Chapter 7
Farewell Munchkin
Samuel Foster
Istretch out against her, reveling in the silken touch of her skin. I’ve never had a woman stay over at my place before – my life has been just a string of one-night stands. Yet, the scent of her surrounds me, and I can’t imagine my world without her in it. She’s literally become part of the air that I breathe.
Her eyes are still on my face as I come to the end of my story. They’re huge and slightly glassy, as if she’s fighting back tears. I stroke her cheek and smile gently.
“Coffee?” I finally ask, to ease the tension. I think she’s relieved because she blinks quickly and nods. I slide my legs out of bed and stand, feeling her eyes moving over me. I know I look pretty good, but for the first time, I feel self-conscious. But the obvious appreciation in her stare puts that thought to rest as I head across the room to my closet, where I pull on a pair of sweatpants and reach for a toweling robe for her.
She takes it gratefully. “Thanks,” she smiles, standing and sliding her arms into the sleeves. It’s far too big for her, but I love the idea of her wearing my clothing. “I think we’d better check on Austin too. He sleeps pretty soundly, but this is a strange place for him and—”
I put a finger to her lips. “I’m sure he’s going to be fine.” I smile and replace my fingertips with my own lips, then reach for her hand and lead her to the hallway. We head downstairs, and I silently open the door to the room, peering in. Austin is still fast asleep on the couch, the blanket pulled up to his chin. My heart clenches as I see a small gray and white shape curled on the blanket near his feet. Munchkin sleeping with Austin just the way he always slept on my bed as a kid.
“Awww...” Arielle breathes out, her fingers tightening in mine. We tiptoe forward, standing at his side, looking down at him. The pair look so peaceful, and I reach down to stroke my fingers over Munchkin’s soft fur. As I touch him, my blood runs cold.
His frail body is completely still...lifeless. He’s not curled in sleep. He’s dead.
I feel my whole world crashing down around me and somehow, I’ve sunk to my knees.
“No...no...no...” I groan out.
“Sam! What is it!” she gasps. “Sam?”
I’ve rested my head against Munchkin’s fur and I’m crying openly…great, gulping sobs. I’ve never been openly emotional but right now, I don’t care. All I know is that my heart is shattered, and the pain needs to be released. I can hear Arielle beside me, lowering herself too. She’s running a hand over Munchkin’s head and I can feel her shudder against me.
“Oh...oh my God...” her voice breaks. “Oh, Sam…I’m so sorry...Munch...”
There’s no mistaking the coolness of his little body. He must have curled up against Austin to sleep, and simply drifted away. I know it would have been peaceful, but I can’t stifle the waves of loss that are threatening to overwhelm me. Arielle has slid her arms around my shoulders and is pulling my head against her chest. It feels like forever that I rest there in her arms, allowing the grief to sweep me away. Finally, I look up and see Austin staring at us, his expression unreadable. Arielle looks over at him.
“Morning, buddy,” she says softly, controlling her voice. “Did you sleep well?”
The boy says nothing. He’s turned his attention away and has his gaze fixed on the opposite wall. A movement catches my eye and I notice he’s slipped his arms over the covers, and he’s running his fingers over the deck of cards he must have been clutching in his hand while he slept. Slowly his fingers begin to move, and I realize he’s shuffling the cards. In my hollow-eyed grief, I stare, almost fascinated.
“Shall we move him? Munch, I mean?” Arielle whispers, aiming a quick glance at her son. It occurs to me that she doesn’t want to upset the boy and for a second, I want to object. Munchkin isn’t something to be disposed of so the people around him aren’t disturbed. Eventually, I nod. She’s right. We can’t just leave him here. I scoop him into my arms, stifling a shiver as I feel how he’s already stiffening. He’s been gone for a couple of hours already, I’m sure. It saddens me to think that I never got to say goodbye.
But perhaps that would have simply been for me. I doubt my little gray cat was overly concerned with such intangible sentiments. He was warm, well-fed, and happy until the end. I hang onto that notion now, as I reach for his favorite soft blanket, wrapping him in the downy folds as I make my way quietly to the door. Even though I’ve known this day has been coming, I’ve never really planned for it; I have no idea what to do with his little body, and the thought of putting him in the ground is too much to imagine.
I seek out solitude, making my way to the nearby living room, cradling him against me. Swaddled there, I can almost imagine that he’s still asleep. I sit on the couch for a moment, staring at him, then reach for the phone and scroll for a familiar number.
The receptionist at the vet recognizes my voice almost immediately. “Hello, Mr. Foster, and how are you today?” she asks brightly. “Calling to arrange another prescription for your little Munchkin?”
I feel like a fool at how emotional I am. My voice is little more than a croak when I reply. “Munch is gone...last night…” I whisper, and I hear her catch her breath on the other end.
“Oh! Oh, dear! I’m so sorry, Mr. Foster... Is there anything we can do for you?” she asks gently.
“I don’t know what to do with him,” I say bluntly. There’s no other way to put it.
“Just one minute, I’ll get Doctor for you,” she says.
Before I know it, Munchkin’s vet is on the other end. “Sam, I’m so sorry,” he says; obviously he’s been updated by the receptionist. I can tell that he means it, though. My old boy has been a regular there...I guess I’ve been overly cautious. Within moments, he’s gently telling me of options. Memorial plaques, funeral plots...and a gemstone service in which my little cat can be transformed, through some technical process, into a precious gem. Something about the idea snags my curiosity. There’s an irony to it that I can’t resist.
“Let’s do that,” I say, and the vet makes a sound of agreement.
“We’ll come around to collect him,” he says. “He’ll be in the very best hands.”
I sense movement in the doorway and see Arielle quietly making her way in. She’s still in my oversized dressing gown and it makes her look fragile and waif-like. She joins me on the couch and sits beside me, her hand stroking my arm.
“I’ve settled Austin in the kitchen,” she says. “He’s having breakfast. How are you doing?”
I shrug and give a grimace. “Okay, I guess. The vet is coming around to take him. They’re going to turn him into a diamond.” I smile to mask the fact that I’m fighting back tears again.When did I become such a pussy?She slides her arm around my shoulder and pulls me against her until we hear the intercom from the gate. She gets up to answer. It’s only been minutes – the practice is just down the road. The vet has driven through to come in person and I stand as Arielle leads him into the room.
“He led a good life, Sam,” he said softly. “You gave him the very best world any cat could dream of.”
I nod silently then extend my arms and pass him the blanket. He holds the bundle gently against his chest, smiles one last time, then turns and leaves the room.
I stand and let the tears stream down my face. I can’t imagine a world without Munchkin.
