Later that day, I finally had a moment to breath. I stopped at Starbucks for a skim iced Mocha Latte, and sat in my car sipping it. Enjoying the cold rush of chocolaty caffeine, with 90’s grunge music banging its way through the speakers and to my ears, I was happy. Everyone needs a break, and this is the way I enjoy my down time. You would probably not know it to look at me, with my conservative skirt and low heels, my current corporate drag, but back in the day, I was quite the grunge headbanger chick. Not the heavy metal 80’s headbanger, no. The far cooler 90’s headbanger, with the Seattle sound and the mosh pits. That was me, jamming out in clubs to the sounds of Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the like. I spent 3 years in Seattle for work, and that is where I picked up both addictions: Grunge music and coffee. And so now, I find the best way to calm my mind is to sit in my car with the radio blaring “Smells Like Teen Spirit” or similar anthem, with the windows rolled up and a cold Starbucks in my hand. I close my eyes, and am taken away. Sometimes, I only need 2 or 3 songs to clear my head. Other times, it takes 6 or 7. Depends on the stress of the day.
Today, I felt better after just 2 songs actually, and could finally begin to think clearly.
I then had a moment to think about that strange little boy at my house today. And whenever I had thought about him, I felt as if I had seen a ghost. Literally every time he crossed my mind, the little hairs pricked up on the back of my neck and my arms. It is like I was suddenly cold, but I was really not. A chilling sensation, which just so happened to also be alarming. I ignored the feeling each time it came, telling myself it was all just in my mind.
Who was he? What should I do about it? My brain started to go into overdrive. What if he was kidnapped and I was his only hope of escape, and I blew it? Wait, what if he was missing and somehow the police find out he came to my house? What if I become a suspect? Oh no, this is getting out of hand. I should call someone. But who?
That question had to go on hold as I see my long time business partner, Thomas, was calling me. I lowered “Black Hole Sun”, and took his call.
“Hey, are you heading over to Morgan and White”, he asked dispensing with any formalities such as saying hello or asking how I am. That’s Thomas, and that is why I love working with him. He is all business, all the time. He is drive personified, he is pure focus. And me, I am the creative mind, so he keeps me balanced. He is the Yin to my Yang.
“On my way now”, I lied. It’s a little white lie, because I am more than halfway there already.
“Don’t be late. And call me after”, he said in his typical rushed tone, and hung up. Anyone else might have been offended or thought him rude. But I knew Thomas, who was simply very pragmatic with his time and information. I dropped my phone in my lap, and shifted into gear to pull out of the parking spot. Before I could pull out, I had to slam on my breaks. I saw a small cat had walked in front of my car and plopped herself down in front of me, effectively blocking my escape. I looked behind me and saw a car had just pulled into the parking spot that was open just a minute ago.
I honked. The cat did not move. I honked again. The cat expertly ignored me. I rolled my window down and shouted to the cat to move, and again was ceremoniously ignored.
“C’mon, cat, I can’t be late”, I shouted out the window. Nothing.
“Dammit”, I mumbled under my breath. I got out of the car with the goal of chasing it away. As I moved closer, I was shocked when the cat launched itself at me! It attacked my face, catching me so off guard that I had no time to put my arms up to block it. I tried to push it off of me, but it seemed latched on, biting me, scratching me. I pulled at it, and must have been screaming wildly because people started running towards me. No one actually helped me, and I had the fleeting thought that they might stop recording me for youtube, and give me a hand. I fell to my knees, still not believing what was happening. Finally, the cat gave up and dropped to the ground. My face was burning, and I was shaking. Now, a woman came up to me and asked if I was ok. I told her I was, but I knew I was not. I was in a state of shock. A man came up to me too, and told me to sit down in my car while he got someone to help. Everything was in slow motion, and I could hear fragments of what they were saying: “who should I call?”…”rabies”…”EMT?”…”try to catch it”….
I watched the cat that had so viscously attacked me. She just sat there for a minute staring at me. Watching me. She got up and walked towards me and for a moment, I thought she might attack me again. But she didn’t. She circled back to where she was, and from there, moved back into the wooded area behind the parking lot. And just like that, she was gone.
Then things got very far away, and I passed out. I dreamed of the boy at my front door. I woke up screaming.
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