Moonlight Sonata

Harper grinned and waved away Gwen’s words, happy that she’d been able to help the other woman out with her rebellious teen, but Gwen had done most of the work. “Do you remember when he put that streak of color in his hair? God, I miss that kid. What’s he up to these days? Saving the world?”

   “Oh my god, yes! The green streak!” Gwen burst out into laughter at the memory of when her son had secretly dyed some of his hair behind her back. “I’m glad he just went with that and didn’t come home with a piercing or a tattoo... well that I know of at least.” 

“A letter? From who?! The county?” He laughs too, struggling and not struggling to picture it. 

“Since when’s it a jinx? Nothing wrong with being cat lady 2.0. It’s a good legacy. Tough act to follow, but you’re pretty good. Gotta be good to know the piano as well as you do. Maybe Fuzzy’s got your number.” 

   “Yeah, basically. Pretty sure at that point she was like considered in violation of health codes or whatever department decides how many animals you can have in your home. I think at that point it’s seen as like hoarding?” She gave a shrug, not too knowledgeable exactly on the codes and regulations and was just going off of what she’d heard.

“I’m sure someone must be worried sick. You’ll probably be their hero for stepping in instead of letting him roam further and further from home.” At least that’s what she’s assuming might have happened.

“Hannah could tell you for sure if you’re able to stop by the vet hospital. And if not, a poster there could always help!”

   “Well I don’t know about hero but I’m sure they’d be appreciative none the less. I know I would be if it were my pet.” She said with a small nod.

“Yep, you’re exactly right on that. So you know, if you’re in the market for a new cat, putting out a small bowl of milk is a sure way to keep him comin’ round. Honestly, I don’t think Mrs. Kelly would miss him all that much given how she won’t take my advice,” Hannah said honestly. It wasn’t much like her to advocate for such a thing but the cat clearly wasn’t loving his current living conditions. “Nah, Molly’s at school until one o’clock today. I took the morning off from work to try and get some things done while I don’t have Molly attached to the hip,” she said with a laugh.

   “Well, I’m not trying to steal someone else’s cat out here... but hey maybe if I just happen to put some food out and he continues to come around on his own, I can’t really stop him right? And if he eventually finds his way inside, well--” she gave a shrug and smiled, shaking her head after a moment with a laugh.

“No! Not weird at all! I think it’s sweet. He could be an escapee.” The cat’s fur looks pretty well kept, so if it is an outdoor cat, maybe they’ve just wandered a little too far from home.

Sofia smiles back down to the cat, who also seems way too friendly to be solely a stray, but there’s no knowing that for sure. “If the poster doesn’t work, maybe he has a chip?”

   "”Yeah, he looks a little too well fed and groomed to be a stray so maybe someone is just missing him,” she mused aloud as she looked at the feline with a slight furrow to her brows. 

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Hannah said with a sigh, eyeing the escape artist of a cat that was appropriately named Houdini. “He belongs to Mrs. Kelly a few blocks over. I must’ve told her ten times now to put a bell around his neck so she’d know when he slipped out the door,” Hannah made her way up the porch stairs and scooped the friendly cat up into her arms, smiling as it nuzzled into her neck, “At least now I know ignoring the requests of another runs in the family,” she laughed, shaking her head.

   Gwen looked from the cat to Hannah and then back to the cat again. “Oh! I thought he looked kind of familiar but I wasn’t sure where I’d seen him before. I think he likes to hang out in her window sometimes right? Probably looking to escape,” she said with a small chuckle. She watched as the other woman made her way over and scooped up the cat. “Oh yeah? Huh, I’ll have to remember that then.” She said as she mused it over a moment before she noticed Hannah was on her own. “No little one with you today?”

“Can’t be worse then the stuff some of the teenagers shout at each other on the outskirts of town.” Harper chuckled softly and shook her head. “No, I’ll settle for the regular sort of hoodlums. At least I understand them and know how to set them straight. Swans…I guess I can throw bread at them?” Harper had spent enough time getting herself into and out of trouble as a teenager, she felt that she was the go-to for most of the parents in town when their kid was acting up. She had knack for helping discipline them, in a way that kept them from acting up even more.

  “God, that’s true.” She said with a small release of breath and a shake of her head. She could still remember when Philip had gone through his rebellious teenage years and how she had nearly torn her hair out during that time. “I still remember when Lip went through his little angst rebellious phase. I’m so glad he got over that one quickly. Of course, I’m sure I most have you to thank for that.”

“Me neither! I’m really glad you’re excited. Maybe I’ll text you a few pics of the finalists and you can help me decide?” 

“Lackluster drawing or not, I know you have good taste. So I’d expect to hear from me on this in like, a week.” She claps quietly as Gwen agrees to the idea. “Great! It’s on a Thursday night, because they have the worst taste in scheduling. But if you have to move anything around, I’m sure they’ll compensate you for that. It’s been so long since I’ve heard you play! It’ll be perfect.” 

   “Oh, I’d be more than happy to help out where I can.” She said with a delighted chirp. “Though I will admit, contemporary isn’t my strong suit with art. I’m more of a classicism kind of gal myself.”

“Ah, yeah. You know what? It’s always Mrs. Thomas. We’d always see a few kitties hanging around her front lawn.” 

“She’ll like that.” He smiles. “And Fuzzy obviously likes you too. Before you know it, you guys are gonna have an irreplaceable bond. Then we’re really in trouble.”

  “Apparently a couple of years back she was feeding so many strays that she had to get sent a letter to stop because she had like 12 cats hanging around her place. It was wild,” she said with a chuckle as she shook her head.

Sofia is pulled out of the treacheries of texting and walking when she hears a question she thinks is directed at her. “Awww, how cute!”

“But no, I’m not sure who the owner is. I think I’ve seen this cutie pie roam around a lot, though. Probably an outdoor kitty.”

  "Hmm,” she mused in question as she glanced back down at the cat, checking for a collar but not seeing one.

Harper let out a soft sigh but smiled as she looked over Gwen’s garden, always in awe of the woman’s green thumb. “If only. Would make this whole search a lot more interesting.” She moved to touch one of the flowers and felt her smile turn into a grin as she looked towards Gwen. “Swan gangs? I’m not gonna lie, that would definitely spice things up around here. And now I’m just imagining what an initiation would look like. A bunch of swans in a circle, wings expanded, and–honking? Lots and lots of honking?”

   She gave her a small sympathetic smile as Harper spoke. She could tell the other woman wasn’t too keen on her current assignment and the redhead couldn’t really blame her. Didn’t sound like the most exciting job to ask around about. At least it made Gwen feel a bit better knowing that seemed to be one of the more pressing matters at the moment for the Marigold Valley Police Department.

Dante’s on his evening jog when he places Gwen’s lawn, and then the consequential cat. “What’s up, Ms. Richards?” 

“Oh, yeah, that’s–I’m pretty sure that’s just a stray who really likes to walk around the apartment complex up the block. Gracie always sees him on her way to school. She calls him Fuzzy.” 

   “Hey, Dante.” She smiled when she quickly recognized the male once he was in closer view.

“It’s the least we can do! I mean, the town keeps this place running, right? We should showcase all the talent that lives here.”

“Also, what! Since when are you not an artistic genius? This is the first I’m hearing of this.” She beams, both teasing and serious. “Actually, my mom said to make sure the next time we ran into each other that I’d figure out a time to schedule a booking! They’d love to have you play at the mini-gala they’re having to celebrate a few new pieces. Do you mean it?” 

   "Well, that is true but still. That sounds like it’ll turn out really nice. I can’t wait to see what people submit.”

“You didn’t happen to seen a, uh–” She paused and looked down at her notes again, having to ask, but really, really not wanting to. “A swan, today. Have you?” They’d gotten the call at the station earlier, and she still couldn’t understand why she was the one out hunting for the feathery fiend when she could be doing so many other, useful, things.

  Gwen was out doing a bit of gardening in her yard when she saw Harper stop by. She smiled at the officer after she greeted her, brows furrowing at the odd question. “A swan?” She tried to recall but couldn’t say she’d seen one as of late. “Not that I can think of. Why, is it armed and dangerous?” She asked with a joking smile. “Do I have to start worrying about swan gangs talking over the town now?”

“This piece? Oh, it actually just came in.” She gestures to one of the newer exhibits resting against the gallery’s front wall. 

“My parents are trying to procure more contemporary work from people who actually live in Marigold Valley. So, if you’re ever interested… you could even submit something yourself!” 

   “Oh, that’s awesome.” Gwen said as she tilted her head to the side to try and get a better look at the painting.  “It’s nice that they’re trying to shine more light on local artists.”