The Lucky Paw

Chapter 15

   As soon as Katy got home, she suggested to Mrs. Patterson, "Go out, have some fun! Go to a movie, or have a picnic in the park! Just leave me here and go do something."

She was reluctant at first, but finally Katy convinced her, and she made plans to take Anita to see a new film version of Snow White. As soon as they were ready, Katy almost pushed them out the door, then eagerly climbed into her attic.

After lifting the precious book from it's place of honor, she cracked it open carefully, ignoring the dust that floated up from it, and began to read.

January 7, 1998

Christmas was wonderful. The festivities were even more grand this year. We had much to celebrate, due to Katy's grandparents' healthy condition. But I am afraid that it will not last. Recently, Father has been coughing and lying down a lot, though he is trying hard to do so secretly. Mother has, too. I am so frightened that it is influenza returning. They are both weak. A bout with the flu could kill them. Or what if it is pneumonia? That would be worse than influenza, because it saps people's strength. Even if they did survive the pneumonia, they would be too weak to fight off any other illnesses. I am frightened for them.

February 7, 1998

My fears have been confirmed. Mother and Father both have pneumonia. They cough so harshly, I think they will die. I have been caring for them. We are losing money because I cannot run the shop while tending them, but I don't care. I have to save them! I am so scared! Mike comforts me as best he can, but I know he is worried as well. They are both very sick. I hate to think so, and it frightens me, but I think they are dying. I tell them that I love them almost every single day. I do not want them to die without knowing how much their baby girl cares about them. But inside, I am very afraid!

This was not a part of her lifetime in which Katy could remember. She had never known her grandparents.

According to Chandler, they were like her: Sweet, caring, and comforting, but unwilling to accept charity. How hard it must have been for her mother to keep pushing on after they died.

Katy was almost reluctant to read the next entry, because she knew it was going to be the one in which Chandler's parents died. But, nevertheless, she opened the old journal once more, and started to read.

March 7, 1998

As my birthday grows near, a hole centers in my heart. Pneumonia is a harsh disease. Too harsh for my parents. They are gone now. They are buried in a cemetery not too far from our house and it has many big, beautiful trees and lots of green grass. Katy and I can walk there to visit their graves. Even though their spirits are at peace, I cannot fill the emptiness I am feeling. I simply cannot believe that they are gone. This time reminds me of when my sister, Juliet, died of lung cancer. Her death was sudden, for Mother and Father sugarcoated her condition for me until the very end. I have known for a long time that Mother and Father might die, but I was no more ready for them to go than I was when Juliet passed. Even through the tears and sorrow we both feel, Mike and I continue to comfort each other. He holds me and I hold him. No matter what, for better or for worse, we are a family.

April 7, 1998

Today was my very first birthday without my parents there, and my very first birthday when I was not completely happy. Their death still burns in the back of my mind. Often I find myself thinking of happy times. But these only bring on fresh tears, as no longer can I have Mother's gingerbread Christmas tree cookies. No longer can I go bass fishing with Father. I can no longer pick blackberries with Mother, or taste Father's delicious fried chicken. Mike does his best to comfort me, and he holds me close whenever I cry. He and Katy are truly the only lights in my life right now. I cannot rid myself of the sorrow and emptiness their deaths have thrown upon my shoulders. They are gone. Gone forever. Never again to walk this earth. Never again. I miss them. Mother and Father were the best parents one could ask for. They were perfect. Now, they're gone. I feel so sad, sadder than I have ever felt before. I am so thankful to have Katy and Mike. Luckily, she loves to give hugs since I find myself needing them so much more now that they are gone.

June 7, 1998

I have opened my shop once more. It took a while for me to move on after Mother and Father's passing. I still think about them every day, but the emptiness is gone from my soul. I am back and ready to work. Although I thought it never would, life is moving on.

September 7, 1998

We have been fairly busy. Customers flow in and out of my store, buying as much as they want. I have had to deal with a few tough customers, but overall business is great. I can barely keep my goods in stock. I now paint animals as well as landscapes. I have sold many animal paintings. I paint dolphins, cougars, bears, sharks, whales, seahorses and other creatures. Of course, marine life is my favorite. I have started giving money to marine research funds around the world. I just love to think that I am helping marine wildlife thrive in their natural environment. Mike thinks that I would make a good environmentalist. I hope he is right.

December 7, 1998

My, how time flies! It seems just yesterday that it was July, and now Christmas is approaching again. Not that this is a bad thing, mind you. I have made plans to give my whole family just one gift, because it is a rather extravagant one. My parents left me a lot of money. I hate to jinx us and say this, but we are rich, thanks to my parents' life insurance policies. Even when we were struggling with money, my parents kept these policies so that if anything happened to them, we would be okay financially. With this money and our income from working, we are quite rich. We plan to stay right here, though. I cannot even imagine living anywhere else. I know that we have enough money to buy a bigger, more extravagant house in a nicer neighborhood now, but Mike and I agree that we want to stay in this house in this neighborhood. This is the place I want Katy to grow up in. However, I feel as if we all need a vacation. So, using some of the insurance money, I am planning to take my whole family (even Katy) to Jamaica for two weeks. I am very excited and I know that the others feel the same way.

Katy thought hard. She could vaguely remember a trip to some exotic place.

Yes, she remembered the plane ride as well. She had been standing on the seat, looking at the clouds, and Chandler had had to pull her back down to a sitting position. Katy smiled in recollection, then began to read once more.

March 7, 1999

The trip to Jamaica stands in the near future. We will go on my birthday. Such a lovely birthday present! I have put up signs near my shop to advertise the fact that we are going away, in hopes that customers would rush in and stock up on paintings and clothes, since we would be away. My plan worked! All day, customers were in and out, and I had five times more sales than usual. After the money that brought in, we have quite enough to live on, even after our trip. It is such a relief to not have to worry about being in debt. And really, now, everything has been going quite smoothly. I am very happy to not have to struggle like we have in the past. Now I can give Katy everything she needs, like a college education. That makes me very, very happy.

Katy heard the front door open. Mrs. Patterson and Anita! They were home! Katy had lost all track of time.

She scrambled out of the attic, hitting her bed with a thud. She quickly closed the tile, then plugged herself into her tablet, listening to The Climb.

By then she was breathless. Scared, she took a breath from her inhaler. It worked like magic.

By the time Mrs. Patterson opened the door, Katy was listening to the song, quietly humming along, inhaler resting on the side table.