The Clouds Are Always Moving

Chapter 5

JAMIE

I can't believe that this how things are turning out. A man I thought I had left in the past suddenly pops up out of nowhere, finding me lying down on a street - bloody embarrassing - and now, he is bringing said past up. Of course, it's a silly little story about me and my original fear for cats, but if this can come up at a moment's notice, then what else will he say about me and my ways back in the day? I'm well settled into my new persona of the calm, old, wonderful lady next door and I do not wish for it to be pulled out from the roots.

I make a face as soon as Credence picks up the old cat topic and she notices. Why couldn't we simply have a high tea with this wonderful friend of mine without bringing up the past? Couldn't we choose now to live in the present and all that nonsense? Bloody hell! Carter laughs aloud and tells her that I was terrified of cats. Credence looks at me, eyebrows raised. She's seen how much I love and dote on Sprite.

"Of course, I was. Who wouldn't be when they're eight and injured?" I defend myself as we enter the cafe. We find a cosy place to sit on the right side of the cafe. We surf through the menus. Carter looks at me from above his. "Yes, but Jamie, you were eighteen in college and still quite afraid of them."

"Oh?" remarks Credence. "Is this true, Ella?"

The waiter comes by in a red shirt and black trousers, with a blue apron tied around his front saying, 'I'm a part of the TEAm'. Puns are such a rage nowadays. Shaking my head, I place my order, following which the others order. I grit my teeth. "Let me tell you the full story."

1960

I'm in a flowy pink skirt and a floral pink shirt. I love all my wonderful girly things. I love my dolls, my pink dollhouse and my purple and blue teacup set. But most of all, I love my beautiful new doll. Like me, she, too, loves pink. Her cheeks and lips are pink. She has lovely blue eyes and brown hair underneath a pink bonnet. Her dress is also pink. I love her to bits. I dance with her, I eat with her and I play with her. Today, we have a plan to go out for a stroll in the lively September air. The leaves will swirl around us as we prance around in our pink dresses.

I stand at the top of the stairs leading downstairs and stare fondly at Claire. I primp her hair for she must look perfect. Her dress is fluffed, shoes checked and we begin our descent, like royalty. Only, there's a small problem. On the second step stands the silly, foolish family cat. I absolutely hate him, yes I do! Always scowling at me and trying to scare me. Why should a cat be after the life of a young girl? A small girl, that too.

The cat is not my friend. Always vying for my parents' attention. I hold my doll up, protecting it from the annoying cat and glare at it. The cat responds with a glower. I don't like him at all. He's such a bad boy! I feel like screaming. The silly animal is blocking my way! I have places to be and the cat is stopping me. I stomp on the step in frustration and try to shoo him away and at the moment, everything changes.

Just as I step forward, the cat tenses. It takes a step back and then pounces at me. I'm scared witless! I watch in childish horror and open my mouth to scream. To save my doll, and myself (of course) I twist to the left and crash against the railing. I scream. I thud on the stairs and the cat is clinging to me with sharp nails.

I roll down the stairs with the cat's nails piercing into my skin and scratching me horribly and the pain is so much! I crash onto the ground. My parents rush to my fetal body and pull the cat off me. Mom kisses my wounds and Father rushes to get the first aid box.

"Are you alright, darling?" asks Mom in a soothing tone. I shake my head vehemently as the tears spill onto my cheeks and roll onto Claire. I hug her.
"What happened?" asks my father's deep voice. He holds the cat and looks between the two of us, amazed. Mom takes the box from him.
"That- That- That dreadful, dratty cat- It- It- It's made of pure evil !" I scream. The wounds will take forever to heal!

2018

"My parents silently laughed and consoled their horrified daughter. For a long time after that, I was afraid and filled with hatred for cats. And had a slight sense of reluctance around the stairs." I look up from my drink at Credence's face. She's also laughing at me silently. Carter looks on mirthfully. I shake my head, my face red. "What? I was eight!"

"Okay, okay. That's quite all right, Jamie. No need to get harried." Credence says and takes a sip of her tea. "The real question is, how did you manage to get over your fear? What, or who -should I say - got you to love cats enough to buy one of your own?" She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. I shake my head.

I start, "You know...". At the same time, Carter proudly exclaims, "Me! I did!"

"I see," Credence says, smiling slyly at me. "How did you do that?" I just keep shaking my head. I feel like picking Credence up by the collar of her shirt and pulling her out. I feel like drowning in my teacup. This is bollocks! 

Carter is only much too happy to respond to the girl. Of course he is, it's one of our best memories. The man is too joyous upon seeing me. He doesn't understand that meeting like this doesn't change anything. If anyone asks, I would never admit that there was anything serious, you know. Because there wasn't. Whatever it was, it just was. 

There's no other bloody definition to it more than it just being - just existing. In my memories, in my past, in everything that I used to be.

Carter says he'll start the story after ordering his second cup of tea. I sigh. This evening has turned out to be more eventful than I imagined a day out would be. Credence is primly cleaning her hands with her square light red handkerchief, looking uninterested and calm, but anyone looking into her eyes would see that she is brimming with excitement. 

After successfully and overjoyously oredering his blasted second cuppa, he looks at me with a twinkle in his eye and begins his story.