Katy and Egg-tuna man

Katy and Egg-Tuna Man

I had never liked my old secondary school. The teachers never took my dyslexia seriously and some of the kids called me stupid. So it was with great pleasure I watched the wrecking ball demolish it.

I’d caught the tail end of the process. In a matter of minutes, the bane of my teenage years was reduced to rubble. And if I didn’t have work to go to, I would gladly have stayed until the wrecking crew had totally destroyed my nightmare.

As I was about to walk away, I spied movement from the rubble. Worried it might be a kid playing in the school, I took out my phone, ready to call the emergency services. But what emerged was not a child–it was a scrawny ginger kitten. It came out alone, which meant its family had not survived. I used to see them frolicking about the building site–a source of amusement for all and sundry.

Without its parents’ protection, the poor mite would be exposed to the chilly temperatures of the harsh Scottish winter. Even if it did survive that, it would still have to battle foxes and dogs. I alerted the workmen to its plight but they ignored me and carried on regardless.

I sorely wanted to give the kitten refuge at my place but I wasn’t allowed pets. The only way I could help it would be to come by every day and feed it until it reached adulthood.

With a heavy heart, I plodded through the snow to the bakery where I worked. I hung up my coat in our tiny office and joined Fiona, my co-worker. She had been put in charge of the bakery while our boss was away on holiday for the Easter week. We were both twenty year old. She was petite, elfin-faced, and pretty as a picture. In contrast, I was plainer. But I was toned and had curly locks which attracted attention from all and sundry.

While serving customers, I could see the building site from the window. The kitten was a source of amusement for the passers-by. I wondered why this kitten in particular, out of all the stray ones I’d ever come across, tugged at my heartstrings so much. I concluded it was as lonely as me. I’d recently come out of a failed relationship and still bore the brunt of the scars of infidelity. But I didn’t want a boyfriend–just a pet. Animals were far more loyal and none had been more so than dear old Rusty, my Red Setter, which passed away a few years ago.

“Penny for them,” said Fiona, catching me unawares.

I told her what had happened. She sympathised with me, then suggested we advertise the kitten on the notice board.

“Sounds great,” I said. “We’ll try that. Think somebody will adopt it?” This being a rough area, locals much preferred big dogs that could protect them.

“Why not? Or take it to an animal shelter. At least it’ll be safe there. Better do it before the kids start throwing stones at it.”

A gang of teenagers had been going around throwing stones at stray cats. They’d been arrested and charged for it.

I phoned the local cat shelter, but they said they were full. I searched the internet for another one. The nearest was in another village a few miles away. With no car, and a terrible bus service, I had virtually no chance of getting there.

“No luck,” I said. “The noticeboard it is then.”

On my lunch break, I bought some cat food at the supermarket. When I got to the building site, the kitten had its head trapped in the wire perimeter fence. It was shivering, and covered in red flea bites. Its teary eyes fixed me with a sorrowful gaze.

Choked up, I set about trying to set it free. It hissed and tried to scratch me. My soothing words made it stop. I stretched the wire as much as I could but it cut into my hands, forcing me to let go. I tried again without success. I needed wire cutters.

“Here, let me,” said a male voice. A familiar scent wafted my way. Only one person I knew wore it– Egg-tuna man. We had nicknames for all our regular customers at the bakery, depending on what they ordered. He had been coming in for three days. He was tallish, broad-shouldered, and had smiling green eyes. As always, he was wearing a suit. I took him for a businessman of sorts.

“Thanks,” I said, returning his smile.

When he moved in closer to take over, our hands touched briefly. He produced an electric charge that surged right through me. I had never experienced anything like that before. It left me a bit shocked (if you pardon the pun.)

I let go of the wire and stood up. From my vantage point I got a better look at him. He had a birthmark on the back of his neck. It was small, red, and heart-shaped. Judging by his neatly-cut hair and the scent, he had recently been to the hairdresser. There wasn’t so much as a strand of hair on his suit. He was the opposite of the lazy slob I had dumped recently. I couldn’t even remember why I went out with him in the first place. I guess it was just one of those university romances without substance.

Egg-tuna man’s strong hands stretched the wire like it was a piece of string. His nails were clean but a bit jagged. I didn’t mind that. Nothing wrong with a little ruggedness.

The moment the kitten was free, it bolted towards the rubble. I’d no idea how it managed to burrow under it unless some other animal, like a fox, had made a den.

“Poor thing must be starving,” said Egg-tuna man. He took out a sandwich from the paper bag I had given him earlier. He poked it through the hole in which the kitten had stuck its head. "Katy. Here girl. Katy. Come and eat.”

“Katy?” I said.

“Katy begins with Kat, although it’s with a ‘K.’ Couldn’t think what else to call it.”

“How do you know it’s a girl?”

“I’m a vet’s assistant.”

“Oh, I see. Can’t you take it in?”

“Sorry. Wish I could. But my boss does nothing for free.”

“A pity.” From my pocket, I took out the tin of cat food I’d bought.

“Looks expensive,” he said.

I grinned. “Only the best for Katy.”

“Why don’t we both entice it out? See which food it goes for. Agreed?”

“You’re on.”

“And whoever loses, buys the other one a coffee.”

I felt he was being a bit too forward. “Some other time maybe.”

He looked disappointed. “Okay.”

We both crouched and called out to Katy. It took a while before she appeared from her lair. Her nose twitched as she took cautious steps towards our food. A few feet away, her gaze flitted between our offerings. As she veered towards mine, I felt triumphant.

“I win,” I said.

The words had barely left my mouth when Katy rushed over to Egg-tuna man, sank her teeth into his sandwich, then ran off with it. But Egg-tuna man didn’t smirk in victory as I might have done. Instead, his face expressed sympathy.

“I guess it must love your delicacies.” he said. “They’re really tasty.”

“Thanks,” I replied, blushing like a schoolgirl at the compliment. “We try our best.”

“You certainly do.” He stood up. “I need to go. Maybe see you around sometime.”

“In the shop,” I said, hoping.

He pursed his lips. “Hmm! Maybe.”

We locked eyes for a long moment. I had the feeling he was waiting for me to say something more. I parted my lips to speak but the words wouldn’t roll off my tongue. It was frustrating because I had enjoyed that brief moment with him. I felt we had some kind of chemistry. Maybe I should have taken him up on his bet.

“Goodbye,” he said and walked away.

He was the first decent man I’d met in a long time and I had to let him slip through my fingers. Ah well! Life would return to normal.

I thought about him all afternoon while serving customers. Why couldn’t I shake him out of my mind? I decided it was because of his impeccable manners coupled with his good looks. And liking animals was an added bonus. He had livened up an otherwise dull day. And he’d helped Katy.

On my way home from work, I stopped by the building site. Katy never appeared despite calling her several times. I grew worried. When I saw a worker, I called him over and inquired about Katy’s whereabouts.

“A fox carried it off here this morning,” he said. “So you won’t be seeing it again.” He looked pleased.

“What? Didn’t you try to save her?”

“Not my problem. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got work to do.” He walked away.

“How could anybody be so cruel?” I called after him.

That put me in a foul mood. I marched back to the bakery and told Fiona all about it. I demanded we never serve that worker again. He could get his egg-bacon sandwiches some place else. But she had a better idea.

“Why don’t we?” she began, then started sniggering. It was a clear indication she was up to no good.

“Why don’t we what?”

It took a good few moments for her to calm down. “Put a laxative in his sandwiches. That should be fun.”

I believed she actually would. She had a mean streak when rattled. “And put a large dollop of mustard in it as well.”

“Even better.”

We high-fived and set about preparing the toxic mix. Just then, Ham-mayo woman came in. She owned a hairdresser’s down the road.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

Fiona said, “Just had some bad news.”

“Sorry to hear that.” She nodded at her order on the counter. “Mine?”

“Yes,” said Fiona.

Ham-mayo woman grabbed it and left.

“Not many words of sympathy there,” said Fiona. “But she can fair gab when she’s styling hair.” Ham-Mayo woman was renowned for incessant talking–the reason I never went to her salon.

Five customers later, Egg-tuna man appeared. My heart started thudding. I felt heat in my face. For some reason he looked embarrassed. Or was he being shy? Whatever it was, it increased his cuteness.

“Egg-tuna to go?” I asked.

He shook his head. “To tell you the truth,” he said, stumbling over the words, “I’m not a great fan of tuna. I was buying them for the kitten.”

“Oh, I see. Well, Katy’s gone. Taken by a fox.”

“I know. I saw them as I was coming down the street.” The fox dropped the kitten when I threatened it with a stick.”

“And Katy?” I shrilled.

“Took her home and fixed her up. I’ve decided to adopt her.”

“That’s brilliant...ehm...Sorry. I never caught your name.”

“Alan Brechin. I believe yours is Kaylie, that right? I heard your workmate say it the other day.”

“I prefer Kay.”

“Kay it is then. We we both fell silent. Yet again, I couldn’t think of anything to say. By the looks of things, he couldn’t either. Thankfully, Fiona intercepted.

“Would you like some sandwiches, Alan,” she asked. “On the house.” She turned to me grinning. “I’m sure Kay will make you something special. That right?”

“Most definitely.”

“Thanks a lot,” said Alan. He pointed to a sandwich in the corner of our display counter. “That bacon and egg sandwich would be nice.”

“Trust me,” I said. “You don’t want that one.”

“Why not?”

I was about to tell him when the workman from the building site came in. “Hi, Fiona. The usual, please. But easy on the mayonnaise. Stomach’s not too great.”

“Certainly. Got one already made up for you. Fiona handed him the sandwich. After he paid for it and left, Fiona and I burst out laughing.

“What’s up?” asked Alan.

“Tell him,” said Fiona.

I turned to Alan. “I owe you a coffee. Why I don’t I tell you about in the cafe?”

He beamed. “I’d like that. First, could you make up some sandwiches for Katy?”

“Of course.”

Fiona said, “But easy on the laxative.”

Alan looked at us confused.