The beginning of summer rolled in like one of those heavy asphalt pavers. Slow and with a crushing weight of heat that made it hard to move or breathe.
What it didn't bring was any normalcy, it was a year that blessed with crazy. Even a slow day seemed to bring stories that would rival any Stephen King novel.
As Jaymey's birthday drew close, she pretended that postponing it didn't bother her, and for the most part, that was true. After all, even the traditional fireworks to celebrate Canada's Birthday had been canceled, and she didn't care about the gifts or cake or balloons. What hurt the most was that friends and family couldn't even be together.
But these were deep thoughts compared to what was going on with the world, so she kept them to herself, and of course, Melody.
Melody was a small grey and black cat and seemed to know precisely what to do when needed. Plus, she gave the best hugs.
And so June passed quietly into July. The heat continued unrelentingly and caused everyone to lose count of the days because without realizing it, it was suddenly July 5th, the day before her birthday.
The constant heat had taken away the energy to care. It was clear now how a burning candle might feel. Air conditioners hummed up and down the street, and all spare fans pulled from closets placed wherever there was a plug.
That night, a white desktop model waved back and forth, perched at the end of a dark brown headboard providing momentary relief from the stifling heat. The window was open but did nothing; rather, it felt like any cooled air was mercilessly sucked out, leaving the room even hotter.
Sleep was almost impossible; every quarter chime from the clock in the living room heard, the seemingly tireless bells that announced the start of each hour, counted.
Melody purred softly at the edge of the pillow seemingly oblivious to it all when a double flash of light filled the window frame. Far off between the sound of a large truck backing up and the screech of tires, there was a soft rumble. Another flash, then the curtains shifted.
The storm drifted closer marked by drums of thunder and skyline pictures caught in flashbulbs of light. The billowing of the curtains breathed new life into the room, and tired eyes began to close. A faint scratching out in the kitchen area prooved enough incentive for a little reconnaissance, and the cat was out of the door before Jaymey could move.
Propped up on elbows, lying sideways across the bed, the mirror was in just the right position to see straight down the hallway. It was dark, but each flash captured a small figure passing back and forth across the unintentional lense. Suddenly a filtered light spilled down the hall followed closely by the sound of two glasses clinking together, then plunked down hard on the counter.
"What the - someones in the house, how am I the only one hearing this?"
The light blinked off; shuffled footfalls lead to the sound of the door latch clicking open just in front of a chorus of muffled giggles. These were interspersed with random mutterings of hello, and welcome, and many overly dramatic "shush!"
Jaymey's mouth dropped open, but her mind was racing, she looked at the clock and blinked twice as she read the time out loud, one, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four; finally, it clicked, 12:34.
Just as she finished the fan circled back and washed over her face leaving a ticklish sensation as small droplets of moisture dried making her shiver -.
"Dongnk!"
"The piano? - Oh no, you don't! What are you doing in there, you naughty cat?"
She was slipping off the bed when the piano erupted in a bouncy jazz piece, and Jaymey dropped to the floor like a rock.
"Someones in the house!? But why isn't Mom or Dad up? I have to be dreaming?"
She was about to pinch her arm but reasoned that if it were a dream, it would still likely register as pain, so what was the point.
Summoning up her courage, she crept towards the noise careful to stay close to the wall.
Filtered between the music was light chatter and what sounded like glasses clinking together.
"Wake up, wake up," she chanted.
Each step was torture, and it felt like weights were attached to each ankle.
"Almost there,"
A second song started up, and a halo of light from the fridge flooded the hall again, forcing her to gulp down a mouthful of air to prevent a scream. Seconds felt like hours, trembling she reached the living room. The moment of truth had arrived.
Millimeter by millimeter, the room came into view. What she saw was like a bee sting, making her snap backward.
"No way did I see that, uh ah no way!"
The temptation was too high, forcing her to lean forward again.
Melody was sitting at the piano while a smaller ginger cat sat rocking side to side in time to the music. It looked like they were singing a duet.
Two more sat on the couch while sipping glasses of milk from saucers deep in conversation, and a pair danced together in front of them.
"This can't be happening." She cried, small hands cradling her face, but then Melody looked over and purred. She was so happy she forgot to be scared and sat at the piano.
The cat smiled and broke into a blues version of happy birthday.
Everyone came over to Jaymey, presenting her with little gifts that only cats can think to give.
When it was time, she hugged and thanked each cat as they made their way outside.
She hugged Melody the longest and whispered in her ear,
"Thank you oh thank you, that was an amazing birthday gift."
Comments