YOU'RE ALL MINE

YOU’RE ALL MINE

(the magic of Midnight)

^ ^

She felt the warm breath on her cheek. Then the nudge. When that didn’t work, she felt a not-so-gentle push on her shoulder to gain attention. Before she had the chance to respond to either, she heard the loud screech, which was directed too close to her ear.

“Wake up, lazy bones! The day’s wasting away! Get your arse out of bed before I claw your arm off!”

Mia opened her eyes and found golden eyes staring back at her.

“Midnight, it’s Saturday, for heaven’s sake. I can sleep a bit longer today!”

The ball of feline fur, using her front paws began kneading Mia’s stomach while she said, “Did you forget you promised to deliver some of your vegetables to Ballardbeg today?”

“Oh, my heavens! Midnight! I’m not scheduled to be there until three this afternoon.” She turned and looked at her clock. “Midnight, it’s only five in the morning. I’d bet my next allowance that the sun hasn’t yet risen! Go back to sleep!”

Midnight, on the other hand, had other ideas. She nuzzled Mia’s neck and began to purr loudly and persistently.

“Oh, all right! I’ll get up, you persistent ball of black hair!”

Mia tossed back the covers and opened the thick curtains that hung on the wall covering her window.

“See? Midnight, are you looking? It’s still dark out! How am I supposed to reap any vegetables in the dark?”

Midnight purred then said, “Mia, you’re part witch. Use your ball of light! I know you know how to do that.”

“Oh, for crying out loud!”

Mia stomped to her bathroom and turned on the shower. While the water heated, she selected her clothes for the day.

After she dressed and before she headed down the stairs to the kitchen, she walked to her dresser and picked up a small picture frame. “Good morning, Mo deas.” She sighed deeply and returned the frame to the dresser after giving her former pet a good morning kiss.

“Mia, mo ghra,” Midnight said softly, “I miss her too. I know you dreamt about her last night. So did I.”

Mia thought, “If cats could sigh sadly, Midnight Magic did just that.”

“Come on, Midnight, let’s go get some breakfast.”

The pair made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen where Mia found her grandfather sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee.

“Well, now, good morning, mo bhinneas (my sweetness). I hope you slept well.”

“Grandpap, what are you doing up so early?”

Before he answered, Sinead, Mia’s grandmother entered the kitchen. “I woke him, mo ghra (my love). I was hoping to surprise you and get an early start on your harvesting. I see Midnight Magic had other ideas.”

“You’re so right, Grandmam. I’m sure you heard her screeching in my ear to wake me.”

Sinead and Collin laughed, and Collin gently rubbed the cat’s head. “Good going, Midnight. You did what no normal human had the courage to do. Waking a cantankerous teenager! Especially a girl!”

“Grandpap! I’m not that bad!”

“Now that the soil has been treated and cleansed, I’m eager to how the vegetables have grown,” Collin said.

“Grandpap, did you pull anything yet?”

“No, my love, not yet. Your grandmam is making hotcakes and I won’t miss out on them. She makes the best. Sit, enjoy breakfast with us.”

Midnight Magic eyed the pan where the hotcakes were frying.

“Midnight! You’re not to have any. They’ll hurt your belly.”

Midnight mewed loudly in protest.

Sinead laughed and responded to the cat, “I do have something for you, though. But you behave while I’m cooking and once the table is set for our breakfast, I’ll give you the treat.”

Mia was surprised and asked, “Grandmam, what on earth did you get her? She’d eat the entire pantry if we let her.”

Sinead answered, “I spoke with your uncle Ian, and he gave me a treat that Aunt Liz made – just for Midnight.”

The table now set, just before Sinead sat, she reached inside the pocket of the apron she wore and pulled out a small plastic jar. “Here you go, you little glutton.” She laughed as she held out the treat.

“Is that what I think it is?” asked Mia.

Sinead smiled and said, “Yes, just about. It’s special bacon that Aunt Liz whipped up. It smells and tastes like bacon but has herbs and nutrients made just for felines. This will help keep Midnight healthy and,” she whispered the rest so Midnight wouldn’t be insulted, “help her to keep her weight down. The last thing you need is a fat cat!”

Midnight stopped chewing on her new treat and looked at Sinead. “I heard that!”

And yet, it didn’t stop her from chomping down on the thick strip of fake bacon.

After breakfast, the trio plus one walked outside and towards the garden and found Finola standing outside its gate with her arms stretched wide.

As they approached, they heard her command,”

Goddess of land where all things should grow,

Please give a blessing to all things we sow.

Your blessing will be shared with those that we see.

So we desire it.

So mote it be.”

She turned when she heard the footsteps behind her. “I hope I didn’t wake any of you. After the fiasco with the worms, I wanted to give the soil a special blessing.”

“Aintin, that’s fine and no, you didn’t wake us. My little fur ball did that!”

They all heard Midnight’s “Hmmph!” and laughed as the cat put her tail in the air and turn her back on them.

“Mia, mo mhuirnin (my darling), I have something for you. I considered giving it to you weeks ago at your birthday party, but thought this should not be a gift but a passing down.”

Mia looked at the book bound in old light brown leather that had cracked with age. “What is it, Aintin?”

“It’s my old book of spells. You’ll find it will come in handy through the years.”

She looked at Sinead and asked, ‘My darling niece, is there any coffee left?”