The Stranger-Than-Fiction Cat Episode
Early one morning, Cornelia Lockey stepped outside onto her backyard deck to discover a surprise gift left for her by Big Mama Cat, a litter of three golden-yellow kittens, "meow-ing" to the tops of their lungs. Actually, two of the baby cats were "meow-ing" nicely, while the third was making noises reminiscent of a sharp stick being grated over a grinding stone. "Poor kitty," Cornelia thought, "You must have a sore throat." Her next thought was, "I can't possibly keep these kittens, as allergic as I am to cat fur."
Being an animal lover, Cornelia had always left food outside for Big Mama Cat, although she was never allowed inside the house. An element of trust on the part of Big Mama Cat caused her to bring her babies to Cornelia, knowing that she wouldn't let them starve.
Cornelia's immediate reaction was to find a home for all three kittens. She called the Center radio station and listed "three adorable yellow kittens" on the popular Swap Shop, the program for advertising all sorts of new and used items of every description, including animals, that area residents could buy, swap, trade, or pick up "for free."
Soon afterward, Cornelia received a call from Vicar Glynn C. Harper of Christ Episcopal Church, San Augustine, Texas, who offered to take two of the cats. When he arrived at Cornelia's home, he felt particularly sorry for the third little kitten, being as she was not pretty like the other two, had a screechy voice, and seemed rather ill tempered. He finally agreed to take all three kittens, and named them "Surely," "Goodness," and "Mercy." The two nicer kittens received the appropriate names of "Surely" and "Goodness," while the third was called "Mercy," as the poor little creature seemed to be particularly needy. Cornelia was relieved when Vicar Harper drove away with the entire brood. Little did she realize that her association with "Mercy" was far from over.
In Vicar Harper's care, the three kittens grew to maturity. "Surely" and "Goodness" remained pleasant companions for the priest, but "Mercy" continued to be grouchy and ill tempered. On several unfortunate occasions she caught her tail in the door as it was being slammed, which did not improve her disposition. After repeated such incidents, her broken tail resembled that of a pig rather than a cat. Even so, the vicar loved her anyway, in spite of her homeliness and her many faults.
Sometime later, Vicar Harper became ill, and passed away. Parishioners found homes immediately for "Surely" and "Goodness," but no one wanted to take "Mercy," as her personality quirks were well known to all. Someone in Houston finally agreed to take Mercy in a few weeks. A temporary home in San Augustine would be necessary until the Houston trip could be made.
Parishioner James Williams, after much urging, agreed to take "Mercy" for a short time, on the condition that she would first be required to visit "Ruff Cuts," the dog and cat grooming salon in San Augustine. Owner of the historic 1840s Horn-Polk-Japhet home in San Augustine, James did not look forward to keeping the cat, even temporarily. His well-appointed home houses a collection of period antiques, paintings, glassware, and memorabilia of family and friends over many decades, all of which are cared for in impeccable fashion. Windows from floor to ceiling on the sun porch allow for an excellent display of light-catching collectibles and bring the feel of being outside to the home's East side.
Parishioner Charles Mitchell wasted no time in bringing the cat traveling carrier, litter box, and an assortment of cat food to James before he had time to change his mind. "Don't worry, James," the cat will be gone in a few weeks, Charles remarked.
Ruff Cuts outdid themselves in grooming Mercy for her future as a guest in James Williams' home. She was bathed, cleaned, trimmed, and brushed to the "nth" degree. A bright red bandana was tied securely around her neck, and she arrived at the reluctant James Williams' residence looking as bearable as her homely state allowed.
All went well until James was invited to accompany friends Janet Adams and Michael Olsen to Hot Springs for a short trip. He called Cornelia, asking her to feed Mercy during his absence. Giving instructions as to the cat's care, he said, "Cornelia, I have closed all doors into most of the house. The cat is allowed only in my kitchen area. Please be sure the doors are kept closed while I'm gone. As you know, I wouldn't be keeping this cat except for my friendship over the years with Vicar Harper. I'm depending on you."
Cornelia dutifully came by each day to feed, water and have a short visit with Mercy. After several days, the cat became accustomed to seeing her, and met her at the kitchen door. On the fourth day of James' absence, Cornelia went by early in the morning to feed the cat. When she opened the door, Mercy scooted between her legs, into the driveway, and finally into the nearby woods. Cornelia was in tears as she called and called, "Here, Mercy, Here, Kitty," until she realized that the cat had no intention of returning. She placed some food outside, and sick at heart, called Michael Olsen, not daring to call James with the news of the cat's disappearance.
The next day when Cornelia arrived, she saw "the yellow cat." "Oh," she said, "You decided to come back! Poor Mercy, you've lost your red bandana! At least you've been eating the food I left for you." When the cat came a little closer, Cornelia grabbed her quickly, and shoved her back inside the house. The cat didn't seem to like being put inside, but Cornelia kept the door closed so that she couldn't escape as before. Once again she called Michael, explaining that the cat had returned, and all was well. James would be back the next day, and would take over the cat-sitting duties.
When James came home and opened the kitchen door, he immediately smelled "cat." "What on earth," he thought. The yellow cat was in the kitchen, but it was evident that she had made her home in the nearby butler's pantry, with her bed a large silver tray filled with embroidered cocktail napkins. He looked closely, and said, "This is NOT Mercy. This is a yellow cat of unknown origin, one that I have never seen in my life." He picked her up gingerly, and tossed her outside. She happily began munching on the food in the bowl beside the kitchen door.
As he went to the phone to call Cornelia, he looked toward the sun room windows, and there, framed in his view, sat "Mercy," adorned with her red bandana still intact, gazing in serenely at the scene of indescribable disarray caused by "the wrong cat."
"Mercy" was brought inside, where she stayed for a short time before her trip to Houston, to the home of a kind, elderly woman who likely had no idea what sort of cat was coming her way. It is said that Mercy "meowed" in her own strange way during the entire trip to Houston. Both James and Cornelia are hopeful that this quite difficult cat has found happiness in her new home.
As for the "yellow cat of unknown origin," she continued to eat the cat food placed at the back door for some time, then disappeared completely.