THE MINERVA MINK STORY
"Sunday Dinner with Old Friends"

Chapter 8


     Sunday Night:

     “But Aunt Minerva, I look doofy! How come I have to wear nice cloths?!”

     “Hush, you look just fine.”

     Once again Minerva’s bright red Ford Mustang could be seen winding it’s way through the mess of traffic congesting most of Hollywood area streets.

     She slipped around a VW Beetle that couldn’t seem to decide what road it wanted, then blared it’s horn at her for not waiting till it made up it’s mind.

     “But I hate dresses! They’re too drafty, too dressy, and too.....girlie! I look like a goombah!” Stephanie crossed her arms and stuck out her bottom lip.

     “Hey you. That’s sacrilege.” Minerva placed a painted nail onto the little girls nose, not looking away from the road. “Women and especially little girls, never look more beautiful or cute then in a dress. You can take your Aunt’s word on that.”

     Steph pretended like she was going to bite Minerva’s finger and she quickly withdrew it. “Then why can’t I wear a dress like you have on?”

     Minerva was wearing a simple soft pink blouse and a black knee high skirt.

     Steph however, had been placed in what Minerva’s mother would have called a ‘play dress’. A simple white child’s dress, not unlike a school uniform, with little black loafers and ruffles around the bottom and sleeves.

     “I offered to let you wear your new skirt and blouse but you didn’t want to, remember? Besides, you look just fine sweetie, don’t fuss.”

     Steph had started swatting at the ruffles on her dress, but stopped. “Who are we going to see again?”

     Minerva pulled the car into the drive of one Hollywood’s many gated communities and flashed a pass at the guard. He waved her on, not even really looking up from his book to inspect them further, until he caught a glimpse of blonde hair and white fur behind the window. He had almost fallen off his chair trying to get a better look at the car’s driver before she sped away, and Minerva didn’t even tried to hide her smile.

     Steph noticed too and giggled. “Woooo! Auntie Nerva has a new boy friend! Woo woo! Heheheheh!”

     Minerva stuck her tongue out at her niece and continued driving. “Your just jealous.”

     She maneuvered the car down several different roads, each cris-crossing another, until she found Multon street and turned down it.

     “Wow! Look at all the fancy homes and cars! Do movie stars really live here Auntie Minerva?”

     Minerva looked back and fourth out the windows as she drove looking for a house with green trim. “Sure do sweetie. Movie stars, models, lawyers, doctors, on and on. Now where is 1977? 71, 73, ah there it is.”

     Turning the steering wheel hand over hand, the Mustang turned into a ‘Y’ shaped pavement drive at 1977 Multon street and parked just inside the big carport at the right. “Here we are, all a shore that’s going a shore.”

     Minerva unbuckled herself and got out, crossing to the other side of the car and helped Steph out of her belt. Hopping out of the car, she stretched herself and proceeded to follow her aunt outside the port. “Are you sure there will be some kids my age to play with?”

     The little mink reached up and put her tiny hand into her aunt’s big one, and Minerva squeezed it gently. “I’m almost positive there is. Don’t be too surprised if you make some good new friends tonight, okay?”

     Steph smiled at this prospect and suddenly couldn’t wait to meet her aunt’s old friend and her children.

      Once outside the carport, the two minks made their way down a stone path that lead from the driveway, past a rather large hedge that grew across the front side of the house, and eventually to the front door.

     The sun was steadily setting , casting reddish orange light about the homes farther down the street and spawning a million evening shadows. Setph noticed the sun setting and how it made the clouds around it look like cherry flavored cotton candy and started to sing, “Red at night is a sailors delight, but if red in the morning, a sailor takes warning.”

     Minerva smiled at her niece upon arriving at the front door, and kneeled down to take a good look at her. She adjusted her dress a bit, making sure it wasn’t kinked up any place, then opened her purse. “Pucker up for me princess.”

     Steph stuck out her lips on a mock kiss and Minerva dabbed a bit of peach lip gloss on them. “Now blot.” She pressed them together and moved them back and forth a bit to spread the gloss evenly. “There, perfect.” The older mink kissed her on the forehead and got up. “Your best behavior tonight little lady, okay?”

     “Oh of course aunt Nerva.” She said innocently, slipping her left foot behind her right and rocking back and for the a bit.

     Minerva reached out to the right side of the big green door at the front of the house and pressed the doorbell. Inside she could hear a loud series of gong sounds that had reminded her of the chime on her father’s huge grandfather clock in the study. ‘Got a big house, you need a big doorbell I guess.’

     1977 Multon could obviously be described as a big house. Easily three stories tall, white with green trim and green shingles, a large front lawn with a garden out back, and a four car garage. However, it wasn’t as gaudy as a lot of homes in that area, and exuded more of a homey feel than anything else.

     Nothing bugged Minerva more then when people overdressed their homes, for to her it seemed as if they were trying to discourage company and ward of any possible ‘happy home’ element. ‘Like a car with too many bumper stickers. Ewwww.’

     After a moment or two, someone came to the door and starting removing the deadbolt from it. When the lock had been removed and the door opened, Minerva gasped and put her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh my gawd!’

     Standing at the door in a black blouse and blue jeans was a teenage version of Sawyer Cat.

     Small, lithe, and petite as only female cats can often be, the young woman at the door was unmistakably pretty. From her small nose and big round eyes, to her firm physique and extra small feet that stuck out the bottom of her jeans. She smiled pleasantly at Minerva and raised her eyebrows in an unspoken question.

     For a moment, Minerva was almost sure it was Sawyer, but naturally that was impossible. She hadn’t seen Sawyer in years, true, but unless she had gotten nothing short a fortune in plastic surgery, this person at the door couldn’t be her old friend. ‘Then who......? DUH Earth to Minerva!’

     “Hello Abby, is your mom home?” She managed to say after a moment, hoping that she hadn’t been staring at her like a goon. Finally, Minerva had caught on, spotting the one discrimination between mother and daughter. Abby’s big bright eyes were a rich dark brown, the color of her father’s, not the soft sky blue eyes of Sawyer.

     “Sure, but I think she’s upstairs taking care of something. Why don’t you come in?” The young Persian girl stepped aside, and Minerva entered with Steph in tow.

     The front hall was well decorated with family photos and recess lights that shed a warm glow about the room. Abby directed them down the hallway past the stairs and into the den. “Have a seat, and my mom should be right down.”

      Minerva sat down in a comfy leather chair, and Steph squeezed in next to her. The den was cozy, mostly ‘mission style’, with a fireplace, a large couch by the far wall, and several stain glass lamps on end tables and the bookcase.

     Above the mantle sat a large family portrait, Danny looking handsome in a black suit standing behind a not too much younger Abby. There were two other children Minerva didn’t know, one very small still needing to be held by his mother. Sawyer looked beautiful and unmistakably happy, sitting on a modest wooden chair in a shimmering blue gown. Next to her, holding on to the arm of her chair was a little tabby girl probably no older than five, and in her lap sat a smiling infant tabby boy.

     Steph seemed to pay no attention to the portrait and gave a tug on her aunt’s arm. “I can’t play with her Aunt Nerva, she’s too old!”

     But before she could answer a door on the opposite side of the room opened and Danny appeared with Felicia in his arms. He looked surprised for a moment, then broke out in a wide smile. “Hey Minerva, how are ya? Glad you could come for dinner!”

     Danny had changed in quite a profound manor since the last time Minerva had seen him. Trading in his glamorous movie star slash director life for the role of father and husband seemed to have transformed him. No more tuxedos or fancy costumes, cancel the state dinners and the red carpet walk, for the cat the stood before her only wanted to surround himself with his wife and children in their warm, happy home.

     He was also getting older, no doubt about that. There was a distinct bunch of wrinkles around the sides of his eyes, that squinched up when he smiled, and just seemed to make him look all the more fatherly. His hair was mostly all the same color, save two white stripes that ran down the both sides of it.

     Yet, he also seemed full of a new kind of energy, that crackled about his edges, and was obviously visible to anyone nearby. This special kind of energy is that which accompanied the birth of a new child, and Danny was overflowing with it.

     Minerva got up out of her chair and crossed the room toward him. “I’m fine Danny, thanks so much for inviting us!” She slipped an arm around to his back and hugged him gently, minding the baby. “Oh, and this is my niece Stephanie.” She motioned to the chair and Setph waved.

     “Nice to meet you Mr. Cat.”

     Felicia cooed and put her thumb into her mouth, eyeing Minerva. “Ohhhhh! Who is this Danny?”

     Felicia regarded Minerva with several curious glances and tilted her head a little as if to get a better look at this strange new person in her home.

     “This is Felicia.” Danny said adjusting the little bundle in his arms. “She’s going to be seven months old in a few days.”

     The baby shifted her glance back to her father at the mention of her name and gave his sweater a tug with her little hand. “Daah! Ba bababab!”

     “Would you like to hold her for a bit while I get her set up here in the den? She’s been a bit fussy this afternoon, so I’m going to let her play with her light up display and hope she’ll get sleepy.” Danny offered the baby to his guest.

     “Would I ever! Come see me you little crumb cruncher.” Minerva gently scooped the snow white bundle of fur out of her fathers arms and rested her against her shoulder. “Awwww, your just a little bitty squirm worm, aren’t you?”

     Stephanie watched from big leather chair, her head propped up on her arms. “Can I see the baby too Auntie Minerva? Huh? Huh? Please?”

     “Word of warning.” Danny said, getting some of the babies toys and a play mat out from behind the den’s big couch. “She loves to pull hair and it’s a wonder that Sawyer or Abby even have any left.”

     Minerva didn’t seem too worried as she rocked Felicia back and forth in her arms and walked back toward the chair. “Ah, wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had some of my hair yanked out by a baby. Isn’t that right?” She gave Stephanie a wink and Steph covered her mouth with her hands, giggling.

     Felicia continued to study this stranger that was holding her, checking out the new face and watching the strands of blond hair as they danced about.

     Setting herself down slowly in the chair again, the two minks began to fawn over the baby, tickling her toes and scratching her under the chin.

     After a bit, Felicia seemed to realized that this new woman, who wasn’t her mother, but equally gentile and pretty, was only interested in snuggling her and she began to grin and coo happily.

     “Hey, seems like she’s warming up to you Minerva.” Danny said as he laid out the play mat and covered it with the baby’s blanket.

     Reaching out with a tiny hand, Felicia began to swat at one of Minerva’s stray strands of hair and at the tip of one of Steph’s pigtails. She squirmed in the mink’s arms trying to get closer, laughing as the strands of hair moved when she smacked them. Finally, she pounced, grabbing up a fistful of Minerva’s hair and giving it a firm tug.

     She winced and bit her lip to keep from making any noise. But Felicia squealed with delight and tugged a few more times for good measure. Stephanie could see her aunt’s twitches and decided to move her own hair out of reach for safety’s sake.

     The baby seemed pleased with pulling Minerva’s hair for a bit, but then let it go, popping her thumb into her mouth and again watching the two strangers with her mother’s big blue eyes.

     “Babies sure are cute Aunt Minerva. Was I ever that little?”

     “You sure were.” Minerva said with a smile. “And you were just as cute too.” She kissed the baby’s cheek and Felicia gave her a gum filled grin. “I love babies. Their so soft and warm and sweet!”

     Danny had finished setting up the little light up display for the baby and was contented to watch the two girls cuddle his daughter.

     “Dinner should be ready soon by the way. Hope you girls don’t mind smoked salmon.”

     “Smoked salmon is my favorite of favorite foods! Yaay!”

     Stephanie clapped her hands excitedly and Felicia, who was watching her every move, stared to clap as well. “Da dah da da ba!”

     From somewhere upstairs there was a sound of a door being opened and shut, followed by a several thumping feet on stair case.

     Danny got up and gingerly took Felicia back from Minerva’s care. “Unless I’m totally mistaken, that should be my lovely wife, and the other two critters I spawned. Let me get this little thing all set up to play, and we can go meet them.”

     He set the baby down on the blanket and carefully placed the light up display toy over her. It consisted of two ‘A’ shaped legs that held up two panels of big light up buttons, and a thin tube that held four small objects on strings, letting them dangle just above the child.

     Felicia began almost instantly to smack the buttons with her hands, the display making soft tones and bright lights as she did, pleasing her greatly. She yanked on one of the soft toys dangling before her and began to gnaw on it as best she could, kicking it with her feet in between bites.

     Danny then lead Minerva and Steph back out the door he came in, passing Abby on the way as she went to the den to keep an eye on Felicia, and took them into the dinning room.

     There, setting plates on the large oak table in the middle of the room with the help of the two tabby children Minerva had seen in the portraits, was Sawyer.

     “EEEEEEEEEEE!”

     Both girls let out a happy scream and bound across the room toward each other. Meeting half way, Sawyer and Minerva wrapped one another up in a warm hug, and began laughing happily like teenagers.

     Minerva stepped back to take a look at her old friend, setting her hands on Sawyer’s shoulders, feeling a few tears trying to snake out from her eyes. “Oh Sawyer, it so totally great to see you again! Let me take a look at you! Oh! You look so great!”

     And it was true, for a woman who gave birth not more than seven months ago, she looked fantastic. The feline woman was sporting simple denim overalls and a light blue t-shirt under it, but the denim hugged her form very amply, and Minerva could see the baby weight was completely gone.

     Also, not unlike Danny, she had aged quite a bit since their last meeting, and the same gray that streaked her husband’s hair, was starting to creep into her own. However, so was that ‘parent’ electricity!

     Sawyer smiled, her eyes getting a bit moist too, and gave Minerva a quick run over. “You’re not looking so bad yourself Min! Oh it’s so good to see you again!”

     Minerva blushed a bit and flapped her hand at the comment. “Oh please! No where near as good as you do! We have so much to catch up on, I don’t know where to begin.”

     Sawyer smiled and motioned toward the table. “How about we start with dinner? I was just informed before you came in that it was finished, and once we have our fill, we can brew some tea and discuss everything.”

     “Sounds great Sawyer! I’m a bit famished anyway.”

     Just then, the kitchen door opened and Meggie Bennit came in carrying a large silver platter with two huge smoked salmon, each wrapped in spinach with slices of lemon laid across them.

     “Lets eat!”