Wednesday Writing — Cat Seeds

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Group II. Valentine Cat Flower Box
Group II. Valentine Cat Flower Box

Yes, that’s another of my Designed & Ready Book Covers.   I held back on using it for myself because I wanted to show it as an example of my portfolio. However, it did inspire a short-short story.  I’m sharing that today as an early Valentine from me to all of you.

Cat Seeds

Joel Santana at Pixabay
Joel Santana at Pixabay

“Did they grow yet, Auntie?” demanded my exuberant niece as she barreled through the doorway.

“It’s nice to see you too, Sweetpea.  I take it your mom doesn’t have time to come in,” I replied in a sardonic voice.

I gave my sister a quick hug where she stood with one foot on the threshold and the other still outside.  A spa day was my gift to her.  A day with my niece was her gift to me.

My niece had been dejected that the excitement of Christmas was over.  She complained that the magic was gone.  She was sure Rudolph had put all the magic in Santa’s sleigh and taken it back to the North Pole.  So, I told her that Valentine’s Day had magic too.

The next day, she talked her mom into bringing her back.  She spent the day playing in my little garden.  We found her, trowel in hand and covered in dirt.

“Auntie, I wanted you to have Valentine magic, but nothing happened,” she had complained.

I had thought she was only playing in the dirt.  Yet two weeks later, there she was, running to the garden where she had gotten into such a mess.

“Sweetpea, your mom will be mad at me if you get covered in dirt again,” I called out a caution.

She stopped, halfway out the French doors.  The look she gave me was a combination of impatience and annoyance, a particular kind of exasperation that only adults could cause.

“Auntie, you said no to everything at the animal ‘doption — even the big bunny rabbit!  But I wanted you to have a furry friend.  I wanted you to have Valentine’s magic!” she exclaimed.

“Honey, I know it’s hard to understand what grownups want or need when you’re little, but—” I started.

“If you won’t ‘dopt one, then maybe you’ll like one better if we grow it.  So, I planted all the seeds last time I was here,” she tried to explain.  “I planted seeds for catnip, pussy willow, and a root thing for tiger lily.  And I ast Alexa when the new moon was, to make sure I planted then, ‘cause I ‘membered about it making things grow.”

My heart melted that she tried to plant some sort of childish magic for me.  Inwardly, I cringed to think how disappointed she would be when nothing grew.  Maybe I could buy a tiger lily and put it where she had made her attempt.  Although, that wouldn’t be any immediate consolation.

“Your seeds wouldn’t have time to grow yet,” I told her, deciding that I would buy the prettiest tiger lily in town.

“But it’s magic!” she insisted and grabbed my hand.

My niece pulled me toward the neglected corner of the garden, behind an umbrella table that was covered for the winter.  She led me to a window box planter that I never got around to installing.  It was bright red with white hearts.

It looked like she had put some dry grass and gray moss in the planter. 

Then it moved.

The child shrieked with delight.

“I told you.  I told you!  It’s the Valentine magic!” she cried.

Melinda Rozsa at Pixabay
Melinda Rozsa at Pixabay

A big gray striped cat stood up in the flower box.  It stretched languidly and then walked over to us.

“See, the cat seeds were magic,” she said, cuddling the cat.

“Sweetpea… the cat didn’t grow from your seeds,” I tried to explain gently.

“Yes it did!  Your garden is on the tenth floor!  It’s a about’cony.  You don’t think the cat flew up here do you?” she challenged.  “Grownups are so silly sometimes.”

The end.

Happy Valentine’s Day

The monthly “Journeys” of Dead of Winter have only just begun.  Thanks to Dan Antion for doing posts in support of Journey 2, Penllyn. 

Plus, I’m absolutely thrilled to see this review from D. L. Finn at Amazon! Click here.

 I’m all in and rooting for Emlyn and Zasha.

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2021

I loved the first journey and had been waiting for the second installment. The story begins where it left off with 12-year-old Emlyn, who lived in repressive religious times with powers she had to hide. The story was told from two points of view, Emlyn’s and Zasha. It gives an encompassing view of two strong young women. One can embrace herself, Zasha, and Emlyn, who can’t. The images and details paint a cold and cruel world Emlyn lives in with her family. I’m all in and rooting for Emlyn and Zasha. I can’t wait for the next journey and highly recommend “Dead of Winter.” Start from the beginning you don’t want to miss anything!
 
Dead of Winter, Journeys 1 & 2 by Teagan R. Geneviene
Dead of Winter, Journeys 1 & 2 by Teagan R. Geneviene

Wishing you an easy coast down the other side of this midweek hump.  Hugs on the wing!

 

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2021 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

62 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — Cat Seeds”

  5. Silly Grownups…why can’t they just believe? I love the way you captured the innocence and magic of early childhood, Teagan. If only we could retain part of that for life. I didn’t know you were launching a book cover service…something I’ll have to keep in mind. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Hi Mark. I’m delighted you enjoyed this little ditty. I think we unlearn a lot of things as we grow up. Imagine the magic there might be if we didn’t. 🙂
      Yes, the book covers. I’ve found working with images to be so helpful to me that I decided to put them to use. The text placeholders for titles and authors could also be switched out to promotional text for whatever use.
      Thanks for visiting. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Ha! Prickly kitties, Jan? My neighbor doesn’t take care of his cats, and they’ve been pooping in the end of my cactus garden. Maybe I should leave it and see if something grows.
      I’m happy you liked this story. Hugs on the wing!

      Like

      Reply

  10. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! I also love the story, Teagan! Great intriguing plot. I hope you had not planted Crystal. Lol I am remembering similar like your cover is showing. ;:-)) Thank you for sharing the wonderful story. Congratulations to the review! Have a beautiful day! Michael

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. It is always wonderful to see you, Michael. Haha, Crystal is the opposite. I used to try and plant catnip for my cats. Crystal always dug it up before it ever had time to grow. She looked quite proud of her kittenhood self too. As you might imagine, I do not have house plants. o_O
      I’m happy you liked the little story. Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Sounds like Ani (from Sue suevincent.com). You both have great fourleggers, trying to save all the covers things out of the ground.;-) Our former dog was to lazy doing so.He only wants to have served smoked salmon. 😉 Have a beautiful weekend, Teagan!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  11. I love the story, Teagan. One of my favorite lines was, “The look she gave me was a combination of impatience and annoyance, a particular kind of exasperation that only adults could cause.” Haha—I’ve seen that look. 😎

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Pat, I’m thrilled with your review! That really means the world to me. I’ve been sharing it all over social media this morning. I’ll also share it in my blog this weekend. Thanks so very much!
      I’m happy you enjoyed this little whimsical tale. Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

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