Tributes

Last week a cat started leaving me ‘tributes’. I am not much of a cat person but I have heard that you should show gratitude to the cat for bringing you presents. I would pick up the offering and yell, “Thank you!” just in case the cat could hear me. I didn’t want a pissed-off cat roaming around. Then, in a plastic bag, I carried it through the house to the garage and deposited it in the trashcan. I didn’t want my Yorkie or Lhasa Apso to get a hold of the animal fearing they would choke on the bones not to mention the mess they would make and the possible germs they would get.

Every morning there was a different dead animal placed at my back door. The first was a mouse, then a small bird, a squirrel, a larger bird and finally a raccoon. I decided I had better put a stop to this ritual. The escalation in size of the animals had me worried, what would be next?

The guy at the animal control center suggested a live trap baited with an open can of tuna. I let the dogs out one last time as I set the trap. Taylor never came back. With Wilson safe inside I looked all over the yard calling for Taylor but I never did find him. I stayed up all night. Not just to catch the cat but I was also worried about my Lhasa Apso. After holding my vigil and drinking ten Diet Cokes I finally had to take a break.

When I came back something was in the trap and it was mad. He looked like an ugly garden gnome; I guess it was a goblin. He was yelling in some language I didn’t understand. In his hands he had another offering. It was Taylor’s dead and bloody body.

I wasn’t sure if animal control would have taken the creature and I was still angry about Taylor. I sure hope it will make a good tribute to my goddess on All Hallows’ Eve.