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Freddie

 detail of 18x24 watercolor on watercolor canvas

This is the real Freddie - named "Chloe" in this story.

She passed a few years ago of old age.

She lived her life on her own terms and was a real "character"!

A FREDERICA & CHLOE PICTURE BOOK MYSTERY

Episode 4

A series of short stories featuring Frederica Jones and Chloe, Freddie’s cat

© Julie Gilbert Pollard

Life goes back to normal BUT Freddie has a furry nocturnal visitor – smelling like a rose?

We think not…

Wow, the house feels so empty. It is. Wendy and Scruff have moved out and on. Scruff and Chloe were never pals exactly, but even she also seems to be a bit at loose ends. Anthropomorphism R US!

So, the two of us rattle around in this smallish house. We’ve had no more “sinister events” Or at least, nothing much until a couple of nights ago, that is, but more about that later. And life has seemed pretty normal.

Of course, I still think of and wonder about the fate of the disappeared young man that I have heard no more about. Yes, I did talk to Detective Struthers after the last incident, but she didn’t seem all that interested. Polite - but “sheesh, this nutty artist is just too much” is pretty much the vibe I felt roll off her.

I have some shadowy and disturbing memories that surfaced when I began to work on my painting from that day. But they won’t quite come into focus. Are they truly memories or simply fear generated by my concussion and wild imagination? These “memories” - dreams? - or whatever they are - are difficult to articulate – especially to Detective Struthers. It really didn’t help my verbal skills when I didn’t feel like she was even listening.

So - I make an effort to go back to normal and to feel like normal. And truly, life is so normal that I really have nothing much to tell you about. I work, Chloe walks on my keyboard while I’m trying to write my book - when she’s not chasing a sunbeam or curled up in a nap.

I’ve decided I want to come back as Chloe!

Actually, the book is coming along pretty well. My editor is pleased but ever so fond of presenting new deadlines. I’ll give you a sneak preview of the latest chapter in a minute.

So, back to that one “nothing much” thing I alluded to above.

We seem to have a new resident! One evening as I sat on the patio gazing into distance without much on my mind, my peripheral vision caught a bit of movement in the far corner of the yard. Focusing on it, I caught the tip of a fluffy tail as it disappeared around the corner of the wall. We have stray cats come into the yard from time to time, but it didn’t really strike me as actually being a cat. So, I sat and quietly gazed at the location of the last appearance, and after a few minutes the creature came back, a quite-beautiful black and white striped creature.

Uh oh.

He - or she - sauntered back and forth for a minute or so, then disappeared again. This wildlife sighting is kind of exciting, yet a bit scary as well, as you can imagine. I need to be careful not to leave out any food scraps or other skunk enticements. Skunks are pretty cool animals - at a distance. I hope he/she keeps his/hers!

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Having a skunk isn’t really an abnormal occurrence, though they usually aren’t right in my yard. But nothing sinister about it, right?

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There was, however, a slight disturbance during the night, a few nights ago. At roughly 2 AM or so I heard shouting and cursing - and gasping? - followed by the sound of a car’s motor squealing off into the distance. What? Sometimes our neighbors can be a little loud, but these particular sounds were a bit out of the ordinary.

And now, a few days hence, my mind starts to whirl. Noises during the night. Cursing and choking sounds before the roar of a car racing away. Scent of skunk hanging heavily in the morning air. My mind is furiously “doing the math”. I had an intruder. Or at least a would-be intruder.

Chloe is NOT a guard cat. She will be no help. I keep her inside for a couple of days to make sure she is no hindrance either. And I’ve not seen nor smelt hide nor hair of the skunk since.

But wait just a minute - could it be that I now have a guard skunk?

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What do skunks like for breakfast? I think I will feed the skunk.

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So, I decide NOT to notify animal control - for now. I can now get back and forth between house and studio without holding my breath. That route was a bit tricky the following day. I bundled Chloe up in a towel for the transfer as I didn’t want the “fragrance” to get into her fur.

I’m pretty sure she would not be fond of a tomato juice bath.

And I wore a shower cap and raincoat because I don’t think I would enjoy it either.

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Well, “normal” was nice for a while. Considering that “sinister events” – for which I now think this applies - are accumulating - is this #3? - how on earth have I managed to do any work on my book? I am truly a wonder woman. (Smile.) I know you have been waiting to preview my current chapter! Coming right up...

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PLEASE NOTE: the mini art chapters following a story segment are written and illustrated by Julie Gilbert Pollard, not Freddie. :)

The STORIES are fictional - the CHAPTERS for “Freddie’s” book are true and valid!

Raindrops on Roses

detail of 11x14 watercolor

SOLD

Would you like to see the chapter showing how I paint drops of water? Here is the Dropbox link to the PDF document:

JGPollard_Watercolor Unleashed_Paint a Drop of Water_for Story 4