Inspiration 2.0

[€uroMeinke]

Rey arrived at work the same time as Elizabeth.
“Hey, you wanna grab some coffee”
“Sure, let me just drop my stuff off”
“Cat let you sleep last night?”
“Almost, but he got me up early going crazy over this crow in my back yard. Honestly, it was like he was there just teasing him. Charlie’s a sweet cat, as docile as can be, but man he really wanted to get this bird.”
Rey blushed, “uh – Crow? – Hmmm, that is unusual. Uh, was the crow…um…making any noises?”
“He was just cawing relentlessly – I just gave up and thought I’d come in to work early”
“Wow that is odd.”
Rey, felt a chill, “What the Hell is that bird doing now.” He thought as they made their way to the cafeteria.
“So how did you sleep? Any crows bothering you this morning?”
Rey laughed nervously, “No, none of that – I actually slept quite well last night.”
“Not thinking so much?”
“You might say that, maybe I’m just moving into acceptance”
“Accepting what?”
Rey took a deep breath wondering how much of anything he should say, and resolved as he exhaled to be honest.”
“My wife left me last month. It took me completely by surprise, or so I thought. If I think about it all the signs were there – I guess I just didn’t want to see them.”
“I know what that’s like. I just got divorced myself. I didn’t want to believe that he would actually sleep around on me. But what really pissed me off is that he just seemed to think I should overlook it, like it was no big deal. Easy for him to say. After the divorce was final he kept calling me to see if we could get back together. Guess his other girlfriends didn’t like the idea of having him around all the time either. By then I was done.”
“So you’re not seeing him, or anyone?”
“No, not him, I’ve been on a few dates, friends of friends kind of things, but nothing serious. How about you?”
“No, nobody – still getting use to being on my own.”
“That’s probably a good thing – nobody can make you happy except yourself.”

They talked a little more before going back to their desks. Rey felt great. He actually talked to Elizabeth, and she really seemed to like him. He wondered why it took him so long just to talk to her. Now he had something to tell that crow.

He ran into Elizabeth again in the parking lot when he left that night. She was standing next to her car with a perplexed look on her face.
“What happened?” he called to her
“I don’t now,” she replied, exasperated by her situation, “I’ve got a flat, but it looks like someone slashed my tire or something”
Sure enough, the tire looked like it had been gouged. Pieces of rubber lay on the ground as if torn out bit by bit from the tire itself – or maybe pecked out by some annoying bird. Rey, began to panic.
“How awful,” he exclaimed, “Who would do such a thing”
“my ex might have a couple months ago, but this was probably some kids out for some kicks.”
Rey nodded in agreement while he caught sight of a crow perched on the top of one of the trees surrounding the parking lot. The crow winked at him, when we caught his glance. “Bastard’ he muttered under his breath.
“Cretins,” she answered having heard him.
“Well, can I offer you a ride?”
“Could you? That would be great, I just don’t have time to deal with this right now, I have to take Charlie to the vet before they close.”
“I’d be happy to take both of you to where ever you have to go.”
“Thanks, you’re a sweetheart”
Rey, both grinned and blushed and then quickly glance back to the tree only to see the branch was now empty.

[€uroMeinke]

Elizabeth lived close to work so they got to her place in no time. Elizabeth excused herself to change and grab the cat carrier. Her cat, Charlie jumped into Rey’s lap as soon as he took a seat and started to purr loudly.”
“he’s a friendly guy,” Rey called.
Charlie rolled onto his side, looked him in the eye and said, “The bird’s got to go”

Now by this time Rey was used to having the Crow talk to him, but Elizabeth’s cat was a different story. He practically jumped off his seat when Charlie spoke up.
“Not you too?”
“Sorry, but I don’t want to waste any time”
“What do you mean?”
“The bird – you need to get rid of it”
“But, I can’t – or I don’t think I can – see he’s part of me, my subconscious…Hey, you must be me too, another manifestation of my subconscious”
“Elizabeth just calls me Charlie”
“Do you talk to her, are you part of her subconscious?”
“No, I’m her cat. She takes good care of me, feeds me all the ocean fish I want and takes me regularly to the vet to make sure I’m healthy”
“Then why are you talking to me?”
“I don’t know, I could be your totem, your familiar, or maybe you’re just delusional. I really don’t have time to discuss metaphysics at the moment. Right now it’s about the Bird. You don’t need him any more. Elizabeth likes you, and he’s likely to just make you do something stupid. So, loose the bird, okay?”
“How?”
“Tell it to go away?”
Just then he spotted the crow in Elizabeth’s patio. He was strutting around on the outside table. Rey moved Charlie off his lap and opened the door to the backyard. In a hushed voice he demanded, “Just what the Hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Bub – you’d be no where without me. Who do you think arranged your meeting this morning? Who do think made sure you now here in her house? Without me, you’d be home emptying another bottle of bourbon.”
“That maybe so, but your done now, I don’t need your help, which frankly is now bordering on being creepy”
“Don’t blow it now bub – you drove her home – she owes you now and I’m not going to let you leave this place before she pays up.”

Before another word passed between them, Charlie sprang from behind the door and with a well placed blow with his paw, sent the crow stunned to the ground. Time stood still as Charlie bit into the crow and threw him backwards into the air, his one wing bent into an unnatural position. Charlie pounced again, this time biting into the crows neck, shaking him vigorously until the frantic flapping slowed and turned into the limp ragdoll flopping of death. Charlie dropped the crow at Rey’s feet. Black feathers still floated about the backyard.
“Charlie! No!, Elizabeth called as she stepped out into the backyard. By then Charlie was rubbing up against Rey’s leg once again purring loudly.
“You shouldn’t have”
“I’m sure the crow deserved it,” Rey responded in a resigned tone.
“Honestly he’s such a docile cat. I don’t know what got into him – but I guess he likes you. He left you a present.”

And so this one bird would never rise again. But something else emerged that day. Self confidence? A new romance? That would all have to be seen. But something new is always made from the destruction and passing of something old.

[wendybeth]

Yeah!!!

Great story! Charlie is a wise and wily boy, isn't he? I especially like the aspect of the crow being a manifestation of his subconscious, but scaled according to the limited quantity and quality of his pychology education. Cripes! I shudder to think what mine might be- a tapeworm?

[Capt Jack]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I shudder to think what mine might be- a tapeworm?

I think I can safely speak for the group in this instance and say in all honesty and with heartfelt conviction....


ew

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Capt Jack

I think I can safely speak for the group in this instance and say in all honesty and with heartfelt conviction....


ew

Well, I only took one Psych class at a city college. I couldn't think of a bird that small. I really don't know where the tapeworm idea came from....perhaps my subconscious?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

And so this one bird would never rise again. But something else emerged that day. Self confidence? A new romance? That would all have to be seen. But something new is always made from the destruction and passing of something old.

I love your story. We all have our crows and cats. Cool stuff!