Chasing Cats

CHASING CATS

By

Brendan Griffin

Copyright © 2015 by Brendan Griffin

All Rights Reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Waiting

Chapter 2 – A Small Annoyance

Chapter 3 – Begging Technique

Chapter 4 – A Favorite Biscuit

Chapter 5 – Finny Tok

Chapter 6 – Invites

Chapter 7 – Sidelight

Chapter 8 – A White Garden

Chapter 9 – Telepathy

Chapter 10 – Robin Leads the Way

Chapter 11 – Search for the Bus Driver

Chapter 12 – Graveyard

Chapter 13 – Rufus Jumping

Chapter 14 – New Family

Chapter 15 – Poets

Chapter 16 – Excuse

Chapter 17 – Night Begins

Chapter 18 – Pack

Chapter 19 – Bones

Chapter 20 – Chasing Cats

Chapter 21 – Dog Show

Chapter 22 – Invisible

Chapter 23 – News

Chapter 24 – Volunteering

Chapter 25 – The Daring One

Chapter 26 – Nature

Chapter 27 – A Good Drying Day

Chapter 28 – Leaving

Chapter 29 – Letting Go

Chapter 1 - Waiting

Jasper scampered up his next door neighbour’s back earthen ditch, turned immediately onto his own section of ditch and squatted down under the laurel hedge that grew there. Unlike his home, where the side gate in recent times remained permanently closed, the Hennessey family never closed their gate, and this way provided an easy and safe access to his back garden. The space on the ditch under the laurel hedge was exactly his small size, as over the past five weeks he made the same journey, several times a day, to the same stopping point. Jasper was aware of the danger of being predictable in his movement, but the laurel hedge was thick with age and lack of care, and he felt fortunate to have found such a covered vantage point. From here, Jasper had a clear view of the windows of the two back bedrooms and the kitchen at the side of his bungalow home. He saw that the curtains of all rooms remained shut. More out of wish than expectation, Jasper listened for the sound of a radio from the kitchen and looked to the chimney for smoke. He heard and saw neither, and once again he felt the ever-familiar sinking realisation that his owner had not yet returned.

Jasper was a nine year old, smoothed-haired, mostly Fox Terrier. He could easily have been named Spot, given that he was predominately white with black spots and with one most striking black circle surrounding his left eye on an otherwise white face. However, his owner named him Jasper, after the friendly television ghost character, because of his whiteness. The fact that his owner confused the name Jasper with the actual name, Casper, only pointed to his vague knowledge of cartoon characters. Jasper liked his misnamed name.

His owner was Frank Barry, a sixty eight year old, single, retired bus driver. Frank was into his third year of retirement, having worked for the city bus company for forty years. Jasper had lived with his owner from when he was a pup. The bus driver had visited his sister in the country for a holiday weekend, and it just so happened that she was looking for homes for a litter of six pups at the time. At first, Frank rejected his sister’s suggestion that he should take a pup away with him. He reminded his sister that he was living alone and there would be no one there to look after the pup while he was at work. His sister was of the view that once a dog was fed, watered, and loved, they were well able to fend for themselves and make their own entertainment for periods of time. She persisted with her suggestion. Jasper reflected later, that her wish for her brother to take a pup was more to do with him having company than just finding a home for one of the litter; that she would wear down her brother’s objections before the weekend came to an end was never in doubt.

Jasper’s mother was also a smooth-haired Fox Terrier, and his father was suspected to be a Scottish Terrier that lived some houses down the road. Unlike Jasper, the rest of the litter took after their father more and their wilder, thicker coats were coloured in warm-autumn browns. Jasper would be the last of the litter to be chosen if cuteness was the measure. However, that is not how the bus driver made his choice. He wanted a curious, spirited dog, and so he placed a low sized cardboard box on the kitchen floor and waited for the first pup to climb inside. It was Jasper. Of course Jasper did not know that he was leaving his mother, brothers, and sisters as a result of climbing into a box. Initially, the experience of being taken from the warmth, company, and safety of his family was not at all pleasant but that soon passed as he grew to understand that he was beginning a new life in a new home.

Jasper knew that the bus driver often looked back at that weekend visit to his sister as a very fortunate trip. As his sister privately hoped, Jasper became the best of company to him. In a way, Jasper became his family. Very soon the Terrier grew to know all the bus driver’s working shifts and would be waiting without fail on the doorstep on his return from his day driving his bus. In the evening, Jasper enjoyed nothing better but to be curled up on the mat before the open coal fire and to listen to his owner shout from his armchair, sometimes with delight, sometimes with exasperation, as he followed his soccer team, Liverpool, on the television.

In recent years the retired bus driver had developed a heart condition and was on occasion taken away in an ambulance. However, he always returned home after some time. Jasper worried that his illness was more serious this time, as he was away longer than usual.

But any day now, Jasper reassured himself. Any day now, and he’ll be back.

Jasper looked at the enticing food in his bowl outside the door at the side of the house that led to the kitchen. He sniffed the air. Even from the distance he made out that it was chunky beef in jelly. On previous occasions Mrs. Hennessy looked after him when his owner was away. But there was a difference this time. Two Blue Shirts, who came in a green van, were trying to catch him. He had learnt from a recent close call that he dared not set foot in his garden. The two Blue Shirts, who he had named for the obvious reason as Tall and Heavy, had been hiding in the timber shed at the back of the garden, ready to pounce on him. It was only because of his swiftness and knowledge of all the many gaps in the side fences that allowed him escape capture. He was not going to be caught and imprisoned in some pound until his owner was well. He was determined to be free, to be there when his owner returned. He imagined himself barking excitedly and jumping to receive the bus driver’s fond strokes as he arrived home. The chunky beef, however inviting, would not bait him.

Chapter 2 - A Small Annoyance

The flap in the wooden side gate that led to Blacky’s back garden always amused Jasper.

The opening was simply the lower section of one of the wide planks in the gate sawed to the height of about a foot and then fixed back with hinges that allowed it swing in and out. The metal hinges were now rusted over and creaked horribly, and the wooden gate, despite regular painting over the years, had surrendered irredeemably to rot. Blacky was just a mere pup, and his owner was a twelve year old boy when the flap had been made. It had been their secret entrance and escape. Blacky was now thirteen, the oldest dog in the estate, and apart from his natural growth into a tall, broad Labrador, he had also piled on weight with the passing years. Jasper’s amusement was to imagine his friend once being able to fit through the small opening. To be further amused, he only had to think of Blacky’s owner, who was now a six foot three inch, wide-shouldered policeman.

As Jasper entered through the flap he heard the incessant, high-pitched barking of the Jack Russell pup that had only recently come to live next door to Blacky. He knew his friend would be out-of-sorts as a result of the needless barking, and he was right; Blacky was stretched out on the patio at the back of the house and just managed to raise his weary eyes to greet him. The Jack Russell, whose tiny head looked out from under the adjoining fence, stopped barking, as she took in Jasper’s arrival.

Thank goodness, Blacky reacted with relief, but no sooner had he said his words the pup dismissed Jasper’s arrival and started barking again.

All day long, Blacky said pitifully. All day long.

Jasper was amused in a way by his friend’s annoyance with the silly pup, but then he did not have to endure the situation, and so he kept up a sympathetic expression. All day long? he echoed with condolence.

He starts at eight, once his owner goes to work. Blacky paused and cut short his rant when he saw Jasper glance at the bowl of food outside his doghouse. Jasper regretted appearing so obvious, but his hunger naturally drew him to the food.

Help yourself, offered Blacky.

Jasper had been sharing Blacky’s food ever since the episode with the Blue Shirts and his decision not to risk venturing into his own garden.

You know they feed me too much anyway, Blacky had said at the outset and made it sound that he would be doing him a favour by helping him get through his daily servings.

It’s chicken in gravy, described Blacky, as if an enticement was necessary.

You’re sure? Jasper hesitated.

Look at me, do I look lacking? Jasper liked that Blacky was able to make fun at his plumpness.

Jasper did not need further permission and stepped to the bowl and heartily tucked into the chicken and gravy. It was only when he had emptied the bowl did Jasper realise how hungry he had been. It had been two days since his last visit to Blacky. As he turned back to his friend he felt embarrassed for having shown such a desperate display of devouring food.

No sign yet? Blacky asked, knowing the answer.

Soon. Has to be soon, Jasper rushed his reply. He looked for agreement in the face of the Labrador but wondered if he saw a flash of concern that the old dog quickly hid. Jasper gladly dropped the matter.

The Jack Russell had continued barking, and Jasper realised that already he too was feeling the annoyance. He looked at the yapping head stuck under the fence and then back to Blacky to acknowledge to his friend his understanding of what he was going through.

I don’t know how much more I can take, Blacky responded.

What’s your name? Jasper demanded of the Jack Russell, and his sudden question caused the pup to stop dead in the middle of a bark.

There was silence, glorious silence. Blacky stood up in response and looked on with wonder. Jasper imagined the old dog considering if he had hit on the solution: that a mere question was the way to silence the annoying pup. The pup became very self-conscious at being the sudden center of attention of the two older dogs and in the intimidating limelight seemed to struggle at remembering her own name.

Jack, she said eventually.

Jack? repeated Jasper with a chuckle. Your owner wasn’t very imaginative, was he: you being a Jack Russell?

No, the pup agreed and smiled back.

Why do you bark all the time? snapped Blacky, deciding not to be left out on this question technique.

The pup was thrown into a defensive mode by Blacky’s sharp tone, and her wide eyes looked unnaturally large for her small head that continued to poke out from under the fence. She was lost for an answer.

Because she wants to play, said Jasper matter-of-factly, answering for the dumb struck pup. Jasper didn’t know where his answer had come from. Why the pup barked incessantly wasn’t something he had given any consideration, and yet, as soon as he offered the explanation, it somehow made sense.

Play! exclaimed Blacky, as if it was the daftest thing he ever heard. However, even as the old dog appeared to dismiss the possibility outright, he was visibly thinking, and the merit of Jasper’s explanation was seen to grow on him too.

Play! Blacky repeated but this time with realisation.

The old dog laid back down on the concrete patio slabs, as if the depth of the discovery had exhausted him. The pup remained silent and watched with wonder as Blacky’s eyes glossed over. The old dog looked hypnotised by his own thoughts.

Of course, it was different in our time, Blacky said, mostly to himself. We had the freedom to roam the estate, anytime, day or night. There were children, lots of children, playing on the road, playing in the green. Not everyone was out working and gone all day, back then. The old dog was lost in golden memories.

Jasper remembered too. He remembered himself as a pup and how even then he looked up to Blacky, who was at the time a much wiser five-year-old. The Labrador knew every dog in the estate and was always welcoming and instructive to the young dogs that arrived. Jasper remembered another pup, a Cocker Spaniel, by the name of Rufus, and how they both used to follow after Blacky, their mentor, their protector. He remembered, even now, the proud feeling that came with being part of what they considered, a pack.

We were free to run about, play, recalled Blacky and added with light devilment, … chase cars.

Jack’s head didn’t move, as if for fear she might miss a word of this fascinating talk.

Chase cars? the pup asked for more.

Well I’m not saying, I did, Blacky answered, with a slight grin that left the possibility that he might well have chased cars. But that’s what dogs did back then.

And the fights, prodded Jasper, knowing Blacky was well down memory lane and that Jack was thirsting for a colourful recall.

Oh yes, the fights, continued Blacky. "On the