Rita Brown - Cat of the Century

This is just too orchestrated, you knowpupil chides mentor, mentor retaliates. Youre in collusion. And you both want to destroy me.

Why would I want to destroy you? Liz was incredulous. I do business with you.

Yes, you do. And youve been good up until now. I think Flo used you to get back at me. Make her a lot of money, she probably said, Then pull the plug.

Youre out of your mind. Flo was slack jawed.

Clever. Ill give it to you. Of course, I knew Liz would follow your lead, but the profits were impressive, and Istupidly, I freely admitthought perhaps she could put business before your personal relationship. Too late, I realized your relationship was more complicated than that. You had to have been feeding Liz information.

I did not! For one thing, Mariah, you know nothing about my

business except that Im a broker. I stick to the basics: food, shelter, energy, and agriculture. I dont even suggest investing in clothing. Ever present in my mind is the flameout of Halston. Im extremely cautious about emerging technologies. Yes, I could have made my clients much more money in the dot-com explosion, but that was more than a decade ago. I was just beginning to hit my stride. I deliver slow, sustained growth. Liz goes after the high-risk stuff, and if youve been part of that, so be it. I, too, have bought into some packages shes put togethernon-technology, if you care. But its not my area of expertise.

Brava, Mariah said drily.

It was Lizs turn to speak. Mariah, the market is down thirty-five percent. Chrysler and GM have collapsed. The government spent our money bailing them, plus theyve thrown billions at failing banks. Lehman Brothers died a painful death, and AIG has been a holy horror. I didnt create those conditions, but Tim and I are doing better than average. Our customer portfolios have lostof course they havebut less than the market average. Furthermore, I dont think I should discuss the particulars of your portfolio with Flo in the room.

You dont have to; she already knows them.

I do not. Flo took a breath, composed herself. Once again her hand fluttered to her hair. I have, however, considered your business. On Dicks 57th birthday, I bought him a gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. At that time, it cost $16,700. Its an understated, fabulous watch, wouldnt you agree?

Fabulous. Mariah nodded.

Along the way, I did price the gold Rolex Oyster, which ran for about thirty thousand. The platinum was out of sight. I was just curious. Curious about pearls, too, as Ive always wanted another strand. I so love pearls. She paused, a large smile animating her face. Yet Fletcher, Maitland, and DAngelo routinely sell these brands for about thirty percent less. Only Tourneau does that, she named a firm specializing in watches, and at those prices they sell rebuilt ones, although they do sell new ones for a bit less than other companies. But no one delivers the deals you do.

Were quite proud of that. Were efficiently run. Always have been. Cut the fat.

You liar. Youre selling fakes.

How dare you! How dare you accuse me of such a thing!

I dare because its true, and I will prove it.

Mariah stood up, threw her shawl more tightly around her throat, and picked up her alpaca coat. She headed for the door, then turned. Liz, Flo, I will expose you two if its the last thing I do. She slammed the door behind her.

Flo rose and picked up her jacketa lined waxed Filson, since shed planned for the weather. Liz, Id say your attempt to get us working together was a spectacular failure. Or, to use your word, a flameout.

Liz, shaky, rose to her feet, also. Flo, is it true about Mariah?

I will prove it. In my own good time. She turned a steely gaze on her understudy. I always get to the bottom of things, Liz. Never forget that.

P

ewter flopped on her side on the parlor rug and opened one eye when Harry, Mrs. Murphy, and Tucker gratefully came in from the cold.

Tucker hurried over.

You missed seeing all the horses.

We have horses at home.

Pewter rolled onto her other side.

Lazy. Fat, lazy cat.

Am not.

Tucker, a twinkle in her eye, said,

Biggest manure pile Ive ever seen.

Irritated, Pewter lifted her head.

Why would I care about a manure pile?

Oh, you know, in case you had to throw up a hairball.

Mrs. Murphys laughter further enraged Pewter, who shot up and swatted at the corgi, who ducked.

Death to tailless dogs!

Sourpuss.

The corgi bounded to the kitchen.

Harry, already in the kitchen, heard the fuss. Whats going on out there?

Oh, nothing.

All three animals were now in the kitchen and responded in unison.

Given that it was late March, the sun set later. However, the low, billowing gray clouds, emitting a soft glow, moved quickly overhead and blotted out the sun.

Someones coming,

Tucker barked.

Many someones. The Jameson Singers gathered outside the front door. Their first song, Charleston, brought back Tallys youth.

Big Mim, upon hearing the lively song, opened the door. Come on in. Its bitter cold out there.

The young women filed in to the parlor, formed a triple row semicircle, and began to sing the songs that Tally and Inez would know. Soon the two old ladies sang along with them.

I Wonder Whos Kissing Her Now led into Black Bottom. Song after song recalled a past, at once near yet far. Tears rolled down Tallys cheeks, then Inezs, and soon everyone was crying.

Harrys grandfather had had an affair with Tally. This had all come to light a few years ago, but Harry was reminded of it now, reminded of how bittersweet Aunt Tallys life had been.

After the songs ended, Aunt Tally laughed and said, Were all a bunch of big babies.

Everyone laughed with her.

Big Mim and Little Mim had known of the serenade, so they brought back from town a smorgasbord of food to augment what Trudy Sweetwater had supplied. The students dove in. William Woodss cafeteria food was good, but students did get bored with it. Champagne was uncorked, and Aunt Tally as well as the more rigid Big Mim chose not to ask anyones age. Surely one glass of champagne to toast a grand old gal was not out of order.

Finally, by eight, all had left. The Albemarle County contingent and Inez recapped today, and Tally and Inez reminisced about their wonderful, funny experiences when they were students in the late twenties and early thirties of the twentieth century. A sharp wind rattled one of the front windows.

That packed a punch. Harry rose to see. Oh, my God, its snowing. Really snowing. I didnt think it would get here until tomorrow afternoon.

Aunt Tally, Inez, Big Mim, and Little Mim came to the windows. The cats jumped on the back of the stuffed chair to get a better look.

Sweeps over the prairie like wildfire. Nothing to stop it, Inez remarked.

I had no idea. Harry wished she could see the prairie, which she figured started in Kansas. Harry had never seen the west and longed to do so.

This old house is in good shape, but it isnt insulated the way newer ones are. Better put an extra blanket on the bed, girls. Aunt Tally remembered her first year adjusting to Missouri weather.

Harry looked down at Tucker. Oh, little one, wed better get our evening constitutional in right now.

Im not going out in that,

Pewter quickly spoke up.

Im using the dirt box.

Harry had put the dirt box in the basement and left the door ajar. She cleaned the box about every hour on the hour.

Outside, the snow, coming down in large flakes, was beautiful. Tucker, in her blue collar and blue leash, looked smart as she, Mrs. Murphy, and Harry took a brisk walk.