It was all Gravy

It was all Gravy

The cat squeezed through the opening in the window which was just wide enough for his fluffy gray body to fit through. This was his usual nightly routine after he’d spent the day galivanting around the city, wandering from place to place searching for handouts. But this place was a sure bet. There was always a warm bowl of gourmet cat food waiting on the pristine countertop for him. Just as expected, the bowl sat in its usual spot. The scent of salmon called out to him. He glanced about the room looking for the old woman that took such good care of him, but there was no sign of her. He meowed to let her know he was there. As if on command, he heard footsteps hastily heading his way.

“What’s wrong, Gravy? Is the cold air getting to you?” The woman closed the window next to him. “I’ve got your food right here like usual.” She began to pet him in his favorite spot under his chin. Gravy seemed to enjoy the attention for a moment then snapped at the woman’s hand. “Ouch! Maybe, I should have named you Grouchy instead.”

Gravy jumped down and rubbed against her feet. “Meow, meow, meow,” the cat bellowed. He then ran over to the apartment door which led out into the hallway.

“Oh no, I’m not letting you out there. You’d get lost easily. Or someone will try to keep you for themselves.”

The meowing intensified.

“Why don’t you just go back out the window where you came in, you silly cat? Here, I’ll help you.” She picked Gravy up and sat him on the counter as she went to open the window again.

He immediately jumped back down and ran over to the door.

“Fine, let me get on my shoes, but I’m taking you straight outside to the sidewalk. No funny business, mister.” She slipped on her shoes then grabbed a heavy coat since it was freezing outside. She picked up the overweight cat in her arms and held him tightly to her like a football, just in case he tried to make a run for it in the hallway.

The woman quickly hurried with her furry friend to the stairwell as if she was frightened someone would see them. Then she walked down each step gingerly to protect the precious cargo she carried. Reaching the final step, she let out a sign of relief.

Gravy stayed quietly still while his companion opened the front door and lowered him to the ground. The door behind them closed and automatically locked like usual.

Surprise furrowed the woman’s brow when the cat turned to face her and began meowing again.

“What on earth do you want from me, cat? I’m starting to worry about leaving you out here. Come on, let’s just go back inside.” She leaned down to pick him up, but he quickly darted a few feet away barely avoiding her grasp.

“Why, you little…” She tried to snatch him again with the same result. Before she knew it, they had reached the corner of the building and stood at the entrance to the dark alley that ran next to it. The woman sucked in a deep breath of cold air as she realized where she was. A dead body or two had been found in this very alley over the hundred years since these apartments had been built.

“I love you, Gravy, but it isn’t safe for me to be out here. I’m going back in. It’s your call on whether you are coming with me.”

Gravy didn’t budge.

The woman turned to leave but stopped dead in her tracks as someone behind her whispered, “Don’t go.” Terror set in at the realization that they were not alone in the dark alley. She cautiously spun around. Gravy ran over to what resembled a small pile of clothes. The pile then let out a child size cough.

“Oh my,” the woman gasped. She forced herself to move forward even though her body begged her not to.

Gravy started his meowing again.

“Yes, boy. You did a good job, but you need to be quiet, okay? We don’t want any unwanted company.” She leaned down the best she could next to the source of the cough. Slowly, she reached out her hand and pulled back the child’s hood, revealing a young girl’s face. It was nearly blue from the freezing cold. She looked to be about nine or ten.

“My name is, Rose. I see you’ve already met my friend, Gravy,” the woman said motioning towards the cat. “What’s your name?”

Before the girl could answer they were startled by the sound of a bottle being kicked from further down the alley. Every sense in Rose’s body told her to run. Without hesitation, she snatched the girl up by the arm, dragging her most of the way. Gravy followed. She reached the door to her building and fumbled with her keys.

Voices could be heard growing closer by the second. “I thought I saw movement down here just a minute ago,” a man with a deep voice said. “She couldn’t have gotten far in this weather. Let’s split up when we get to the street.”

Panic flooded Rose’s body. She finally found the key and got it into the lock, but it wouldn’t turn. A silent prayer was sent up as she turned with all her might, half-expecting the key to break off. The welcoming sound of the deadbolt unlocking was heard. She quickly vanished into the building and slid flush against the wall with the cat and girl safely by her side.  

A few moments later, someone yanked on the door causing Rose’s heart to nearly stop. They yanked a few more times then began shaking the door violently. A shadow hovered back and forth across the wall in front of them.

Rose was frightened, but there were a few things she wouldn’t put up with. Someone mistreating children or animals was unacceptable. She had boxed in her younger days before she got married and had to start behaving like a lady. If the man was able to get in, he was going to have a fight on his hands. It might be a very one-sided fight but at least she could give the girl and Gravy a chance to run for it. She doubted the girl could get very far though, as weak as she seemed. Gravy could be mean too, if pushed to it. She knew he would protect the girl the best he could. The thought brought tears to her eyes. She sent up another prayer asking that it wouldn’t come to that.

The man shook the door again and then let out several curse words before finally giving up.

Thankful for the answered prayers, Rose allowed herself to breathe again. She looked down and saw the young girl more clearly in the light staring up at her with beautiful brown eyes.

“You’re going to be okay,” Rose whispered. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

Gravy let out a low meow.

“Sorry. ‘WE’ won’t let them hurt you,” Rose corrected herself. “Now, let’s get you upstairs and warmed up.”

The girl nodded.

Rose took the elevator this time up to her second story apartment. Once inside, she grabbed several blankets and brought them to the girl on the couch. She also fished a baseball bat out of the hall closet, just in case.

“I’ve got some hot cocoa cooling down. Once you’re done with that, we’ll get you in a warm bath.” Rose hovered for a minute. “I really think we ought to call the police, hon. I don’t know who those men were or what they want with you, but it’s not right.”

“They’ll just send me back,” the girl’s weak and raspy voice replied. “I’ve seen it happen before. It’s supposedly a group home for girls. They claim we’re all lairs and deviant children. The state worker believes them too.”

Gravy jumped up in the girl’s lap, looked at Rose, and meowed again.

Rose studied the cat for a long moment. “I have a son that lives just outside the city. He has a nice house with his wife. They’re expecting their first child in a few months and have been begging me to come live with them. There’s supposedly a fancy mother-in-law suite just going to waste.” Rose let out a little laugh. “I honestly didn’t want to leave without Gravy. I didn’t think he would enjoy being domesticated, so I’ve stayed here. But it gets lonelier more and more each day. I think he’s finally agreeing to go.”

“What does your son do?” the girl asked.

 “He’s a District Attorney. He has high hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and run for office soon. My husband was a State Senator and did a lot of good while he was alive. I always wished I had done more, especially to help kids and animals in need. I tried several times when I was younger but always got pulled away to help with his campaigns. Maybe, I’ve been given a second chance with you two.” Rose smiled at Gravy and then the girl. “I think you should come with us if you want to. It would be a safe place. We’ll let him know everything that is going on and see what can be done to help the other girls as soon as possible.”

“I can’t go back there ever again.” The girl sniffled. “They have horror stories about what they do to kids that run away. They’ll make an example of me, so others won’t do the same. You honestly saved my life, lady.” She brought her knees up to her chest.  

"Oh, let me get you that cocoa. I’ll be right back.” Rose jumped up and headed into the kitchen returning a few moments later with a steaming coffee mug. “Actually, it was all Gravy. He led me to you. He's even smarter than I realized.

The girl smiled up at her gracious host. “One question, why’d you name him Gravy? Seems like a weird name.”

“Well, he started coming to my window when he was still a little thing. He would paw and meow at the window until I finally opened it. I’d feed him scraps, but he wouldn’t eat much. So, I went and bought him that fancy gourmet cat food that you see on TV. He seemed to like it much better, but he would always lick up all the gravy first. Sometimes, he wouldn’t even eat the rest of it. I’d say, “It’s all about the gravy, huh?” He’d look up and just meow like he was agreeing. I don’t know, I just started calling him Gravy from then on.”

“Well, I think it fits him,” she said as she scratched Gravy behind the ear.

“You never told me your name, hon.”

“My name is Jackie. And to answer your earlier question, I’d gladly follow you and Gravy wherever you want to lead me.”