "I'd appreciate that."

The next few days, Janet hoped that each phone call would be from the officer but it was a week later

when Maloney called.

"You were right, ma'am. The knife had his wife's blood on it. He said he had put the knife in one of his

work gloves and came out at nite to bury it in the ground beneath the house they're building. He laid it

down while he was digging the whole and when he went back for it, it was gone. He heard you telling

his foreman about the cat so he figured out what had happened. That's some cat you have there. He

deserves some kind of a reward."

Janet laughed, "I'll give him regular tuna tonight instead of his canned food,"she promised.

.

Black Dress

THE BLACK DRESS

JoycePeterson

Marybeth decided to stop watching the New Year's Eve Celebrations on TV, when the ball rolled down in New York but decided to take one final look in the mirror at the black party dress that had cost a small fortune. Last year she had worn a blue dress that had been expensive, too, but it had been her first date with Al. He had taken her to a party at Sadie's where she had first met the group of people who, in the past year, had become good friends, so, she was included in their activities. Naturally, she always went with Al. Since she hadn't received an invitation to this year's party, she assumed it was because she and Al were no longer an item. She drank the last bit of beer before putting the empty champagne glass down on the coffee table. What if she did drink her beer from a champagne glass, she hadn't thought she would need to pour anything into anything here, tonight. She almost tore off the apron she had put on as a safeguard for the dress.

Taking one last glance in the mirror, she ran her hands down the sides of the dress and thought, "Blond hair does go well with black, just like the saleswoman told her." Then, confiding to the image in the mirror she said, "Too bad I didn't get a chance to show it off. I refused three invitations, waiting to be asked to Sadie's. Now this little black dress will celebrate the New Year hanging in my closet. Damn."

She wondered why she hadn't been asked to the New Year's Eve party at Sadie's house, if Sadie had asked her, she would have gone, solo. She and Al had always gone, as a couple, to all the group gatherings but he had dumped her two weeks ago. He hadn't given her a reason, just said he thought they should see other people. The image in her mirror told her that she was still attractive, even if she was forty, or thereabouts, she still had a good figure, had often been told that she could pass for, perhaps, 35. She was so small that most men found it hard to dance with her. She was 4'9, Al was 6'1. But she couldn't remember ever dancing with him, not even at that New Year's party. He had always danced with someone else when the group went any place where there would be dancing. No, it was that short guy, Sidney, who had danced with her when she needed a partner. Maybe Al had told
Sadie not to invite her this year. Even though she had been dating Al exclusively, for a while, she hadn't really liked him that much, but she liked belonging to group and, no matter how she felt about him, she didn't think Al was such a jerk that he would ask Sadie not to invite her.

"Oh, well," she said as she pulled the expensive black dress over her head , "That's life. I hope he finds someone so tall she'll make him feel like I do now."

She was hanging the dress in the closet, wondering if she could return it, when the ring of the phone pulled her back to reality. Who would be calling at this time of night?

"Hello?" the question in her answer must have fooled the caller.

"Marybeth?" Liz's voice had an unsure ring to it.

Realizing who it was, Marybeth grumbled, "Yes, Liz. It's me. Why are you calling me at" she looked at her watch, "12:30 in the morning?" She could hear music in the background and the buzz of conversation.

"Are you sick?" Liz sounded really concerned.

Marybeth's answer sounded angry, even to herself, "Why would you think I'm sick?"

"Well, you aren't at Sadie's party. Everyone is asking about you. We were all afraid you were sick. Then I realized that no one had called to check on you, well…" Liz tried to explain.

Marybeth was gratified that she had been missed but still felt unhappy that she hadn't been asked. "The reason I wasn't there was because I wasn't asked."

"Asked?" Liz started laughing. "No one has to be asked to Sadie's parties. We just go."

Marybeth began to feel the anger swell within her. "Well, I have to be asked. I don't go to any party unless I've been invited," she almost shouted. "Damn, "she said to herself. "I could have shown off my new black dress."

"Well, you're missing a good party. Why don't you come now? It doesn't look like this party will be over for some time." Liz sounded like she meant it.

Marybeth thought about the black dress. It was the kind of dress that needed a special occasion to be worn and she didn't have that many of those. She suddenly felt like the New Year was going to be a good one. "OK," she told Liz. "Keep the lights on for me."

"You bet, "Liz said, as she hung up.

Marybeth was glad she hadn't washed the makeup off. She had actually got ready for the party hoping that the invitation would come at the last minute. She laughed to herself, she had been "asked", but later than the last minute. As she put the dress on, again, she hoped Al would be there to see what he was missing.

Sadie lived close, so Marybeth was there in less than 15 minutes. When she rang the doorbell, Sadie came to the door, "Come in, sweetie, I apologize for not extending the invitation, personally, but I thought that everyone knew we would be celebrating here, just like we always do. I did mention it when we all went bowling last week." As Sadie took her coat, she looked at the dress and gave a soft whistle. "Go in and mingle. You look gorgeous."

Last year had been her first New Year with the group. She had gone with Al so she hadn't worried about an invitation. "I'm here now," she thought, "And I am damn well going to get my money's worth out of this black dress." She walked confidently into the room that had been cleared for dancing.

The music was playing a love song and everyone was dancing close together. She saw Al dancing with a woman that was taller than he was, he must have brought her this year. Marybeth knew she wasn't one of the regulars. As he danced by, Al whispered, "Save a dance for me." She smiled as she looked away.

Just about every one of the group told her how good it was to see her and how fabulous she looked.. She felt like a member, not an outsider. When Sadie told her to be sure to get some refreshments, Marybeth realized , now that the anger had died down, the emptiness she felt was hunger. She loaded a plate and looked for a vacant chair, so she could sit down to eat, but Al walked up behind her, put his arms around her, took the plate and put it down on the table.

"Dance now, eat later," he told her as he started to try to find a comfortable way to hold her for a new slow dance that was playing. "You look gorgeous."

She backed away and picked up her plate. "Why don't you dance with your date? I'm hungry," she told him and thought to herself , "God, that felt good."

Al hesitated before moving away, asking, "Later, maybe?"

Marybeth didn't answer him but found a seat. She hadn't realized how hungry she was and was stuffing her mouth with more than it could hold, when she felt the drool oozing down her cheek. Feeling around for her napkin, she saw a hand holding one out to her. She looked up to see Sydney smiling down at her.

She mumbled, "Thanks" around the food in her mouth.

"I hope you haven't sworn off dancing. I saw Al ask you and get turned down." Sydney was still smiling at her as she swallowed so she could answer him.

"No. I'm still in a dancing mood. I guess I was waiting for someone the right size. Let me finish this first." She tried to eat more gracefully.

Sydney sat down beside her. "Take your time," he told her, "I've been waiting for you since you joined our group. When I heard you and Al had broken up, I thought I might have a chance. By the way, you are outstanding in that black dress."

Marybeth remembered how good it had been to dance with him. She could even remember how it felt to have his arms around her. She saw, now, that he was rather handsome with his curly brown hair, and green eyes. He was, maybe, 8 inches taller that she. She wondered why she had ever thought of him as short. Remembering his embrace, when they had danced, she could almost feel the strength in his body. She smiled all the time it took to finish the contents of the plate.

When Sydney saw the plate was empty, he took it from her. "Wait right here. I'll take this. I know where it goes."

Marybeth took a mirror from her purse and looked to be sure all traces of the refreshments were gone. When she saw Sydney returning, she stood.

Looking up at him, she asked, "Did I hear you say something about taking a chance with me?" When he nodded, she kissed him as she told him, "Put your money down. It's a sure thing."

End

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Christmas

The Church Bell

Joyce Peterson

The boy stayed awake until it was after eleven o'clock. He was too anxious to wait any longer. After all. he was 10 years old, he should be able to do this. His mother was asleep. She slept soundly because she had taken on 2 jobs. Since his Father had been killed in the war, she was tired and sad most of the time.

He crept downstairs, so he wouldn't fall and wake her, closed the door quietly. The old church was only two blocks away. It was old because no one went there any more. Last summer the new church was opened in the suburbs and everyone, well, almost every one went there now. He and his mother had gone until she took the Sunday morning job, now, they couldn't. Jimmy spent Sunday mornings remembering the good times he had there in the past.

He put his hand on the brick wall and drew it along until he turned the corner. The steps leading into the church were in the middle of the front of it. The light on the corner showed him that there was an old man sitting on the steps. He wondered if he should sit down beside him. Mom had always warned him about strangers. But he didn't think she meant an old man.

Sitting down beside the man, the boy thought there was something familiar about him.

The old man looked at him and said, "You're Davy Sampson . You used to go to this church, didn't you?"

Recognizing the old man, Davy almost shouted, "Pastor Rigby!! You were the minister for a long, long time, weren't you?"

"Twenty-five years, but when they built the new church, I knew it wouldn't be the same. I'm Pastor in a different place now, but this old building, with the bell ringing at midnight on Christmas Eve, drew me back. I know the bell won't ring tonight but we can imagine, can't we?" the Pastor paused before he said, "I was sorry to hear about your Dad, Davy. It was just about the time they opened the new church, wasn't it?"

The boy sniffed and tried to keep from crying. "Yes. My Dad always rang the church bell on Christmas Eve. After the service, everybody left before 12 o'clock. Mom let me stay up so I could go with him. One time, when he rang the bell, I asked him why. You know what he said?" Pastor Rigby shook his head. "He told me that as long as we could hear the bell at midnight on Christmas Eve we would know that everything will all right. I know it won't ring tonight but, like you said, we can imagine."

As Davy was talking, the Pastor had pulled keys from his pocket and was going through them. "By golly, he said "I've still got it."

"What?" Davy asked.

He held up a single key. "I still have the key that I had so I could let myself into a side door when I wanted to go into the church." Davy was looking at the Pastor so intently that he patted the boy on the head as he told him, "We can make the bell ring tonight, Davy."

Davy was overjoyed. "Then the whole city will know that everything will be all right. Let's go."

The man started to go around to the other side of the building. "The door is over here."

Pastor Rigby shuffled, and the boy ran to wait at the door for him. It would be great to be able to run up the steps to the Bell Tower.

The old man slowly followed the boy who had run up the stairs. He was already there, holding the rope that pulled the bell. When he saw the old man, he tugged at the rope but couldn't budge it.

The Pastor took a deep breath as he looked at the illuminated dial on his watch. "Hold on, Davy. We've got a minute to go," he said. "Bells in the new churches can be rung…" He searched for a word.

Davy asked, "Technically?"

The Pastor laughed. "It takes you youngsters to know words like that." After he felt he had enough breath, he placed his hand on the rope as he checked his watch. "Let's do this together, son. I didn't climb all those stairs for nothing. Now, let's both pull as hard as we can."

They both pulled on the rope and, after a few tries, the bell rang so loud, Davy was sure the whole city would hear. They rang, and rang until the Pastor said, "I think that should be enough and you better get back home. If you mother heard, she's probably looking for you." He took the boys hand and started for the stairs, but Davy pulled away.

"Wait," he called as he headed for one of the open spaces around the tower. Looking up, he thought he saw a star wink at him.

"Did you hear that, Dad?" He shouted. "We rang the bell." When he heard the Pastor call to him from the bottom of the stairs, he looked again at the stars and said, "I better go now. Mom will be worried if the bell woke her up. But won't she be surprised when I tell her how Pastor Rigby and I did it?"

Davy rushed down the stairs calling the Pastor's name but when he reached the bottom, the old man had gone. "I'd better get home in a hurry, " he thought as he closed the door to the church and took off in a run.

When he got home, his Mother was waiting at the door as he entered.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you," she scolded him. "I heard the bell ring. Someone must have got into the church, somehow."

"It was me, Mom. Me and Pastor Rigby. He had a key and he helped me." Davy tried to explain as he climbed the stairs to their apartment.

His Mother stood in the open door and looked at the sky. "How do I tell him, Dave? How do I tell him that Pastor Rigby died this past summer, too? Who helped him ring the bell?" She saw a star wink at her and she laughed out loud for the first time in a long time.

Davy stopped and looked back at her, "It works, Mom. Everything is all right."

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Thanksgiving

TO SAVE A FRIEND

Clyde Haynes had bought the small farm, if you could call 2 acres a small farm, so that he and Lizzie could move there when he retired. But Lizzie, who had heart problems all her life, had died three years before he reached his 70th birthday. He had always promised her he would retire then. It made him sad that she couldn't share his retirement with him. They had never been fortunate enough to have children. Clyde felt the loss of both Lizzie and the kids they didn't have, especially now. He felt very much alone. His friends were too busy to visit him often. Life on the "farm" looked as though it were going to be a little lonely. He needed to find something to keep him busy.

Lizzie had always talked about having a garden and raising chickens. Maybe he should go ahead with her plan. He had always done things to please her. Then, he realized he didn't know how to start. He had been born and raised in the city. The only chickens he knew about were the ones that Lizzie had roasted or fried and put on their dinner table. He remembered visiting a farm when he was young and how the smell of the chicken pen had nauseated him. Still, there was the garden. Maybe he could do that but, where to start was a problem? Since he had moved in the last part of September, he had been here about 2 weeks now, for he had just turned the calendar to October. Could he start a garden?

When he had first moved in, Clyde had walked over and talked, just once, to the next door neighbor, a man who looked to be in his forties. Clyde had still been wearing a suit and tie. When the man had come to the fence, Clyde couldn't get any words to come out of his mouth. He didn't understand it. He had been in business all his life and head never had a problem with speaking. He guessed he couldn't "country speak".

The neighbor didn't seem to notice because he asked, "You the one bought the place next door?" Clyde nodded. The man continued, "Nice place for a garden and chickens. My mother takes care of that for me and my nephew, Jimmy. She could give you some pointers."

By this time, Clyde had smelled the chicken pen. "No chickens," he told the man. "But maybe a little garden. My wife would have wanted both chickens and the garden but she died a couple of years ago." Clyde heard the tears in his own voice.

"Sorry to hear that," the man said without feeling. "Mom's a great one to give out advice. Believe me, we know, don't we Jimmy?" A boy of about eight had walked up to them, followed by a turkey.

"This is my nephew. He lives with me. His folks are dead. Mom lives with me because Pop died." The man held out his hand. "Name's Ed Dudley. Better get back to cleaning up the yard. I work in town so I do what I can on the week ends."

Clyde realized it was Sunday. He had lost track of time since he moved to the "country". He saw he was still holding his neighbor's hand. Dropping it, he said, "Nice to meet you, Ed. I'll stop by another time to meet your mother." Looking down, he saw that Jimmy had his arm around the turkey. He told the boy, "I guess I'll be seeing you around."

The boy smiled. "Yeah. Me and Tom," he said.

That had been more than two weeks ago. Today, he had dressed in a pair of the jeans and the shirts he had bought for the way he lived now. Suits and ties were for other times and other places. While he was putting the furniture where he imagined Lizzie would put it, he had caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror. He liked what he saw. He was sure he could pass for sixty, not that anyone would notice. His hair had grey, streaking through the brown. He was tall and straight. When he noticed the little paunch, he reminded himself to get back on the exercise program that he had practiced for so many years. Liz had always reminded him. When he lived in town, it was easier to remember . Out here, he couldn't visualize Liz, sitting at the kitchen table, saying, "Time to exercise. Get going." He still missed her in so many ways.

The furniture was all in place in the new house. He decided he would tell himself, "Time to exercise." Having a garden would help. He would go next door again, this time to get advice from Ed Dudley's mother. He had seen the boy Jimmy, walking the turkey down the road, almost every day. The boy always waved and the bird gobbled. Clyde had started looking forward to it.

He walked down the road, then up to the front door of the Dudley house. He rang the bell but, when no one answered, he walked around to the back. A woman was in the garden, leaning over, pulling up weeds.

Clyde called out, "Hello." When she stood and turned around, he was surprised to see a tall woman who looked almost too young to be the mother of the neighbor he had met before. Clyde told her, "I'm Clyde Haynes, your next door neighbor. I was looking for Mr. Dudley's mother. He said she would give me some advice on starting a garden."

The woman laughed. "Well, I'm it on both counts. Right now I'm trying to get rid of some weeds, but I'll come out and get us some lemonade. Don't know if I'm such a good authority on gardening but I do make a reasonable glass of lemonade."

She sounded friendly. Lizzie had always had a knack for making people feel comfortable. Clyde liked that in a woman. He also saw that Ed's mother had black hair that, like Clyde's, had grey streaks. When she got close, he noticed that her eyes were blue. The blue jeans and flowered blouse she wore seemed to add to her natural charm. Her eyes twinkled when she held out her hand and told him, "I'm Caroline. But everyone calls me Carrie."

As he took her hand in his, the warmth that ran through his body was something he hadn't felt for many years. He followed her through the back door into a sunny kitchen. "I didn't mean to take you away from your gardening."

"Anyone who takes me away from gardening can visit any time they want. I just started about two years ago when Jimmy and I came to live with Ed." She stopped abruptly to take a deep breath, then continued, "Jimmy's mother was my daughter. She and her husband had been on a business trip and asked my husband to pick them up at the airport when they got back. Jimmy stayed with me while they were gone. On the way back from the airport, the highway was slippery from a rainstorm. They ran off the road. All three were killed." Her voice had trailed off.

Clyde took her arm and helped her into a chair at the table. "I'm sorry. We can do this another time if you would rather."

She took a handkerchief from a pocket and wiped her eyes. "No, no. I'm fine. Sit down" Clyde took a chair next to her and turned to face her. She laughed as she told him, "If you can stand the sniffles, it will be good to talk to you."

She seemed to have recovered, so, Clyde decided to stay. "You two live with your son?"

"Yes. His wife had left him not long before the accident. We decided it might be best if I sold our place and came here with Jimmy. It's been good for the boy to have a man around. They get along fine, except for the turkey. Ed keeps telling Jimmy we have to have the turkey for Thanksgiving."

Clyde had become so accustomed to seeing the turkey with the boy, he couldn't imagine their being separated. "Aren't there other turkeys?"

Carrie sighed, "No. Along with some chickens, Tom was hatched in an old incubator I had found at a flea market. A neighbor, up the road, gave Jimmy 3 turkey eggs to put in with the chicken eggs that I bought from him to put in the incubator. Tom was the only turkey that hatched. It took to Jimmy right away and follows him everywhere. Ed doesn't think chickens or turkeys should be pets. He told Jimmy that at Thanksgiving, Tom has to go. Ed thinks of himself as Jimmy's Dad. Even though he never had children of his own, he believes that the Dad always gets the last word. However, Thanksgiving is still over a month away. Maybe he'll change his mind."

"Ed looks like a good man. I'm sure he'll change his mind." Clyde told her.

Carrie's face betrayed her negative feelings, as she answered, "I hope. But ever since he was a little boy, when he makes up his mind, it's been hard to change it. Jimmy doesn't argue with him any more. Ever since you came, in fact."

Clyde liked looking at her. She brought out feelings that he thought had been lost forever. He remembered why he was here. "Your son told me that you might help me get started on a garden. I need something to keep me busy and maybe get some exercise along with it."

She laughed as she said, "Well, I'm afraid it's a little late to start a garden this year. I can tell you all the mistakes I made a couple of years ago and help you get started next year. First, in the spring, you will have to get someone to plow up a garden spot for you. I have the name of a man who can do that . As for planting, decide what you want to raise, get some seeds and read the instructions. For some things, it would be best to go to a nursery and get the plants. There's a great nursery in Collington, the little village you passed through before you got here. I'll go with you, when it's time, and help you."

When Clyde thought of escorting Carrie any place, he felt a sudden joy. "That would be great," he gushed.

Carrie smiled as though she could read his innermost thoughts. To cover the blush he knew was turning his face red, he added "I'll have to buy an exercise machine to help me through the winter."

She held up her hand, "You don't need to do that. Why don't you help me keep the weeds out of my garden?"

"Yeah, then maybe Tom and me could play with our friend Kenny instead of helping in the garden." Jimmy and Tom had magically appeared and Clyde wondered how much the boy had heard. Not that anything had been said, but Clyde knew his thoughts had got a little out of hand.

That was how Clyde, Carrie, Jimmy and Tom got to be good friends. Clyde told them all about Lizzie and why they had bought the "place next door". Carrie seemed to be glad to talk about her family. Jimmy told Clyde, in detail, about his Uncle and what he wanted to do to Tom at Thanksgiving. By time Thanksgiving was only a week away, they had shared many happy hours, weeding and drinking lemonade. Of course, as the weather got cooler, there was not much left to weed. Instead of lemonade, Carrie had started serving cider, the soft kind since Jimmy liked to share in the conversation. It was a good time.

Clyde wasn't sure whether the good times would last when, one morning early in Thanksgiving week,, Jimmy didn't walk by with Tom but brought him into the yard. Clyde had been watching and had the door open before Jimmy had a chance to knock. He had grown very fond of the boy. Tentatively, he asked, "What can I do for you, Jimmy?"

When Jimmy looked up, he saw the tears in the child's eyes and heard them in his voice when he answered. "Not me, Mr. Haynes. It's Tom. I want to give him to you."

Clyde was caught off guard. He stuttered, "You…you…want to give me your friend?"

The boy started to cry as he told Clyde, "You're my friend, too. I know you would be good to him. You wouldn't kill him for any old Thanksgiving dinner…would you?"

Clyde wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Maybe the truth would be a start. "I've never killed anything in my life, Jimmy." He hesitated before he asked, "But what about your family, do they know you want to do this?"

Jimmy nodded his head, "They know." He paused before explaining. " Well, when I went out the door this morning I told Grandma. She didn't say I couldn't. At least I didn't hear her say anything before I closed the door." Clyde smiled as he pictured the scene.

Jimmy had leaned down to put his arm around the turkey. He looked up at Clyde. "You've got an old pen in the back. The people that lived here before had chickens. It might need a little fixin' up but I could help you."

The boy was looking up at Clyde with such wide, hopeful eyes that Clyde felt he had to say something. "Maybe we should to look at it."

He let Jimmy bring Tom through the house and all three went into the backyard. The chicken pen did need some "fixin' up", but it would probably hold Tom for the time being. He rubbed his hand through the boy's blond curly hair as he told him, "It looks pretty good, Jimmy." Clyde knew he would have to talk to Carrie. He hoped he could find out what had happened without causing Carrie any concern. He stooped down to talk to Jimmy. "Why don't you take Tom for his walk. Stop on your way back and we'll see if Tom would like to live here."

The boy turned away from him."I know what you're gonna do. You're gonna call my Grandma," Clyde could hear an accusation in the childish voice. "I don't care. Call her. If you won't let Tom stay here, he'll be our Thanksgiving dinner and it will be your fault. C'mon, Tom. Let's take our walk." Clyde followed the boy and Tom through the back door.

When Tom had to stop in the kitchen for nature's call, Jimmy pulled a tissue and a little plastic bag from his shirt pocket, cleaned it up with the tissue and put it in the plastic bag. Clyde took it when he saw Jimmy looking around. He'd have to show Jimmy how to take Tom around the outside of the house.

"I'll get rid of that for you," he said as he disposed of the bag in a nearby trash can. "You take Tom for his walk. Don't forget to stop by on the way back."

Jimmy sounded a little hopeful as he answered, "O.K. Maybe it's good that Uncle Ed isn't home. If you call, you'll have to talk to Grandma. She always liked Tom." The boy and his friend went out the front door, then down the road.

Clyde knew he had to call Carrie. He hoped he wasn't going to cause trouble in the family. The phone was picked up as soon as it rang. "Hello." Clyde could hear the concern in her voice.

"Carrie, this is Clyde," he told her.

"I know, or I hoped you would call. I watched Jimmy when he left. He had just said he was going to give Tom to you and he rushed out the door. What happened?" Carrie sounded like she had been crying.

"He offered but I didn't know what to tell him."

Carrie was crying. "Last night, he and Ed had another argument about having Tom for our Thanksgiving dinner, Thursday. That's only 3 days away. Jimmy went to bed mad. Ed just said that kids have to grow up sometime and he went to bed. I worried all night. After Ed went to work, Jimmy went out the door and came to your house with Tom."

Clyde wished he were close enough to put his arms around her. He tried to sound comforting, "How about letting Jimmy leave Tom with me, at least until after Thanksgiving. Maybe we can work something out with Ed. If we can't, I guess Tom could be a permanent guest. I can't stand by and see both you and the boy crying."

Carrie asked, "Are you sure?" When he answered in the affirmative, Carrie sounded like she was going to burst through the phone to give him her thanks. "By the way, unless you have other plans, you're invited here for Thanksgiving. I think maybe we should have ham this year. I just hope Ed isn't mad about the turkey staying with you. After all, Tom belongs to Jimmy . He should be the one who decides where he lives."

"Let's hope Ed sees it that way." Clyde didn't want trouble with Carrie's son. "And, I don't have other plans for Thanksgiving. If I did, I'd cancel them to be with you." He meant it

Carrie laughed as she told him, "I can't think of anyone I'd rather have next to me at the dinner table. If Ed gives you any trouble, I'll have Jimmy bring me to your house, like he has Tom."

Clyde would have tried to tell her more but he could see Jimmy and Tom coming back in the yard. "I see Jimmy and Tom coming back. I'll see you Thursday. Maybe we could…talk some more." He heard her laugh as she hung up.

When he told Jimmy that Tom would be staying with him, Jimmy wanted to hug him but could only hold out his hands. Clyde picked him up and felt the thrill of having a child hug him about the neck.

"I knew you were my friend," the boy said as Clyde lowered him to the floor.

"By the way, your Grandma invited me to your house for Thanksgiving. I guess I'll have to leave Tom in the pen here." All of a sudden, Clyde realized he had taken on a responsibility. "You'll have to give me some food for Tom until I can get to the store. Maybe you could go with me to be sure I get the right stuff. Tomorrow OK?"

Jimmy nodded. "Maybe you could bring Tom over for Thanksgiving. Just don't come until dinner is ready. Uncle Ed wouldn't have any reason to kill him then. He could stay in our pen. At least he'd be close so he wouldn't get lonely."

"Sounds like a good plan, Jimmy. Go put Tom in my pen then go home and make piece with Carrie…I mean, your Grandma..for running out on her like you did today."

Jimmy started for the back door. "Thanks for everything, Mr. Haynes. See you tomorrow."

Clyde and Jimmy spent much of the next day shopping for turkey food or mending the pen fence. Tom pranced around the pen as if he knew it was his new home.

The next couple of days seemed to go too slow as Clyde waited for Thanksgiving. He didn't know what would happen with Ed Dudley. He knew what he hoped would happen with Carrie. When he had asked her what he could bring for dinner, she had said "just yourself". However, he did buy a bottle of champagne and a bottle of apple cider for Jimmy. If things went well, they could have a toast.

Thanksgiving Day was clear. The weather was not too warm. Clyde was glad because he had decided to dress in a suit, shirt and tie. He had asked Jimmy to call him when dinner was almost ready so he could come over with Tom.

The phone rang. When he answered, he heard Jimmy whisper, "You and Tom can come," and hang up.

Jimmy had sounded like a conspirator. Clyde felt like one, himself. With what he had in mind, he hoped he didn't end up with egg on his face.

He and Tom went to the back door of the Dudley house. Ed opened the door. "You can put your friend in the chicken pen. Mom's got every thing ready to go, so, come on in, when you're finished with Tom." Clyde was glad that Ed had, at least been polite. He put Tom in the pen then went in the back door. Since it opened into the kitchen, he saw Carrie. She was a beautiful woman. She had on a grey turtle-neck sweater and dark gray slacks. As she turned around to welcome him, she wiped her hands on the apron she wore. He set the bag with the champagne on the counter. When, she held out her hand to him. He took it and drew her to him and kissed her. She returned the kiss with more fervor than Clyde could have hoped for.

"You don't mind?" He asked.

She laughed. "I thought it was about time."

Clyde felt that his plan had been the right one. He kissed her again as Jimmy came into the kitchen. Ed was behind him and pulled the boy back into the dining room.

"Jimmy," Ed said, "Have you finished putting the napkins on the table?"

"I'm all finished. I was just going out to tell Tom "Happy Thanksgiving"." Jimmy pulled away and went out the back door.

Carrie looked at her son. "It's OK, Ed. I've been a big girl for a long time now." Ed grunted as his mother gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Everybody carry something in to the table. Ed, you take the ham since you'll be doing the carving. Clyde, Jimmy and I will bring everything else."

It was a great Thanksgiving dinner, the best Clyde had had in a few years. Ed wasn't too grumpy. Jimmy had to excuse himself a few times to see Tom. Clyde felt that he and Carrie were in a world of their own.

When the last bit of pie was gone, Jimmy and Carrie started to take the dirty dishes to the kitchen. Clyde started to help but she pushed him back down in his seat. "Guests don't do dishes in my house. Jimmy and I will get the dishes in the dishwasher." She laughed as she told them, " You and Ed can tell each other what great guys you are."

When just the two men were left at the table, Clyde felt the "cold feet syndrome" almost take over. Then he cleared his throat and statrted, "Ed, uh, uh.." He wasn't sure but he thought he saw a little smile on the younger man's face as he continued. "Your mother and I, well, we don't have as much of our lives left as you do." He hoped he could get the words out before Carrie and Jimmy came back.

Ed was actually smiling a broad smile. "I know, Clyde. Mom reminded me of that just today."

Clyde laughed, "I didn't think this would be so hard to do. Maybe I should just say it. Do I have your permission to ask Carrie to marry me?"

Ed looked pleased. "You heard Mom say she's a big girl, so you didn't have to ask me. I do appreciate that you did. Of course, you have my permission."

Jimmy and Carrie had come back into the room, "He has your permission to do what?" She asked,

Clyde hurriedly told her to bring have Jimmy bring Tom in, "To be with us when we have a toast to that delicious Thanksgiving ham. Jimmy can get Tom, I'll get the bottles, and your Uncle can get some special glasses out of that China cabinet in back of him." Clyde and Jimmy went back to the kitchen.

"You better get those glasses," Carrie muttered. "That ham must have been pretty special to get its own toast."

Ed told her, "I guess Clyde appreciated having ham. You can tell he has grown fond of that old turkey."

When Clyde and Jimmy returned with the champagne and cider, Tom followed them. He had a ribbon around his neck.

Jimmy looked at Carrie, "It's all right, Grandma," he patted his shirt pocket. "I've got things if he has an accident."

"It's Thanksgiving, Jimmy. All the family members should be here." When she saw the ribbon around the turkeys neck, she pulled it up and saw something attached. It was a ring box. Clyde took the ring out and held it up.

"Don't make me put this back in the box. I could never go through this again." Clyde looked at her.

"He wants to marry you, Grandma," Jimmy shouted.

Carrie smiled, "I certainly hope so," she said as she held up her hand. Clyde placed the ring on her finger and kissed her.

Ed got up to shake Clyde's hand. "I'll give up my Mother but I think the turkey should come home to be with Jimmy. Of course, Tom will always be one of the family." He looked at his Mother and Jimmy.

Carrie took Clyde's hand. "Looks like I'm being traded for a "old turkey".

"A very valuable turkey," Ed teased. "What I was trying to say is, I think I should be Jimmy's father. Maybe we could have a wedding and an adoption ceremony at the same time, if Jimmy doesn't mind." He held his arms out to the boy.

When Ed picked him up, Jimmy hugged him around the neck. "As long as Tom is always a family member and not Thanksgiving dinner."

Ed pulled him close. "It's a promise."

Jimmy looked serious as he asked, "I won't have to call you Dad, will I?"

Ed shook his head, "Not if you don't want to."

When Ed lowered him to the floor, Jimmy went to his Grandmother. "If Gram marries Mr. Haynes, she will be close enough to watch out for me. It sounds like every thing is working out just fine." He took Carrie by one hand and Clyde by the other as he said, "And at the ceremony, Tom could be the ring bearer."

Tom gobbled his approval.