The Spotted Tail

“Tache.” The kitten’s name slipped out of her lips.

“He likes to pronounce it “Tack” as in tachometer. But his name is spelled like the French word for spot. Rather appropriate,” her grandma said with a laugh.

Tache’s eyes reflected a perfect image of herself as if she was seeing through his eyes, and her mouth was hanging open.

“What do you say Paxine,” her mom said.

“Thanks, grandma.” Her reflection closed its mouth and then opened to speak. She could feel Tache quiver with excitement and that his left ear itched. She scooped him up to scratch his ear.

“So cool,” Marcus said, and everyone agreed.

Tache raised his head. “Yelp.”

“Yes, he thinks he’s cool too,” her grandma said.

A dull “Hum,” dampened the mood of the room.

“Dad. Look,” Paxine said, carrying Tache over to him.

“Yes, I see,” her dad said, but he was glaring over her head at her grandma. “You have a lot of responsibility with a pet.”

Paxine ignored his words, knowing he was wrong. Tache wasn’t a pet. Just like Tinder wasn’t a pet to her grandma. He was more than that.

“Cake?” her mom said, easing the tension.

“Yeah,” Marcus said.

“Fireless candles? No real ones?” Paxine said, taking a good look at her birthday cake that she had ignored all morning.

“Fire hazard,” her mom said, ready with a knife to cut the cake as soon as she blew them out.

Paxine felt silly. One blow and the candles were out, like they were designed to do.

“You got your wish. Hooray,” her friends said, cheering..

Yes, Paxine thought, putting her hands on Tache, I did get my wish.

Her mom handed out cake and ice cream while Paxine opened her gifts. Tache sat on her lap, helping her untie ribbons and bows.

Marcus’s box contained a book on strategies for winning Emersion de Resistance. She could tell he had already read it since the pages were ruffled and a couple of corners where bent.

“Thank Marcus. Next time we’ll get to the next level.”

Mia gave her a kick boxing game.

“Cool. Thanks Mia. Here, grandma, you might like this one,” she said with a laugh.

“Already have it.”

She couldn’t tell if her grandma was kidding or not.

“My mom thinks I’m giving you a necklace,” Alice said, looking embarrassed now that Paxine’s parents and grandma were looking on.

The small box was just big enough to hold a pink Swiss Army knife.

“Wow. Thanks,” Paxine said, thinking this was the neatest gift after Tache.

“That is actually very useful,” her mom said to Alice’s relief.

“I’m glad that wasn’t a necklace,” Paulie said.

Paxine opened his box.

“It’s a crocodile tooth necklace,” he said.

“Cool. Thanks.” She slipped it on. “Wow, thanks everyone.” However, her eyes were on Tache. But, so were everyone else’s as they dangled ribbons to tease him.

Paulie wadded wrapping paper and bounced it toward Tache, who caught it. “Cool.” He made some more wads.

Tache batted at one and it flew into The Room. He ran after it.

“Let’s finish the game,” Marcus said.

Paxine thought he looked surprised when everyone obeyed him. They all rose and rand to the Room.

Paxine flipped the switch and the game roared on. She adjusted her goggles. Even though the game was blaring full blast, she found she could hear the adults in the kitchen as clear as if she was there, unlike before when she could just barely hear them.

“Do you know how hard it is to keep security? Do you know how much harder it is going to be with a cat tripping alarms?” her dad said, not sounding happy.

Paxine was glad a gift given was not a gift returned.

“I understand,” her grandma said, “However, I believe Tache will not be that sort of a problem.”

“Just what sort of a problem will he be?” her dad said.

“He won’t be a security risk. I can assure you. He will be very good company for Paxine, and a good learning experience,” her grandma said in explanation.

“The last thing we need to be bothered with is a cat,” her dad said, storming out of the room.

“Ugh,” her mom said.

“Good thing you didn’t warn him, he would have had more time to stew about it,” her grandma said.

“He’ll be a grouch for a while. I’m sure he’s already on the phone with Kirt,” her mom said.

“May I have Paxine for a couple of days? She’ll need some training about her new responsibility,” her grandma said.

“Of course. Just don’t spoil her,” her mom said.

“I never spoil my granddaughter.”

Paxine was confused with the silence that ensued until she heard both her grandma and mom laugh. Some joke between them.

“Perhaps you best take her tomorrow. The less he sees of the cat the better,” her mom said.

“You stole the words right out of my mouth. I need to teach her how to care for Tache. If she wishes to keep him, she’ll have to take care of him. There is no other option.” Her grandma sounded very serious.

“Sounds a little militaristic,” her mom said, probably thinking her grandma was being too serious too.

“Tache is not a pet,” her grandma said as if that explained everything.

“She is still a child,” her mom said, countering back.

“The best time to teach,” her grandma said as if that was the end of the discussion.

“You have all the answers, Mom,” her mom said with resignation.

“No, dear, I just know how to answer questions. I know that Paxine has a lot to learn and I would rather she learn early and make little mistakes than learn later and make bigger mistakes,” her grandma said.

Paxine liked being with her grandma. She looked forward to the training and wondered what sort of training she needed to take care of a cat.

“How is your new one doing?” her mom said.

Paxine knew her mom meant her grandma’s new kitten.

“Tinder?” Her grandma always referred to her cats as if they were people and expected the same of those around her.

“Yes, Tinder,” her mom said.

“Excellent. She is doing a bit of growing.”

Paxine was sure she heard her grandma pick up her handbag and set it down as if weighing it.

“And sleeping… and growing.” Her grandma didn’t sound pleased with Tinder sleeping and growing.

Tache shifted in her lap. For some time now, she had wanted a cat. She didn’t want just any cat; she wanted a cat from her grandma. Her grandma always seemed to have special cats. Now that she had Tache, she couldn’t imagine life without him.

Her racecar moved into a tricky part of the game and she had to pay more attention. There were sharp corners, curves and obstacles to avoid.

Tache shifted in her lap again. She could feel him paw at her hand, then he whacked it hard, making her lose control of her car, causing it to veer.

“No,” she said with moan, trying to correct the direction of the car, but it was too late. Her car slid around a pothole that she didn’t see coming. The car beside her hit it instead and she zoomed into the lead of the race.

“Did you see that? Did you see that?” she said with a yell of excitement.

Her friends groaned. Paxine couldn’t believe her luck that Tache hit her hand just right to have her car veer. However, she could feel his head moving as if he was following the game, but that was impossible. He wasn’t wearing virtual reality goggles.

Tache jumped from her lap to play with the paper wad Paulie had thrown into the room.

The Virtual Desert Walk game made her thirsty. She removed her goggles to find Marcus removing his.

“I’m thirsty,” he said. They both laughed. The other three removed their goggles also pretending to pant for water.

“Mom, can we have more…” Paxine said, but stopped when a roomful of adults greeted her. Her friends’ parents were waiting to take them home.

“Already?” Paxine said.

“Wow that was fast,” Paulie said.

“This was great, Paxine,” Alice said.

Mia slapped Paxine’s hand and they bumped elbows. “Awesome.”

Her mom handed out drink boxes as a parting party favor.

“Thanks, everyone. Same time next year,” Paxine said.

Everyone laughed, walking out the door, guzzling their drink. Soon the house was quiet except for the sound of slurping.

“Where’s grandma?” Paxine said, finishing her third drink box and tossing it into the trash.

“She went home long ago. You’ve been in that Room for hours. Time for dinner. And no more Room.”

“Awe Mom.”

“I think six hours is more than enough. Tomorrow grandma is picking you up for some training.” Her mom motioned toward Tache who was pretending to attack Paxine’s shoe.

“That will be fun.” She moved her shoe to tease Tache.

“Help me clean up this mess. I think there are even presents you haven’t opened.” Her mom piled unopened gifts onto the table.

Tache flew through the wrapping paper, creating a tunnel for himself. Paxine laughed, throwing a wad of paper at him. He chased after it, losing the wad under the sofa. She retrieved it along with the rest of the wrapping paper and ribbons. The ribbons she put in a box to save. She shoved the wrapping paper down the trash chute.

“Set the table, please,” her mom said, pulling out things for dinner.

“Okay.” She trailed one ribbon for Tache to chase while she set the table.

Click. The clock in the kitchen showed six.

“Darn. No more Room,” she said with a moan.

“I’ll help box up the game,” her dad said, joining them in the kitchen.

“Oh, grandma also left this. She said it was a starter package for Tache.” Her mom handed her a bag.

Inside were two metal bowls and a small bag of cat food. Paxine filled one bowl with food and the other with water. Tache ate as soon as she set the bowl down.

“That’s it?” her dad said, looking grumpy.

“Yes, that’s all in the bag.” Paxine said, holding the bag upside-down.

“What about a litter box?” He raised his eyebrows in the way he did when he wanted her to stop and think.

Her mom shrugged.

“I guess we ask the expert.” Her mom picked up her phone. “Hi, mom, quick question about a litter box---oh. Okay. Bye.” She hung up. “She says he uses the bathroom.”

“Excuse me?” her dad said, looking as if he was imagining cat puddles on the bathroom floor.

“He knows how to use the toilet,” her mom said.

Her dad looked skeptical. Her mom shrugged. Paxine wondered how Tache could use the toilet. He’ would fall through the middle if he sat.

“Put him up in your bedroom, while we eat,” her dad said.

“Dad. He’s not a toy you just put away.” She stood her ground.

“No animals at the dinner table,” he said, pointing toward the stairs.

“But he’s my birthday present,” she said with a moan, heading up the stairs. Tache followed her like a puppy.

Paxine returned to the dinner table intending to eat as fast as she could so she could go play with Tache, but half-way through dinner, she was yawning.

“I think early bed for someone,” her mom said.

“Cake for dessert?” her dad said.

“I’ve had enough cake and dinner. Can I go?” Paxine said with another yawn, letting her tiredness be a good excuse to go upstairs to play with Tache. She didn’t plan on going to bed just yet.

“Yes, you can. You did a good job cleaning up after your party. Thank you,” her mom said.

Paxine raced up stairs to find half of her dresser drawers open and Tache sitting in one.

“Find anything?” she said, closing the drawers before stretching out on her bed. Tache played with the ribbon, but after her second yawn, he curled up next to her and she fell asleep.

In a dream she heard her dad finish the last phone call of the evening. He muttered about having an early morning meeting and wanted to get to bed early. She heard the toilet in the bathroom down the hall flush when he reached the top of the stairs. He paused. She wondered if he thought it was her and was going to give her one last Happy Birthday. Then she felt she was Tache popping out of the bedroom and freezing when he saw her dad. She watched her dad stare at Tache, then Tache dashed down the hall to her room.

“The cat uses the bathroom,” he said, mumbling to himself. “The cat uses the bathroom.”

Paxine opened her eyes. Licking? Morning sunshine streamed through her window. She bolted upright. All of her dresser drawers were open and the closet door ajar. Tache was at the foot of the bed grooming his paws and smoothing his whiskers. Licking.

“Well good morning, Mr. Tache. I see you’ve been busy,” she said.

Tache eyed her but didn’t stop his grooming.

Paxine couldn’t believe it. She had her own cat. Wow. She jumped out of bed. Tache rose only to flop into her warm spot while she closed her dresser drawers.

“Don’t get too comfy there. We’re going to grandma’s for training.”

Tache ignored her while she dressed, but as soon as she headed downstairs, he rushed past her to lead the way.

“Good morning, birthday girl,” her mom said, pouring her first cup of coffee.

“That was yesterday,” she said, sitting at the table.

“Not until all the presents are unwrapped. You forgot two from your Uncle John and Aunt Eva.” Her mom set two presents in front of her.

“He always sends me old games. Aunt Eva always sends me sweaters.”

She tore away the wrapping from her Uncle John’s present.

“See.” She revealed a plastic cup with five dice inside. “And no instructions.”

“You’ll have to make up your own,” her mom said with a laugh.

Paxine tore open the package from her Aunt and there was a bright blue sweater. It was two sizes too small.

“I’ll have to tell her you’ve grown a bit,” her mom said. “It is a pretty color.”

Tache jumped up onto a chair. Paxine dropped the sweater, so she could fill his food bowl. Her mom looked impressed, but Paxine ignored her. No one needed to remind her. She knew how to take care of Tache. He was special. She would always know, just as her grandma always knew with her cats, what they wanted or needed.

“What time is grandma coming?” Paxine made a big deal of putting the cat food away.

“Soon, I suspect.” Her mom picked up the sweater to take a closer look.

Paxine spun the ribbon from her Aunt Eva’s present for Tache. He scampered after it, rolling as he caught it. The ribbon wrapped around him. A loose end caught his eye and he chased it, racing in circles.

“Good morning. I see you’re winding up Tache.” Her grandma came down the stairs from the cube closet.

“Hi…” Paxine said, laughing too hard, “…grandma.”

“Sorry mom, didn’t even hear you come. Tea?” her mom said, laughing and wiping tears from her eyes.

“No, thank you. We’ll be right off.” Her grandma pulled out a tangle of straps from her pocket. “For training, here is a harness and leash.”

Paxine unwound Tache from the ribbon, and with her grandma’s help, fit the harness.

“Be sure to check how tight it is every time you use it. You’ll want to loosen it as he grows.” Her grandma slipped fingers between the straps to show her how tight they should be.

“Okay. Let’s go, Tache,” Paxine said.

Tache bolted toward the stairs, towing her along.

“Bye Mom,” Paxine said, looking back.

Her mom looked as if she was expecting something, exchanging looks with her grandma.

Paxine rolled her eyes, racing up the stairs toward the cube with Tache. Her mom wanted a hug, but she was twelve now and too old for a hug every time she left the house.

Paxine was excited when she skipped out of the cube into her grandma’s living room.

“No skipping in the house,” her grandma said.

“Sorry.” She bounced on her tippy toes instead.

Tache tried to tow her out of the room, but she grabbed on to the sofa while her grandma shrunk her cube. Then Tache tried to catch the cube, but her grandma caught it with an expert hand.

“Cubes are cool,” Paxine said. She was hoping her grandma might mention it as a possible gift, like for Christmas, but she didn’t.

“This is so exciting. What are we training Tache to do?” She was feeling like she was floating in the clouds.

“Well, actually, we aren’t training Tache.” Her grandma led her out of the living room.

“What?” Paxine’s heart sunk.

“We’re training you.”

“Me? I thought…Mom said…”

“You need to learn about Tache.”

Tache flicked his tail to emphasize the point.

“I know all about cats,” she said with some indignation.

“But did you know that Tache is your Tail Guard or Tail?” Her grandma grabbed something from the kitchen counter when they passed through.

“Tail Guard?” Paxine knew her grandma referred to her cats as Tails, but a Guard? And why hadn’t any of the books she had read on cats ever mention Tail Guard?

“He has a job and that is to protect you,” her grandma said.

“Protect me from what?” She remembered what her grandma said in the park about her being in danger.

“That is what you will be learning,” Her grandma opened the door out to her patio.

Her grandma’s patio was sunny and equipped with chairs, a table, and umbrella.