YOU'RE ALL MINE - ch 14

YOU’RE ALL MINE - ch 14

(the magic of Midnight)

^ ^

“Mia! Mia”, the sleek black cat called out. “You did it!! I’m so proud of you. Let’s go for a ride!”

“Hey, Midnight, not so fast. I didn’t get my license. It’s only a permit to learn to drive. Dad insists I go to driving school before I take the driving test. For the time being, our only modes of transportation are my wings and the ley lines.”

“Aw, come on, Mia! You’ll be sixteen in three months. You’ll have your license by then. Let’s go out and test your skills. We can just go up and down your road. It’s long enough but there’s never any traffic. Please? Come on, Mia. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Mia stopped in the middle of pulling tomatoes off the plants, turned to look at her familiar, and all but shouted, “Midnight! Enough!” She walked over to the garden bench and sat down. Midnight followed. “Midnight, look. You know dad taught me to drive last year so I could move the small truck around the yard. Dad also asked me not to take it out on the road, not even to drive to Uncle Ian’s. We both know how strict dad is about obeying the law.”

“But, Mia..” Midnight began to say.

“Midnight, there are no buts! Dad admitted that I need to know how to drive and that’s why he took me for my learner’s permit. It’s also why he’s teaching me to drive his car. And, before you start screeching again, it’s also why he insists I get my certificate from the driving school in Dunlavin. Now, that’ll be the end of this conversation. I need to finish picking the tomatoes. You can help by walking around and checking the other vegetables for me.”

Midnight sulked but agreed, “Okay, party-pooper!”

Mia laughed as she remarked, “Midnight, you sound more like an American cat than one born in Ireland. You’re as mischievous as a teenage boy but you’re not. I don’t think there’s one feminine bone in your furry female body. You surely are a mystery to have around.”

She laughed more as she watched the cat stick her tail straight in the air, turn, lift her chin and waddle away. Yes, the cat waddled. Mia shook her head and thought to herself, “Either that cat has a split personality or she’s just a very weird, mischievous feline.” She sighed, “But, either way, she’s mine.”

Mia heard Midnight screech, “No, Mo stor. You have it wrong. You’re all mine! After all, no one owns a cat!”

Mia mumbled, “I’ll have to remember that she can hear even my own thoughts. Geez! No privacy!”

Midnight stopped, turned her head to look at Mia and asked in a demanding sort of way, “And just what is it that you need privacy for?”

Mia laughed and as she placed an image in her mind, began to hum, “Just a Brick in the Wall.”

Mia heard, “Not funny, Mia, not funny at all.”

^ ^

As Mia walked through the back door, she heard her mother call out, “Mia, supper will be ready in about an hour.”

“Mom, it smells delicious. Smells like stew. Am I right?”

“Absolutely. I was in the mood to have stew tonight. We haven’t eaten it in a while, so I thought rather than fish again, we’d have stew but I’m not making beef stew. I’m using lamb. What do you think?”

“Mom, you’re a great cook. Whatever you make always makes us beg for more. Besides, we haven’t had lamb in months. What’s the occasion?”

As Morena stirred the pot, she answered, “Finola stopped by not too long ago and said she had enough lamb to share and offered some.” She shook her head and smiled, “But there was a condition. She wanted to come for supper.”

“Mom, she’s hilarious. She has supper with us twice a month, then twice a month with Uncle Ian, Aunt Liz, and Mickey. Mom? Maybe she’s just lonely. I’m going to spend more time with her.”

“Mia, you’re still going there every Saturday afternoon. I love Finola, too, but how much more time can you spend with her?”

Mia sat. She put her elbows on the table, then placed her head in her open palms. “I don’t know, mom, but this is out of the ordinary, even for her. I’m going upstairs to take a shower. Can I make a salad when I come back down?”

“Oh, sweetie, I thought you’d never ask!”

^ ^

After supper was ended, Finola spoke directly to Mia. “Mia, mo bhinneas (my sweetness), let’s go for a walk in your garden. I’d like to see what you’re harvesting.”

As they walked toward the back door, Finola turned and looked down. “Midnight. If you don’t mind, stay here. This is girl talk and while you are a girl, this is between Mia and her great aunt. Please respect my wishes and stay inside.”

As the cat abruptly stopped in her tracks, Finola added fiercely, “Oh, and one more thing. I demand privacy with my niece. You know that I’ll know if you’re listening. Don’t make me put a spell on you!”

Midnight was insulted, hurt, and frightened. No one had ever accused her of spying, even though she did, and even then, no one had ever threatened to put a spell on her. She knew Finola demanded respect and therefore, she stepped back and, while sulking, walked towards her bed. She was angry and hurt but wasn’t sure which emotion was more prominent.

Morena noticed the cat’s mood and offered comfort. “Midnight, sometimes, humans just need a bit of human time. Mia will also expect that as she grows older. For now, let her have some time with her great aunt and it will give me the opportunity to give you a bowl of creamed salmon without Mia saying you’ve had enough to eat. Come into the kitchen with me, my precious. And thought, “One day, I’ll learn to speak Gaelic!”