Josh and I walked from the elevator to my apartment. Do you want to come in?
No, he said. I want to walk to midtown before the rain comes. He leaned the walker against the wall and set my bag at my feet.
Okay, I said. Thanks for helping me get home in one piece. You’re the best! I love you, Joshie.
I love you, too, he gave me a hug and turned back to the elevator. I watched him get on, and as the doors closed, I thought, what a good friend! I am so lucky that he’s such an important part of my life. What other friend would volunteer to walk four miles from Astoria to Lenox Hill Hospital to help me get home? I turned to my door and dug in my pocket for the key.
I opened the door. I dragged in my bag, my cane, the walker a hospital physical therapist had given me, and set them inside the door. I saw the packages Auntie Judy had left by a CD case, and a small pile of mail on the computer table.
Annabelle looked up from her Backstage. Back already? she asked. That was how many days? Four?
Just three, Missy!
Well, that wasn’t so painful was it? We all did fine with Auntie Judy.
Stella! I called. Thatch! Daddy’s home. Where are you? Stella? Thatch?
Stella bounded out from the bathroom, carrying a mangled roll of toilet paper. She dropped the roll, ran to my foot and bit my ankle.
Well, Missy. I guess you’re happy to see me.
She does like you, you know, Annabelle said. She just likes to bite and chew up things. She’s got a bad bite. And absolutely no couth, none at all.
Yeah, I’m afraid to look in the bathroom. Hello, Stella! Did you miss me?
Stella ran back to the mangled roll of toilet paper and carried it into the bathroom.
I betcha she’s going to finish destroying it in there, I said.
Of course, Annabelle said.
Well, I’ve got to put these things down, and lie down.
Are you in pain?
Oh, Annabelle, I hurt all over. Wanna see my surgery? I lifted up my T-shirt and showed her the five incisions each closed by a heavy lump of surgical glue.
Are those wasp’s nests? She asked.
No. They’re big globs of glue. They’ll wear away after a while, the doctor said. I sat down on the bed and began to unpack.
Most unattractive. Annabelle turned back to her Backstage. Still no casting going on, she observed.
I told you it will be another year before things start hopping, Missy. Did you call RU Fémos?
I did. We had a nice chat. He wished you a good hospital stay. How was it?
It was okay. I had one second-rate night shift, but the other nurses and staff were really kind.
Were they mean to you?
No, I just felt they’d rather be visiting with other employees than attending to patients. Every other nurse or attendant was wonderful.
She turned back to her Backstage halfway through my sentence. Maybe I can find an acting class online?
Let’s get back to Annabelle, I thought. Instead, I said, There’s a thought, while I wondered, I brought home two urinals? Two? Why?
Annabelle, what was the problem last night? I got a phone message from Judy?
She turned back to me. That front door lock is old, you know, really really old, and it jammed. Auntie Judy’s key wouldn’t work and she couldn’t get into the apartment. That nice boy on the fourth floor – Randy? isn’t that his name? – Randy came down the fire escape and climbed in the window. Thatch freaked out. It terrified him –
He scares easily, I said. When he was really little, he was afraid of being kidnapped. Do you remember that?
He sure scares easy! He isn’t fearless, like me. I suspect he’s hiding somewhere now.
Thatch! I called. Daddy’s home? Where’s my baby Thatcher?
I haven’t seen him at all.
You’re sure he didn’t climb out the window?
No. He’ll never go out unless we’re with him. The outside world was far too harsh when he was a baby in the Bronx. What is the Bronx?
No one really knows, I said. I carried my empty bag to the closet and then lay down on the bed. Annabelle closed her Backstage and ran to join me. Stella jumped onto my abdomen and walked across my incisions. I screamed in pain.
Stella! That really hurts.
Stella, you got no couth! Annabelle scolded.
Aw, poor Stella! I said as I put my arm about her. She lay down and then bit my finger.
Where’s Thatch? I wondered as I drifted off to sleep.
I napped for an hour or so. When I sat up and looked at the clock, it was nearly 3:00. It had rained, and the apartment was dark. It’s almost time for dinner, I said too Annabelle. Are you hungry?
Not especially. Auntie Judy gave us breakfast later than you do.
I can’t imagine she wanted to come over here around 6:30 just to feed my pretty babies.
Bingo, buster! She was nice to us, and we played.
That’s nice, I said. Stella, have you seen Thatch? Annabelle, are you certain he didn’t go out the window when Randy climbed in last night?
I told you no. He’s terrified of the world outside. He only wants to go out if we go outside together. Don’t ask me again.
I miss the baby.
He’ll turn up. I guess he’s still adjusting to all the new scents. You don’t smell like you used to.
What does that mean?
It means you’ve brought al these new scents with you. I can smell medicine, the sheets you were sleeping on, several people-
Maybe the nurse who dressed me?
That explains that! I also smell dried blood and other juices. Are you oozing?
Maybe when’re they removed the draining tube?
Maybe. I also smell gas . . .
They inflated my stomach with it. I’ve been farting for days. Some of it’s still trapped in my neck and shoulders. It’s really painful.
T. M. I. I do not want to know any more.
Okay, I understand.
Thatch has to put all these scents in perspective. When he sees you, he’ll know it’s you. I don’t think you’ve changed much. She sneezed several times. I think you might be thinner.
Are you getting sick?
Summer cold? My nose gets clogged.
I need to drag out the Lysine.
I sat up and groaned. The pull on my abdominal muscles was really intense. Oh, God, I thought, I hope I can get off the floor after I feed them. Instead, I said, Okay, let’s think about dinner.
The only English words Stella understands are “dinner” and “treat.” As I stood up and hobbled to the kitchen, she wrapped herself around my legs and stayed close.
Stella! Missy, don’t let me fall on you. Get away from Daddy! Let’s see what we’ve got tonight. Chicken livers and hearts? You want some of that?
Stella jumped onto the bin holding Annabelle’s seafood Meow Mix and watched me open the cans and pour the contents into three bowls. As I carried the bowls to their food mats she stayed close.
Stella! Get out of the way. I do not want to fall on you, Missy. Stella, move, dammit.
I tell you, Daddy, Annabelle said, she;’s got no couth at all!
I lowered myself to the floor and gave Stella her bowl first. If I don’t, she attacks with frenzy whatever bowl I set down. I set down Thatch’s bowl, hoping to see him dash over to check out the meal. No sign.
Hey! I’m waiting! Annabelle called.
Sorry, Annabelle. Here you are!
She ate, and I stroked her back and Stella’s. Don’t you think he’d recognize my voice? I asked sadly.
Your voice is different, Annabelle said. I can’t exactly say why, but it’s not as hoarse.
I sat there for a minute before deciding to stand. It was a painful ordeal. Every pull felt as though it was ripping the sutures open. I stood up, got my bearings, and thought, it will be easier the next time.
I’m hoping.
When it was time for bed, there was still no sign of Thatch. I did think at one point I saw a white and orange-striped tail dart past me, but I wasn’t moving fast enough for it to register. It could be my imagination. I was drowsy and aching from the kitty cleanup. I was a bit worried about tomorrow’s litter cleanup. I forgot to ask Dr. Glickman about any limitations to the amount of weight I could lift.
There was one big problem: even with the painkillers, the sleeping pills, and my fatigue, I could not get to sleep. Annabelle curled up next to me, and Stella settled at my feet. I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling. Sometime after midnight, I drifted off. I checked the clock. It was just around 3:00. What woke me was Annabelle’s labored breathing and whimpering. I painfully sat up, turned on the light, turned back to Annabelle, and picked her up.
What? She drowsily asked.
Let me check your nose, Missy.
I held her under the light. Her left nostril was blocked with a large dried ball of snot. Oh, this is bad, Missy. Let’s go to the bathroom. I picked her up and carried her to the bathroom, rummaged about a bag of cotton balls, and pulled a couple. I held her while the water in the sink warmed up. Then I wetted the cotton and wiped her nose clean.
Stop! Stop! I hate this! I hate water!
Hold on, baby. Let’s be sure I got your nose cleaned out.
As I sat on the edge of the bathtub with her, I could hear a curious clicking sound in the hall, just past the bathroom door. I recognized it, but I was too tired to identify it. I set Annabelle down and walked to the door. It was Thatch! He had vomited all over the floor.
Thatch! I cried. Are you sick?
He looked up. Terrified, he turned to run away, then turned back to me.
Hairball, he said.
Let me get some towels! I reached for the paper towel rack in the kitchen, got a handful, and then slipped to the floor.
I am so happy to see you, Thatch. I’ve missed you all day.
I wasn’t sure it was you. There are different smells in the apartment.
It’s good to be cautious. I told you I wouldn’t be gone long. I was only away for three days, baby.
I cleaned up the vomit, slowly and painfully rose, tossed the paper towels into the garbage, got another towel, and took the Fantastick from the bathroom. I crawled back to the floor and sprayed the floor with the Fantastick. As I mopped it clean, I thought, what a homecoming. Stella, Annabelle, and Thatch watched me work. It hurt too much to move.
Let me just sit here and get my breath, I said. This operation wasn’t easy for Daddy. I really hurt, but look! All my babies are here. I couldn’t wait to get home to see you.
Are you going to leave us again? Thatch asked.
Well, I can’t promise that. We still don’t know if there’s any cancer, and I don’t know how much longer I will live. I can only promise that I will never stop loving and caring for you as long as I live. You are my family, and I love you so much.
Annabelle sneezed and blew a long stream of snot onto my thigh.
Gross, Annabelle! Thatch said.
I’m sorry! she cried. I couldn’t help it.
Let’s go back to bed, I suggested. I used the paper towel with which I cleaned the floor to wipe off the snot, slowly stood up, put the towel in the garbage, and hobbled back to bed. Thatch led the parade. He jumped onto the bed and curled up on the pillow next to my head, while Annabelle returned to her cushion at my side, and Stella settled at my feet.
Home at last, I thought. And, listening to the purring of three happy cats, I slept.
©2020, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 