Cat. R C Hilty
*****
As Betty was filling out the paperwork, Ben looked through the list of classes that were offered. Ben would be a junior this year. His majors were math and computer science. After he filled out his class preferences, he looked at the after-school clubs. The computer gaming club caught his eye. They even designed new games. There was a national contest every year sponsored by computer companies and software giants. The grand prize was a scholarship to a top college. The lesser prizes were new computers and equipment for the school. Ben thought to himself, This school could sure use some new computers. I bet I can help them win some.
Betty asked, “You have your class preferences filled out?”
Ben replied, “Yeah, and also my after-school clubs.”
“I probably don’t have to ask what they are.”
“No, you don’t. Computers one night and gaming another night.”
“Should have known. Your sister back yet?”
“Don’t know, I’ll check.”
“Thank you.”
Cat walked in the door as Ben started out. “Hey, Cat, Mom’s looking for you.”
“Yeah. They have the neatest thing here. The wildlife area is great. Too bad I can’t hunt there. I’m gonna like this place.”
“I think I’ll be able to tolerate it here. There are computer clubs and a video game designer club.”
“You, your computers, and video games…”
“Makes more sense than trying to live 150 years ago,” replied Ben.
“Whatever.”
Betty said, “Come on, Cat, we ain’t got all day. I have filled out your papers. You need to pick out your classes and anything you would like to do after school.”
“All right.”
Betty handed her the form and list of classes and after-school activities to choose from. It was pretty basic. She had to take at least one semester of home economics. Great, she thought, some goofy teacher is gonna try and teach me how to cook. My mom can teach me all I need to know about cooking.
The after-school activities caught Cat’s eye. “Yes, rifle club!” she yelled.
Betty said, “I am so glad that you’re able to control your excitement.”
“No problem, Mom.”
“Let’s get in line to see the counselor. Your dad has absolutely no idea what he is missing out on.”
Betty sat down with Cat. The counselor went over the classes Cat had signed up for. He went on to explain that some after-school activities were held off school grounds, such as the rifle club. An orientation meeting would be held in the gym next Monday at 7:30 pm. School would be starting the following Wednesday.
On the way home after picking up Liz, Cat said, “I think I am going to like this school.”
Betty replied, “Why is that, the wildlife area or the rifle club?”
Cat smiled, “Yes.”
Liz asked, “They have a rifle club?”
“Oh! You wouldn’t believe it, a rifle club and a wildlife habitat area with a pond.”
“Sounds like at least you fit in down here.”
“You bet!”
Within a couple of weeks, the family started to feel at home. Dave was working two or three days per week at the station. Betty was now working at the diner. She had expected a day or two a week, but it ended up being four or five. She worked the breakfast shift. The hours fit their schedule great. Since Dave worked in the afternoon, he was able to make sure that the children were up ready and off to school.
*****
In the third week of school, one of the smart-aleck boys walked up to Cat, knocked her books out of her hand, and called her a “four-eyed, girly-girl from the city.”
As Bob started to get up after receiving a black-eye and bloody nose, he thought to himself, This ain’t the smartest thing I ever done. Cat picked up her books and went on to class as though nothing happened.
That afternoon Cat rode her bike home unaware that even before she had left school, the whole town had heard what happened. When she arrived home, she parked her bike and walked up onto the porch. Dave was sitting in his chair drinking a cup of coffee and smoking a cigar.
“Anything exciting happen at school this morning?” asked Dave.
“Not really,” answered Cat.
“Let me see your left hand.”
“Why?” she said as she showed her hand to Dave.
“Leave a little of your knuckle on that boy today?”
Cat pulled her hand back. “Well, the last thing I need to hear is that I am a girly-girl.”
“Diplomacy has never been a virtue of yours.”
“How did you hear about it? I never got called to the office.”
“News like that travels faster than a wildfire. I better go over and talk to Bob’s dad.”
“Oh, that’s his name?”
Dave laughed as he put out his cigar and brought his coffee cup inside.
Betty walked into the house, saw Cat and Dave standing there, and said to Dave, “Did you hear what your daughter did today? It was the topic of conversation at the diner the entire day. The boy told the teacher that he tripped and fell.” She turned to Cat and asked, “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“He ain’t gonna make fun of me again!”
Dave laughed. “Not if he has any smarts. I’m going over to Bob’s house, talk to his dad, and see how he’s doing.”
Betty stared at Dave, not thinking any of this was funny.
Dave kissed Betty on the cheek. “I’ll be home in time for supper honey.”
It was all that Cat could do to keep from laughing. One of the unintended benefits of Mom getting mad was that she would calm herself down by cooking. There would be plenty of food for supper and lots of pies and cakes for the week. Dave and Cat had often been accused of getting Betty mad on purpose.
*****
Dave came home from work, grabbed a cigar, a cup of coffee, and walked out onto the porch to enjoy the evening while Betty was finishing supper. Betty filled a glass with lemonade, walked out to the porch, and sat down by Dave.
“What kind of enjoyment do you get out of smoking them stinky things?”
“Ah! A good cigar—one of the three finer things of life. I know you didn’t come out here to complain about my cigars, so what’s on your mind?”
“I’m kinda worried about Cat.”
Dave set his coffee cup down, took a puff on his cigar, and set it in the ashtray, knowing this was going to be anything but a short conversation.
“You’re worried about Cat? Grades falling, knocking another boy on his ass?”
“No, the teachers say her grades are good. Haven’t heard anything about fights. I’m sure I would have at the diner.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Cat went to the library to study while I was finishing up at the diner. When I picked her up, the librarian told me that Cat spent most of her time searching the web for information on long-range shooters, military snipers, and shooting matches both military and civilian. She showed me the book Cat had checked out, 93 Confirmed Kills. It’s about some sniper in Vietnam.”