Skunk

As soon as I saw Skunk, our cat, I knew something was wrong. She was covered in dust. And cats don’t do dust. Her eyes were wild, she was panting heavily and when she got up her legs gave way and she crumpled back down again. Amory came to find me, his neck was at a funny angle, "I’ve done something to it" he said pointing “I’m in pain”.

I was trying to get Conrad down to the dock, he was leaving for America, a stint as a waiter. David says every kid needs to learn the hospitality business.

I went to wake Felix. “Something's wrong with the cat, and with Amory's neck, Conrad is leaving and you have to start moving stock down to the shop for your sale this afternoon”.

I went back in search of the cat. Now I was really worried. She could no longer get up, her eyes were wilder. I couldn’t bear it. I gathered the family for a cat consultation.

There were a lot of opinions. She had been poisoned, she had been run over, she was bipolar. There is no vet on the island. I rang the vet in Nassau and described everything. "She is in real pain, what can we do?" Through the island bush telegraph medication was found. It’s strong, we were warned. I tried and failed to get Skunk to take the meds. Heartbreaking. I left them in a little saucer of milk "Make sure the milk stays on the counter. We would not want Stretch anywhere near this."

I needed to get to the shop, we were expecting quite a crowd for the sale. "Can you check us all in for the flight tomorrow?" I called out to Claire who had just walked into the kitchen. I was talking in Newport and Nantucket and hosting a fundraiser for GEM in Sag Harbor. "I can’t find Amory’s ticket” Claire said. A sinking feeling came over me. I frantically called the travel agent. “Help" I cried. “I think I’ve forgotten to book one of the kids on the trip” I went back to the kitchen, the saucer was on the floor. "Did the cat drink it?" I asked Claire hopefully “No, but Stretch did, why?” Stretch was lying on his back, totally high on pain meds.

I lay beside the cat. She was fading but how long could that take? I called Doug. A close island friend with animal experience. "I can come this evening" he said.

For the next few hours I tried not to think about it. The Sugar Mill Idle Assembly summer sale was under way.

When the last guest left and the shop shut up we all drifted home, dreading what was to come. Under the brightness of a full moon Doug put Skunk out of her misery. Her eyes closed and her heart stopped “That was one cool cat” said David softly. We buried her just below Banger. And we cried all over again.

If you happen to be in Newport or Nantucket this week please do join me.

Email coastaleventsconsulting.com for tickets.