The Spotted Tail

“Mrs. Corner?” Paxine had fifteen minutes before class was over. Everyone was working on a project that she had finished long ago, so she had some spare time. “I’d like to know about speed-reading. Can I go to the library?”

“Do you intend to read the whole library?” Mrs. Corner said with a laugh.

“No, I just need a book on how to learn speed-reading.”

“I know just the book you want but it’s already checked out. Here’s the title.” Mrs Corner wrote on a slip of paper and handed it to her.

“Speed-Reading for the Executive,” Paxine said, reading the paper.

“I do know Mr. Piper has it. You can go down to his classroom and see if you can borrow it from him.”

Mr. Piper was the English teacher.

“Thanks, I’ll go right now.” She hoisted up her school bag.

“Don’t leave yet, Paxine.” Alice rushed up to her, looking worried. “My mom’s gonna want an invitation.”

“Geesh. Can you just make one up?” Paxine hoped Alice wasn’t going to be strict about that, making her have to get one invitation made up.

“Yeah, I can do that. But it can’t be in my hand writing. Here, just fill in your name, date and place.” Alice handed her a handmade invitation with ribbons and balloons drawn all over it.

“Nice invitation.” Paxine filled in the spots. “There.” She was glad that was all she had to do. Sometimes, Alice was a stickler for the rules, but virtual reality games tended to make her a little more flexible. “See you at the party.”

“All right class. Clean up. Time’s up,” Mrs. Corner said, clapping her hands.

“See ya later Paxine. Can’t wait till the party,” Marcus said, handing in his project.

“Yeah, I can hardly wait. It’s going to be so cool.” She hurried out to the hall.

Her footsteps echoed. She had ten minutes until the halls would fill with everyone heading home and she had a couple of halls to navigate to get to Mr. Piper’s room.

Another set of footsteps came from behind. They sounded eerie, sending a shiver up her spine. She turned a corner, but felt the urge to stop and peer around. A man stopped to look inside Mrs. Corner’s classroom door window. She didn’t recognize him. Probably someone’s dad, she thought, but she had a strong urge to be invisible. Her shoes made too much noise. She slipped them off, tiptoeing down the hall in her socks.

The man’s footsteps echoed down the hall, but then faded. He must have turned the other way.

Paxine ran down toward Mr. Piper’s classroom, slipping and sliding in her socks. She almost didn’t make the next corner, but grabbed the wall to steady herself. This was too much fun, she thought, keeping herself from laughing aloud.

Something gray streaked across the hall and disappeared. Paxine slid to a stop. That was a cat. In school? Tinder? No, Tinder was still a kitten.

Footsteps came around the corner. The man, the same man who looked into her classroom, the same man in the car, stopped startled to see her. Then he ran straight toward her. Paxine spun around and ran, sliding around the corner.

Again, something gray streaked across the hall into an empty open classroom. Paxine flung one of her shoes down the hall and ducked into the room. The man’s footsteps passed the classroom, down the hall.

Her heart beat like a drum in her chest. She strained her ears to listen for footsteps only to jump when the bells rang and the halls filled with students. What just happened? She shook her head, afraid to leave the classroom.

“Meow.”

A cat? Out in the hallway?

“Is this your shoe?” her grandma said when Paxine poked her head out the door. Tinder was just visible in her grandma’s handbag. Kids passed them without seeming to notice, focused on getting out of school.

“Yeah.” Paxine slipped on the shoe she had.

“What happened?” her grandma said, looking concerned.

“Oh, nothing. I was trying to get to Mr. Piper’s classroom to borrow a book,” Paxine said, reaching for the shoe her grandma held.

“No, what happened?” Her grandma’s voice was stern voice. She knew she had to explain.

“The man, the one in the car in the park, chased me.” Paxine found herself feeling silly. She was probably mistaken and expecting her grandma to tell her so.

“Did you see a cat?” her grandma said, handing over the shoe.

“Yeah. I keep seeing cats.” She slipped on the shoe.

“Hum. The same man as at the park.”

At first, Paxine thought her grandma had asked a question, but realized, she was just repeating a fact.

“I left class early to borrow a book. I heard him coming. I didn’t recognize him at first, only saw him from the back. He scared me.” She knew she had overreacted and again expected her grandma to say so, but her grandma didn’t. Instead, she changed the subject.

“Here’s the book I wanted you to read,” her grandma said, handing her the exact book her teacher had sent her to borrow.

“I remembered I had a copy and amazingly, I found it. So you can keep that as long as you want.” Her grandma led her out to the school’s parking lot. “Let me know if you see the man.”

“Okay.” Paxine pretended to wave goodbye to someone to cover the fact that she was looking around. The man wasn’t in sight.

Her grandma tossed out her cube, but didn’t go in, looking through her handbag. Paxine wondered what her grandma was looking for, then realized her grandma was just waiting to see if the man came into view, but he didn’t.

“Well at least you have some homework to do tonight. All set for moving tomorrow?” her grandma said, entering the cube.

“No. Mom says she has everything handled, but I know I’m not going to be able to find anything.”

“You mean everything will be put away where it should be.” Her grandma laughed.

The cube door closed.

“Ha ha. So what’s Marietta fixing for dinner?” She could feel her stomach growl.

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Grandma,” Paxine said with a sigh, dropping her shoulders. “I hate waiting.”

“You’ll have to wait a little longer. I have to stop back at the office before we head to my house.”

“Hey Paxine. Seeing a lot of you lately,” Greta greeted them as soon as the cube door opened. “I have those reports on your desk,” she said to her grandma.

“Hey, it’s the lady with the stroller,” Paxine said, looking out the window at the park.

“Yeah, she’s been out there all day, looking for something.” Greta returned to her desk.

Paxine laughed. “You mean the robot, the Waterer.”

“Oh, she saw it?”

“Yeah, called the police. But you dragged it back in before the police saw it. I’m sure they labeled her a kook.”

Greta laughed.

“Greta,” her grandma didn’t sound happy. “There isn’t any food in Tinder’s bowl.”

Greta danced into her grandma’s office. “I filled it earlier today. She must be hungry.”

“But she’s so little.” Her grandma was checking her handbag to make sure Tinder was there. “Okay, Paxine, let’s go.”

“Off to grandma’s house we go,” Paxine said with a laugh.

The cube opened to delicious smells.

“Whatever we’re having is in the oven. Marietta is on loan tonight, helping another family. She’ll be back later.”

“I’ll set the table.” Paxine hoped that would get them to eat soon.

“Thank you. I have to get these shoes off.” Her grandma headed up stairs to change.

Paxine dropped her backpack on her grandma’s sofa before heading to the kitchen. The table was already set for two. There was one casserole dish in the oven, but she couldn’t tell what type of casserole.

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter, they’re all good,” she said to herself, taking in the kitchen.

Paxine loved her grandma’s kitchen. It was open and painted lilac. Light oak cabinets lined two walls and a large island separated the kitchen from the dining room. The dining room walls were orange. Or tan. Oh, yeah, she remembered, it was melon. The dining room opened up into the living room which was painted light green. Or was it water spout? She thought paint color names were funny.

She checked the refrigerator, but there wasn’t any soda.

“All set? Great, thank you.” Her grandma was now dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. She was barefoot.

“Nope, Marietta was ahead of me.”

“What the…Tinder’s food bowl is empty. Did you empty it?” Her grandma looked concerned.

“No, why would I?”

“I filled it before I left this morning.” Her grandma seemed bothered. She opened a cabinet containing cat food. “Have you seen her? Tinder?”

“No. There’s your handbag, but she’s not in it.”

A timer dinged on the oven.

“Here, can you fill the bowl? I’ll get our dinner” Her grandma grabbing two hot pads from a drawer.

“How many scoops?”

“Fill it up. She is a growing kitten.”

Her grandma put the dish on the table, taking the lid off. “Steaming cozido.”

“Cozido?” Paxine sniffed the spicy steam.

“With rice and beans,” her grandma said.

“Smells awesome.”

“How many scoops?” her grandma said, mimicking her.

Paxine laughed, holding her plate. “Fill it up, I’m a growing girl.”

Her grandma laughed, dishing out two big helpings of casserole onto her plate, then filling her own plate.

“Mmmm.” Paxine slowly ate the hot the casserole. There was just the right spiciness to it.

Paxine ate two more small helpings. “I’m stuffed.”

“I was hoping for leftovers.” Her grandma moaned while looking at the almost empty casserole dish.

“What’s for dessert?”

“Dessert? You just ate half my casserole.” Her grandma pretended to be upset. She rose, opening a cabinet and pulling out a single can of Paxine’s favorite soda. “Will this do?”

“Thanks grandma. Perfect.”

“Just don’t tell your mom.”

The front door opened. Paxine sighed, hoping it wasn’t her mom, but who else could it be? She wondered if she could hide the soda.

Marietta stepped into the kitchen. She stood there with her head down, stiff and proper, gripping her purse in front of her. She was a medium sized Portuguese woman with dark eyes and hair.

Paxine’s grandma seemed to know many Portuguese housekeepers, most of them related to Marietta. Paxine had accompanied her grandma to the farmers market in the past and they always seemed to run into all of them. She figured it must have been market day for all the housekeepers. Her grandma always spent time talking with them, catching up on how they were doing.

“How is the judge’s family?” Her grandma only spoke Portuguese when talking with Marietta.

“Judge Schumauker wife expecting baby,” Marietta said.

“That’s number eight.” Her grandma raised her eyebrows.

Marietta nodded.

“What else?” her grandma said.

“Judge only say good things about Child Act.”

“Expected. How is your sister doing?”

“Her ankle getting better. Only one more week rest.”

“Marietta’s sister is the housekeeper at the Schumauker’s house,” her grandma said in explanation to Paxine, speaking English

Paxine knew Marietta could speak English, but she never did around anyone unless she had to. She didn’t know why her grandma switched back and forth from Portuguese and English when she could have kept speaking Portuguese. Maybe her grandma liked the practice.

Her grandma switched back to Portuguese when she addressed Marietta. “Good to hear. Help her as much as you need to and keep your ears open.”

“Yes mum.”

“That’s all for tonight. Paxine and I will clean up. Goodnight. Oh, and dinner was delicious.”

“Very good,” Paxine said in Portuguese, patting her stomach.

“Yes, mum.” Marietta let escape a little smile of appreciation while she backed out of the kitchen.

Her grandma’s smile drooped as soon as the front door closed behind Marietta.

“That Judge Schumauker is a pretty influential judge. He supports anything remotely family oriented, whether he’s read it or not.”

“So that’s not good?”

“Not this time. And his wife is too busy having babies to come to tea parties,” her grandma said.

Paxine wondered what these tea parties were about? They seemed more business than fun.

“Now where is that kitten?” Her grandma looked concerned.

In the morning, her mom was there to get her. As soon as they arrived at the new house, Paxine wished she was back at her grandma’s. The house was a mess and she was now her mom’s little helper in cleaning it up. The movers had emptied their old house and dumped everything into the new one. Literally dumped. Paxine found all her clothes, toys, and books thrown into her new room. The movers emptied each box onto the floor. Her mom was furious, but there was nothing to do but never use those movers again and clean up the mess.

“Put those dishes into that cabinet,” her mom said, directing her.

Her dad was taking time off from work, organizing all his books in his office. “I’m glad I taped shut the filing cabinets.” He came in carrying an arm full of books. “I think these belong in the kitchen.”

“And why do you think that?” Her mom sounded testy.

“They’re cookbooks with some of my favorite recipes from my favorite cook.” He put them in order in a cabinet that already had other cookbooks.

“Oh. Thanks,” her mom said, picking up a pile of kitchen towels. “Well, I found the mustard and the steak knives.”

The towels were hiding them.

“I’ll get those,” her dad said, picking up the knives.

“That drawer,” her mom said.

Her dad put them away then stashed the mustard into the frig. His phone rang.

“Yes?” Her dad listened, standing motionless for a few moments. “Okay.” He hung up. “The owner of the moving company is coming to see what happened.”

Her mom nodded, and got on her cell phone. “Mom? Can Paxine have lunch with you?”

Paxine crossed her fingers, hoping her grandma was free.

“I’ll bring her right over.” Her mom ended the call.

Yes. Paxine wanted to dance, but thought better of it.

“I don’t think you’ll complain about lunch with your grandma,” her mom said.

“Nope. No complaints. I’m ready.” She already had her backpack.

“Cube is in the upstairs closet.” Her mom headed toward the stairs.

“There’s grandma.” Paxine pointed across the street as soon as the cube door opened. They were at the park. Her grandma was carrying two box lunches. “Hi grandma.”

“I’m not late, am I?” her grandma said.

“Hi, mom,” Paxine’s mom said. “Nope, we just got here. Is that your new one?”

“This is Tinder.” Her grandma waved a hand as if Tinder was standing in front of her when Tinder was actually hiding behind her.

“She is getting prettier every day,” Paxine said. “She doesn’t look so gray out here in the sunshine.”

Tinder stood aloof, behind her grandma, but after a few minutes, let Paxine pet her.

“She is pretty. Different from the last one, but I guess they are always different.” Her mom’s offered hand was finally given a sniff by Tinder.

“As needed,” her grandma said.

Paxine didn’t understand what she meant.

“I’ll be back in an hour or so.” Her mom stepped back into her cube.

“I can hardly wait to get a cube,” Paxine said, watching her mom leave. “Do you get to use one when you’re sixteen?”

Her grandma smiled, handing her a lunch box. They settled on a bench and Tinder disappeared into some flowers.

“So I hear moving isn’t fun.” Her grandma opened her box.

“Nope. I think mom and dad are going to do some yelling at the movers, which is probably why I’m here. And I don’t think mom will be back in an hour. I did bring my speed reading book if I have to spend time at your office.” Paxine opened her box lunch and was pleased with the contents.

’That’s good. I do have a lot of work. So is the house really as bad as your mom said?”

“Worse. Image someone dumping everything you own on the floor.”

“Yeah. Your mom won’t be back in an hour and I’m glad we’re both not there. I guess we can do more training on lip reading.” Her grandma looked around.

“There isn’t anyone here at the moment,” Paxine said, sorting through the box lunch, which was from the gourmet deli down the block. “Yum. Ham with swiss on my favorite sour dough with a chocolate chunk cookie.”

“And fruit. So it’s healthy.” Her grandma laughed.

“And fresh fruit salad so it’s healthy.” She chuckled, but stopped short. There was a car circling the park.

“Bottled water.” Her grandma picked out the bottle, not sounding too excited.

“Greta must have ordered this.” Paxine turned back to her lunch.

Her grandma laughed. “As usual. Someone has to keep us healthy.”

“Such a nice park and no one uses it. Might be a short lesson today. Oh, here comes someone talking on his phone.” Paxine pulled out her binoculars.

“Yo is toy in epark a or. What?” She puzzled over his words, then she laughed. “He’s speaking Spanish.”

“Excellent, but what did he say?” Her grandma seemed to be looking in another direction.

“I am in the park right now. Yo estoy en el parquet ahora,” Paxine said, speaking perfect Spanish.

“Excellent.” However, her grandma didn’t sound like she was praising her.