literature

Life is for the Living

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Literature Text

At 89, Mrs. McGillicutty was an inspiration to everyone at Mercer’s Grocery. She walked a block with merely a cane to the store, did her shopping, and walked home, all on her own. Her eyes sparkled with the sharp wit of someone half her age, her voice never wavered, and her spirit could uplift even the most depressed soul. And at only five feet tall, wearing glasses just as thick, everyone agreed she was cute as a button (though not to her face, the woman had dignity). The unofficial Mercer’s motto was “I hope I’m as fortunate as Mrs. McGillicutty when I reach her age.”

But this day was different. Mrs. McGillicutty shambled through the aisles. She sighed often and wrung her hands more than once. Everyone was allowed to have an off day once in a while, but this was unprecedented. It through the entire store off-balance. It wasn’t until check-out that Bill worked up the nerve to ask her if something was bothering her.

She gazed up at him through her binocular lenses. “Oh my, is it really so obvious?”

He nodded his head. “I’m afraid so, Mrs. McGillicutty.”

For a moment, there was only the rhythmic beeping as he slid her items over the scanner. Finally, she said, “It’s my cat, Albert. He passed away last night.”

“Ohhhhh. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you, dear. But I’ve had many cats. But I don’t know what to do about the body. I’m much too old to be digging another grave, and my daughter had to leave town til next week.”

“Well, I tell you what. I’m sure Mr. Mercer won’t mind if I walk you home and help you take care of Albert. Once I’m done ringing you up, wait right here and I’ll go talk to him.”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t put you out-“

“You’re not, Mrs. McGillicutty,” he assured her. “You’re a part of our little family, and I’m sure Mr. Mercer himself would help you if he wasn’t so busy.”

“Please, call me Agnes.” The elderly lady expressed her gratitude, but words couldn’t capture the pure relief and joy in her eyes. Ben felt like he was floating as he approached his boss and explained the situation. Mr. Mercer sent him out with his blessing, even promising that this would be considered being on the clock.

It was a glorious spring day outside. Ben held Agnes umbrella for her as she pushed her cart along the sidewalk. They made a quick detour across the street to drop off a library book. The walk alongside a senior citizen was slow, but she regaled him with stories of her youth. She had survived two marriages and raised seven boys and a girl, two of the boys being adopted. She had twenty grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Many of her progeny were insisting she move in with them, but she prided herself in her independence, and refused to move out of the family house until she absolutely had to. She was, in every way, a remarkable woman.

Her house was absolutely how Ben had pictured it. A white-picket fence surrounded a vibrant garden of flowers around a white house with blue trim. The interior smelled a bit musty, but that was to be expected in a house with nearly a lifetime’s accumulations.

“So, uhm… where’s Albert?”

Agnes pointed to a cat lying prone on the windowsill. Ben frowned. Surely something left in the sunlight would have started to stink by now? Upon closer inspection, Albert was still breathing.

“Er, Agnes… Albert’s still alive.”

“Oh, no, you must be mistaken!” Mrs. McGillicutty insisted. “He passed away last night!”

Ben gently laid a pair of fingers on the cat. When it purred, rather than try to remove his hands, he began poking through its fur. Eventually, he found the tally marks. “One, two, three… eight. Yep. He’s still got one life left, Agnes.”

“Oh! I must have lost count. It’s so hard to keep track of these things.”

Ben left the cat in peace and smiled.  “I understand. I’ve had a few cats of my own. One time, one had a dresser fall on it, lost three at once.”

“Well, thank you anyway, Ben. Would you like to stay for some cookies?”

He shook his head and gestured towards the front door. At least he wouldn’t have to dig a hole, now. “I’d love to, but I really should be getting back to work. You take care of Albert, now.”

:iconflash-fic-month:
July 27: Things to do today: return library books, do the shopping, bury Albert. -SCFrankles
I wanted to give this a some kind of a creepy ending, but I couldn't think of anything good, so I went with surreal instead.
© 2014 - 2024 JZLobo
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SCFrankles's avatar
To be honest, I was kind of pleased Albert still had one life to go :giggle: