The house smelled sweet and musty. In the few, lost rays of light peeping through the drawn curtains, Sheila could see thick flecks of dust rising and falling. Instantly her skin started to itch. She was sure she had a dust allergy, although she never got tested for it.
It was her first house call of the day and she was still fully energized from her morning workout and her acai bowl breakfast. Lunch would be avo on toast with two poached eggs, she needed all the protein she could get, that is how you maintain muscle mass and keep fit.
The woman in front dropped herself into an oversized armchair the size of a small sofa. As she landed a sweet bodily odor hit Sheila who felt the need to close her nostrils, but remembering the dust, she refused to breathe through her mouth so she forced herself to breathe as little as possible.
‘So, what do you want?’, the woman was obviously annoyed by her presence.
Of course, who would not be! A stranger intruding into your home for a so called well-fare check. The cheek!
‘I can take care of myself!’, the woman huffed as if reading her mind.
Sheila took in the cluttered, dusty environment and the woman’s width and wondered about the truth of that statement.
‘I assure you I am here to help. I just wanted to chat to you, see how you are. The neighbors informed us they had not seen you for weeks …’
‘Feking curtain twitchers! Always nosing around!’, the woman’s face took a worrying shade of crimson.
‘They were just concerned …’, Sheila drew on her extensive training to keep her client calm.
‘Would you like a glass of water?’, her voice was sweet as honey.
The woman did not reply but nodded her head slightly.
Sheila got up with ease and skillfully navigated the stacks of objects, most of them books. Sheila loved books, and was surprised to see the walls lined with books that she herself would have loved to read and possess.
The kitchen was chaos. With difficulty she found a glass, washed it, dried it and then filled it up with water.
‘Here you are!’, she chirped amicably.
‘Give me my blood pressure pills, will you? There, on the table.’, and she pointed a swollen hand towards a table laden with all sorts of knickknacks.
As she sat down Sheila could not help judge the woman in front of her. So fat that her bra strap could barely been seen in the folds of her skin. Imagine being that careless with yourself! Immediately Sheila checked herself! She prided on her tolerance and broad views. As she did not believe in God, she did not have any mighty power to forgive her, so she had to find absolution in herself, which she freely dispensed as often as the situation called it.
‘I am happy to see you are all right. I just need a few details for my notes…’
‘Notes … what notes? I don’t want to be in your notes … who do you think you are coming into my house to take notes on me???’, the woman made a gesture as if she would get up but then gave up faced with the effort of it.
‘Just to … What the …!!!’, Sheila jumped back startled as from nowhere a black cat appeared and deftly jumped into the woman’s generous lap.
She laughed.
‘Don’t be scared! This is William, my best bud! Aren’t YOU lovely!?’, and she addressed in a kind, warm voice to the oversized cat gently purring while watching her with pleased eyes.
Sheila loved cats and instantly fell in love with the black cat which she identified as a Maine Coon. Just then she realized that there was no cat hair in t he house, no smell of cat, and by the looks of the animal, it was much better cared for than its master was.
‘He is so beautiful!’, she was taken in by the bright green eyes of the regal looking cat.
The woman was obviously pleased by the visible effect her cat had on Sheila.
‘Come on! Let’s finish with those questions, I don’t have all day!’
As if … the negativistic Sheila muttered inside. But the positive one quickly banished her away and got back to the task at hand.
They went through the list of well fare questions and, at the end, Sheila had to admit that despite being a recluse the woman was ok, managing many of her affairs on line. Surprising, as many people her age were totally computer illiterate. It takes all sorts …
As she left the low, little cottage Sheila was surprised by a feeling of vague familiarity. There was something there she had recognized, but she was not really able to put her finger on what it was exactly. Weird!
‘I might come back in a few months!’, and she waved good bye to the woman hidden in the shadow of the small house.
As soon as the fresh air hit her Sheila could only think about one thing. The cat. That majestic, wonderful looking cat. She pulled out her phone like an experienced cowboy draws out his gun, and looked up Black Maine Coon cats. Not an easy task but well, she was an experienced searcher.
And then she found one. A tiny, baby cat with the greenest eyes …
Sheila went on her way while absently humming:
“Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.”
‘… rounded with a sleep.’ The wind seemed to whisper on its light breeze.