Almond Eyes

Gus stretches out in his favorite armchair, making his eyes into narrow slits. This way, he can look at Louise, without her knowing it. Squinting at her, he knows she’s not much to look at. She has fine, mousy hair, and constant skin problems. Her body is underdeveloped as well. Not a pick on her, really. He does not mind that she has a club foot either. Add to that, they don’t have one thing in common. Still to him, she’s beautiful with her delicate fine-boned face, set off by beautiful almond eyes.

She came into his life by surprise. There she was just walking past the window and she looked up at him. When he saw her big almond eyes, his heart picked up speed.. Then she started to visit. Of course he was flattered. She played her cards well and before he knew it, she was staying over. He was a bit leery about her - it was so quick. Her Goldilocks rituals about where she’d sleep threw him off too, because it wasn’t clear if she slept over or not. He set no boundaries - outlined no expectations. That’s when he made his first mistake, because now it was too late. Louise ruled. Always. He could have the affections of females a lot more desirable than Louise. While gazing at her, he knows that no matter how mean she is to him, he loves her. He’s glad to let her have her way, but he’d like a little appreciation, once in a while. Now he’s worried about her. She’s not eating much and is sleeping a lot. He watches her as she slowly walks across the floor and goes out on the porch. He decides to let her go alone. He’s glad she’s up for a little stroll.

Gus’ real name is Agustus Ulysses, but he prefers just Gus. He’s handsome with jet black hair and he’s a sharp dresser. His white shirt is always immaculate and his white spats look perfect with his Johnny Cash all-black coat. While he dozes in his chair, he thinks back over their time together. Sometimes, they had b-i-g fights. The tension just built up after a long spell of her giving him the cold shoulder. He’d go and hang out in the ‘hood and come home late. Real late, looking like he’d had a rough night. It got rougher. Oh, boy, she’d be waiting at the door. Then there was hell to pay. She’d scream at him with language so foul, his own hair stood on end. Lights would blink on in windows, there were threats of calling the police. He was always sorry for upsetting her and he bent his head in apology. But she’d keep haranguing him. Without fail, she’d wind up and land a swift right to the side of his head. Pow! She’d give him three or four of these as he inched away from her while she shrieked, “That’s right buddy, slink off with your tail between your legs!” There would be a big chill on for days after that. A deep freeze.

Everyone says Gus has the patience of a saint, and he likes the praise. Still, cold as Louise is to him, he understands her more than anyone. They go for their medical checkups together and he’s all ears when the doctor talks to her. His first shock was that she was much older than he thought she was - much older than him, and her tubes were tied! He was hoping they’d have a few little handsome dudes like himself, with her eyes.

But when he heard the doctor talk about how she had been abused and about all the broken bones that had healed wrong and causes her so much pain, he wanted to cry.

That’s why he has so much patience with her - - most of the time. Her life had been awful. He heard the doctor say that it would take ages for her to trust again. Understanding all that, he just lets her have her own way and he enjoys gazing at her through his slit eyes. He’s a big affectionate guy, and she isn’t. He’d love if she would cuddle. But no. That’s not for her. She’s cool and aloof - always in her own little world.

Now here it is Saturday - his favorite day. The smell of pancakes and Canadian bacon is all over the house. The Opera Carmen is on the television. It’s powerful. So, powerful, the room vibrates. Gus dozes in and out. A car screeches to a halt and he races to the window. There is Louise sauntering across the street, looking neither way. Saturday traffic is lethal. Out he charges after her. But instead of coming back into the house with him, she wanders off by herself, as usual. That’s when his patience is tested. He’s worried that she’s becoming absent-minded now as well. When he gets back in his favorite chair, the mood of the opera is gone He’s worried, wondering what she’ll do next. Maybe get hit by a car.

He’s restless and can’t get her out of his mind. They’ve been living together with everything on her terms. And he just hates her awful temper tantrums, but his heart still melts when she looks at him with her big almond eyes. When she is in a good mood, they eat together. He’s so happy to have her company, he lets her gorge herself on the shrimp puffs, and he calls her by her nick name, “Baby Lu.”

On their checkup with the doctor last Friday, the bad news came. Louise has leukemia - not long to live. He notices his beauty with the almond eyes is sleeping a lot and not eating much. Her legs give out often. Gus decides to stay home with her. He’ll be as close as she’ll let him be. No more late nights out in the ‘hood to upset her. Louise comes back in and falls asleep on her favorite bed. Gus lays down beside her. She does not protest. The two of them doze together.

Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door.
A lot of noise. Loud voices. A dog is yelping. A dog in his house! With Louise so sick! Hardly able to stand up! With his heart beating like a hammer, Gus makes a bee-line for the door just as Lisa opens it. There’s Grandma with her barking dog making a whole ton of noise. Survival instincts kicks in. Louise is in danger. Gus strips his canines, and his eyes became big as moons as he charges at the dog. Grandma reaches for the dog and Gus springs at her, sinking his needle-sharp canines into the inside of her thigh. Blood spurts in all directions.

“I’m bleeding - your cat bit me!” My God, I’m being attacked!” screams Grandma, as Gus lunges at her again. Lisa tries to grab him, but his rage is fierce. Lisa bangs the door closed leaving Grandma and her terrified dog outside. Gus bolts back to the bedroom and jumps up on the bed beside Louise. Lisa slams the door on the two of them. Phew!

After Grandma is cleaned up and the dog is back in the car, Lisa peeks in to see how Louise and Gus are doing. Louise is semi-conscious. Her two hind legs are pressed against Gus’ back as he keeps guard beside her. Lisa closes the door gently. Grandma and her dog take off for a hotel. Lisa comes back and checks again. Louise is panting heavily. Gus watches as Lisa wraps her in a towel and takes her to the car.

Gus is in a panic. He paces inside and outside. After what seemed like ages, Lisa comes back. But there is no Louise. Lisa gets on the phone and Gus jumps into her lap to listen in on the conversation. He loves that Louise’s familiar smell is all over her.
“Mom, we’d a terrible day! Gus attacked Grandma. Blood all over the place. I had to take Louise to the vet and have her put to sleep,” giving all the details. Gus cringed hearing about the doctor giving Louise her last injection.

“She just looked up at me with her big almond eyes -- closed them, sighed, and was gone,” said Lisa, crying.

Gus couldn’t take any more. He goes and buries himself in the hollow of the bed, where he and Louise had been dozing hours before. That’s where he stayed for days, while inhaling her smell, that’s starting to fade. He feels sad, lost without his little Tabby, who walked off the street and into his life, capturing his heart with her beautiful almond eyes.
Days later, Lisa, grabs the phone and says,
“Mom, I’m worried ‘bout Gus. He’s so miserable. Can you come over?”
“Call the vet and tell her,” Mom says, coming in the door, and Lisa dials the number.
“Gus is so depressed. Won’t eat a thing,” says Lisa. On the speaker phone Gus hears the familiar voice of the doctor.
“Big macho guys like him often have very soft hearts. He needs another companion. I’ve another little Tabby here needing a home.”
“Oh! what does she look like?”
“She’s the color of marmalade. With huge almond eyes. Real cuddly and sweet.”
“I’m on my way to get her,” Lisa says, grabbing the car keys.
“Cheer up Gus. You’re going to have another little buddy , bud, bud! Another new cat," Mom says to him.
Gus jumps off the bed, grooms his ears, his shirt, and his spats until he gleams. With his ears erect, he sits and waits by the door.