Rita Brown - Cat of the Century

We need a leader.

You need spine. Millions of you. Inez cleared her throat. This will get me in a bad mood. Its good of Liz to come up; said it takes her only forty-five minutes from home. Theyre near the University of Richmond, so she hops on 64.

Must have a lead foot.

Well, yes. Makes me glad that Tally doesnt drive anymore. I swear her secret ambition was to be a Formula One driver. Scared the bejesus out of me many times. Maybe thats why my heart is so strong. I had consistent aerobic workouts just sitting still.

They both were laughing when Harry pulled into the north side of Barracks Road Shopping Center.

Harry knocked on the door of Terris store.

Garvey, eager to help, opened it. Come on in.

What took you so long, Chickpea? Aunt Tally barked.

My fault. Not hers, Harry said.

Liz, who had been in the office, stepped out. Thank you for coming. Ive asked Tina Hotchkiss, a friend of mine, to run the store until I can figure something out. Rushing will only backfire.

When does she start? Harry inquired.

This Friday. So the store will be open for the weekend.

What do you want us to do? Inez asked.

I came in last night and checked the inventory on Terris computer. So were up to date there. I think the only thing we need to do is dust and mop up a bit, and there were two deliveries today that we should go unpack.

I can do that, Garvey volunteered.

Liz, taking charge again, said, Inez and Tally, there should be an invoice slip inside those cartons. If Garvey gives them to you, you can check off the contents. If any items are damaged, theres bound to be some paper that tells us how to return the goods or make a claim. Okay?

Okay. Tally, with Doodles behind her, followed Garvey into the small storage room, which was quite neat.

Inez, Tucker, and Erno followed Doodles and Tally.

Mrs. Murphy and Pewter sat on the sales counter, enjoying watching Harry dust, while Liz, using a little Mop & Glo, brought up a shine on the floor.

Arent these beautiful? Garvey had pulled out the shredded newsprint along with the plastic peanuts in one carton to reveal large outdoor ceramic pots in various subtle glazes.

Another carton contained smaller pots, mostly of a dark-blue glaze or a lighter green, with large round cork stoppers sealed with wax along the edges. Garvey set them on the floor, then Inez and Aunt Tally counted them. The jars, ranging from pint size to quart size, were heavy.

In the front part of the store, Liz chatted while mopping.

Must have been a slap in the face when Terris parents realized that, one, shed made a will, and two, they werent in it. I was overcome when I learned from her lawyer that shed left the store to me. Twenty percent of the net profits must go to William Woods. Liz teared up. I just cant believe it.

Harry, often a bit awkward when people became emotional, said sympathetically, She knew youd make a profit. Then she changed the subject. Youre doing a good job of mopping.

Thank you.

As they chatted, Tucker, back in the storeroom, stuck her nose on one of the quart jars. Something in the wax drew her.

What?

Erno was curious.

I can just catch a hint of something. Not the wax. Its the smell I detected on Terri.

Maybe we can break the jar.

Ernos ears lifted up.

I broke a big one once. Cost Mom a lot of money.

Maybe my mom or Tally will open it.

Good idea.

Tucker whined, pushing the jar with her nose.

Thats enough, Inez said gently.

Erno started in, too.

Come on, Mommy, open the jar.

Enough. Inez was still gentle.

Hey, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, come in here.

The cats responded.

Better be good,

Pewter said.

Pat the jars with the cork sealed by wax,

Tucker requested.

Mrs. Murphy and Pewter patted the jars. Pewter even unleashed her claws, sticking them in the cork.

Would you look at those animals? Aunt Tally was amused.

Inez, reading the invoice and checking off the jars, said, According to this, theres nothing inside them.

Garvey picked one up. Could be sand. You know, fill them so they wont break as readily.

Liz, Inez called out.

Liz popped her head into the storage room.

Do you know whats in these jars?

Liz shook her head no, then said, Lets finish up. Tina can open them on Friday. I need to get over to Merrill Lynch for a meeting.

Okay.

Another half hour and all was done. The cardboard had been broken down and folded, and Harry had tied it up with twine, of which the store had plenty. She knew where the dump for businesses was, behind the center.

After everyone had left the store and shed locked the door, Liz said with a shaky voice, Thank you all. Thank you so much.

As Harry drove behind the supermarket with the cardboard, Tucker moaned,

Erno was right. We should have broken one of those jars.

Youll get your chance. Mom will be down Friday to check on Tina. Her curiosity will get the better of her,

Mrs. Murphy predicted.

O

n Friday, April 24, Harry and Inez marveled at the east side of the Blue Ridge, which was covered with white from the dogwoods, with flashes of pink in places. All it took was a few consistent days of fifty- to sixty-degree temperatures and the increasing light for the world to truly awaken. The apple groves gave off a wonderful fragrance, as they, too, were in bloom. The world shone white, pink, and magenta from the redbuds. Could there be anything as wondrous in the world as an Appalachian spring?

Harry organized her shopping trips to Charlottesville to one a week, but the last few weeks had upended that schedule. She was burning more gas than she wanted to.

The cats and dogs complained loudly when left in the wagon with the windows cracked open.

Inez walked into Terris store, as Harry dashed into Thompson and Watson for a minute. After a quick visit with Garvey and a look at the wonderful colors of the Fred Perry polo shirts he had, she left. Good as all the other polo shirts were, they were all copies of the original Fred Perry. The French might argue that Rene Lacoste got there first, but no matter.

Wheres Inez? Harry asked as she walked into the store. Sorry. Im Harry Haristeen. You must be Tina Hotchkiss.

The slender woman in her mid-forties smiled. Inez is in the storage room.

Harry called out, Inez, what are you doing in there?

Inez came out. I cant find the little potsthe pint-size and quart-size pots with the beautiful glazes. Tina says she never saw them.

I have the large ones. Arent they beautiful?

They certainly are, Inez agreed. Tina, these had some of the same glazes but were small; you could use them for flower arrangements. And they were heavy. Full of sand, I guess, with big round corks sealed with wax.

Never saw them. Tina shrugged.

Harry changed the subject. Much business?

Yes, Ive been pleasantly surprised.

Harry asked, May I? as she reached for a small notepad on the counter.

Of course.

She scribbled her home number and her cell. If you need anything, Im about a half hour away in Crozetmore when its peak traffic time. But I can get here.

Thank you so much. Garvey offered his services, too.

Did you know Terri? Inez inquired.

Actually, I didnt. I know Liz from our days in Junior League. Course, were too old now. She smiled. But not that old. Anyway, I had an art gallery down on Cary Street in Richmond. Liz and Tim were regulars, and I got to know him a bit, too. I finally gave it up. Id worked around the clock for ten years. That was enough, but now that Im back here, I realize how much I miss retail. The challenge of it.