Nobody's Fool Y'all

5

 Exhausted, Hadley and her tangle of fishing equipment made it back home just after dark. She had been questioned multiple times by Bill and others at the crime scene. She told them everything she knew. Satisfied, Bill finally instructed her to keep quiet about all she'd seen and heard. Hadley promised.

Weak with relief, she pulled the car into her driveway. The garage door would not rise fast enough. Her fingers tapped impatiently against the steering wheel. 

Should she ram the door? Not a good idea. The noise would only scare the daylights out of Onus. The door took its own sweet time, but the car was stored away at last.

She rushed into the house and stripped off all of her clothes, throwing them into the washer. Maybe I ought to burn them, she thought. No. Too much trouble and mess. She slammed the door to the washer closed. Out of sight. Out of mind.

No good. That little trick didn't work. She could still see that poor woman in her mind.

She went to the bathroom and ran a hot bath. She checked to make sure the bandage on her head was still clean and dry. Harry's hat had done its job. She grabbed a thick washcloth, threw on a plastic shower cap, and slid into the warm inviting water.

She scrubbed and scrubbed, but her efforts did little to erase the grotesque memories of the day. The water began to cool. Draining the tub, she stood up and turned the shower on with the water so warm the room filled with steam. She lingered, letting the tiny droplets massage her tired body and calm her.

She stepped from the tub, slightly dizzy.

What is wrong with me, she wondered. Have I boiled myself stupid?

Then, she remembered she'd eaten nothing since breakfast. Her stomach rumbled, and she smiled.

"Let's see what we can do to remedy that," she muttered.

She rummaged around in the refrigerator and found some leftover fried chicken and macaroni salad. Good enough, she thought. There were still a few slices of bread on top of the refrigerator. Tonight, she would be thankful for small blessings.

Onus came sauntering into the kitchen and wound around her legs.

"You must be hungry too, old bird," she said.

She got out a can of cat food and went to the garage to open it. Nobody in her neighborhood had to resort to such tactics. It was an inconvenience she found absolutely necessary to keep the peace in the house. The sound of the grinding machine set Onus off on a wild tear. Better to step out to the garage, open your cans, and eliminate the possibility of your orange tabby cat turning into a rabid Tasmanian devil.

"You need fresh water, too," she said to Onus.

Onus peered at her through half-closed eyelids. He was not impressed with her at all.

"Bet my day was rougher than yours by a mile," Hadley said.

Onus did not blink.

"Not convinced, eh?" Hadley said. "Well, I was gone from the house an awfully long time. Here. Have a few snips of cat grass."

Hadley clipped a few sprigs of cat grass from the container on the kitchen counter and sprinkled the top of Onus' food.

"And because I've had a very, very bad day, I'm going to add just a pinch of cheese to your buffet."

She rummaged around in the fridge for the bag of grated deliciousness.

"It's only a pinch, mind you. And it won't increase your waistline, but it will make me feel like I'm being good to you. And being good to you will make me feel better. Believe me, Onus, after the day I've had, I need to feel better. Be a nice boy and stop pouting. Eat your dinner. I've got to eat mine before I fall on the floor face first!"