The Lopsided Christmas Cake (13 page)

“That would be a smart idea,” Mom agreed. “Besides, who knows what kind of diseases that thing may be carrying around? I hope we can catch it before we leave for home.”

Dad gave a nod. “Not to worry. I’m sure we’ll get that rat caught in no time at all.”

“Mom, why don’t you come out to the store with me and Thelma?” Elma suggested. “We still have a lot of work to do out there, and we need to be there for at least part of the day because we may get some customers.” Glancing at the curtain beneath the sink, she lowered herself into her chair.

Mom nodded and sat down as well. “That’s a good idea. I’d be happy to help with whatever needs to be done in the store.”

“Would you two mind if I go with Dad after I get the counter cleaned?” Thelma asked, looking at Elma and then their mother.

“That’s fine with me,” Elma said with a nod.

Dad put the broom away and took a seat at the table. “Before we go anywhere, I’m going to finish my breakfast. Then I’ll see about closing up that hole in the floor under the sink. After that, I’ll head down to the basement and take a look at the water tank.”

“Did Grandma and Grandpa have rats to deal with?” Thelma asked.

Dad shrugged. “I don’t know. If they did, they never said anything about it to me. Maybe with their house sitting empty for a few weeks after their death, the mice and rat moved in.”

Elma frowned. “They can’t move out soon enough to suit me.”

While Elma helped Mom do the breakfast dishes, she kept glancing down, fearful that the rat might make another appearance, even though Dad had put a temporary patch of wood over the hole before he and Thelma went downstairs. She couldn’t believe all the problems she and her sister had encountered since they’d moved to Topeka. Was there no end in sight? How glad she was that the rat had appeared when Dad was here. She had every confidence that he would get rid of it, too. Elma knew the unwanted creature had made its escape and disappeared down the hole in the kitchen floor. But the route it took would put it somewhere in the basement. She hoped her sister would keep a watchful eye on her surroundings and be wary of that rat and its creepy long tail.

Mom reached for a dish to dry as she looked over at Elma. “You girls really ought to sell this place and move back home. It’s not safe here, and there’s too much work.”

“I don’t think we’re in any grave danger,” Elma said, “but you’re right, there’s a lot of work to be done.”

“So you’ll consider selling?” Mom’s expression was hopeful.

Elma shook her head. “Thelma and I both want to make a go of this venture. It’s become a challenge for us that we can’t back away from. Can you understand that?”

Mom pursed her lips. “Not really, but it’s your life and your decision, so I’ll try to keep my opinions to myself.”

Elma smiled. “We don’t mind your opinion on things, but we also need your support.”

“You’ve got it.” Mom glanced at the clock. “I wonder what’s taking your daed and
schweschder
so long. Seems like they’ve been down in that basement quite a while.”

“Should we check on them?” Elma asked.

Mom nodded. “The dishes are done now anyway, so jah, I think we should go downstairs.”

“What are you two still doing down here?”

Thelma jumped at the sound of her sister’s voice. “Oh, umm… Dad was checking the water tank.”

“That’s true,” Dad said, “and I discovered that in addition to the gas burner being shot, the bottom of the tank is rusting out. I’m afraid you’re gonna have to get a new one.”

Elma’s mouth formed an O. “That’ll probably be expensive. I don’t think we can afford it right now.”

“What other choice do we have?” Thelma asked. “We can’t keep taking cold showers.”

“Not to worry,” Dad said. “I’ll pay for a new tank. Think I’d better call my driver at the place he’s staying in Middlebury and see if he can take me to Goshen to get a new one today.” He looked at Thelma. “Instead of going to the hardware store here in Topeka, I can pick up a rat trap while I’m in Goshen. Do you still want to go with me?”

She nodded. “I sure do. And danki, Dad, for offering to get that for us.”

“No problem; I’m glad to help out.”

Suddenly, Misty appeared, meowing and swishing her tail against Elma’s legs.

Elma jumped back. “Ach, what’s this katz doing down here?” She eyed Thelma suspiciously. “Did you bring her into the house?”

Thelma shook her head. “Remember that noise I heard last week before we left for church?”

“Jah, but when you came down here you said you couldn’t find anything.”

“I didn’t at first. Not until I came back down again.” Thelma moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “What I discovered that second time was Misty, and she had given birth to a
bussli.
”

Elma blinked. “There’s a kitten down here, too?”

“Not just one. Misty had more.” Thelma held up four fingers then watched as her mother crouched down to look at the kittens. Gingerly picking one up, she held it close to her chest, petting it carefully.

“Well, they can’t stay.” Elma shook her head. “The mother cat and her babies need to be out in the barn.”

“I disagree,” Mom said as she stood. “If you’ve had mice and now a rat in the house, the logical thing to do is keep some katze around. Look at this cute little thing.” She nuzzled the ball of fur against her cheek. “You don’t really want to take them to the barn, do you, Elma?”

Dad, who hadn’t said a word so far, spoke up. “Your mamm’s right, Elma. Having a cat in the house is a good way to keep rodents away.”

Thelma was surprised to see her mother cooing over the kitten. And she certainly never expected Mom to side with her on this issue. She was glad Dad was in agreement, too.

Elma sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but we don’t need five katze in here.” She gestured to Misty, who had moved over to rub against Thelma’s leg.

Thelma bent down to pet the cat; then she, too, picked up one of the kittens. “As soon as the kittens are old enough to be weaned, I’ll see if I can find them all homes. Then we can let either Misty or Tiger come into the house for at least part of each day.”

Elma frowned. “I’m not thrilled about the idea, but it looks like I don’t have much choice in the matter.”

Mom slipped her arm around Elma’s waist. “You’ll get used to the idea, dear, especially if the katz catches that old ratt.”

“I can’t wait for that.”

T
helma kept her eyes closed and breathed slowly in and out, trying to make herself relax, but sleep wouldn’t come. The last time she’d looked at the clock beside her bed, she’d realized she had been lying in bed for more than an hour. She couldn’t stop thinking about the events of the day. Her brain felt like it was going in fast motion.
I hope I can fall asleep soon, or I’ll be exhausted in the morning.

Slowly, she pushed back the covers and went to stand by the window. The moon wasn’t full yet, but bright enough to illuminate her room and create shadows in the yard below. Lifting the window a ways, Thelma breathed in the cool night air. The only sound was a lone katydid singing as if it were still August. It was the middle of September, and the weather had been giving little hints of what was soon to follow.

Thelma yawned and rubbed her arms, shivering from the chill. She lowered the window and climbed back into bed. Breathing in deeply, smelling the fresh air that now lingered in her room, she rolled onto her side, hugging her pillow. Closing her eyes, she smiled, thinking how nice it was having Mom and Dad here. It almost made her feel like a child again, with no worries. But she didn’t want their visit to be all work, like it had been today. While Dad and Thelma were in Goshen, Elma and Mom had worked in the store, cleaning, organizing, and waiting on customers. After Dad and Thelma came back, Thelma had fixed sandwiches and brought lunch out to the store. When they’d finished eating, Dad set up the water tank. How nice it was to finally have hot water.

The big old rat still hadn’t been caught, but Dad had set a trap for it, and they’d let Tiger into the house before going to bed. Hopefully, the long-tailed creepy critter would be gone by morning.

Thelma reflected once again on how Mom had sided with her about having a cat in the house. Poor Elma still wasn’t happy about it, but at least she’d accepted the idea. With the fear her sister had over mice and rats, it was a wonder she didn’t insist on having several cats around, even if she was afraid of them scratching her. “Give them a wide berth, and they’ll leave you alone.” That’s what Dad had always said about the cats they had at home. Of course, those felines he was referring to stayed outside for the most part.

Before heading to bed, Elma told Thelma that Mom had tried to talk her into moving back home. Thelma had been pleased to hear that her sister told Mom she was committed to making things work here.

As a sense of drowsiness came over her, Thelma pulled the blanket up to her chin and snuggled against her pillow. She’d started to drift off, when a loud clatter, followed by a catlike shriek, brought her straight up. As the noise continued, she leaned forward, realizing that it was coming from somewhere downstairs—the kitchen, perhaps.

Thelma climbed out of bed, put her robe and slippers on, and grabbed a flashlight. She clicked it on, but the beam grew dim. “Oh, great! This thing is useless, and I have no batteries up here.” Thelma hit the flashlight a few times, hoping it would brighten the beam, but all that did was make the light go completely out, so she dropped it onto her bed. Using the glow of the moon shining through her window, she carefully made her way to the door. Her curiosity about the ruckus downstairs was enough to give her the determination to try and navigate her way down the steps.

When Thelma stepped out of her room, she nearly bumped into Elma outside her bedroom door. “Where’s your flashlight, Sister?” Elma whispered.

“Ach, my! You startled me. It’s on my bed. The batteries must be low because it isn’t bright enough to help anyone.” Thelma also spoke in a quiet tone.

“Did you hear that noise?” Elma rasped. “What’s going on downstairs? It woke me out of a sound sleep.”

“I–I’m not sure, but I think we’d better check it out.”

“Let me get my flashlight first,” Elma said. “We’d probably fall down the steps without some light to guide us.”

“Okay. I’ll wait right here till you get back.”

When Elma returned with her flashlight, she led the way and Thelma followed. “I wonder if all that commotion woke our folks.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Elma responded. “I don’t see how anyone could sleep with all that racket.”

As Elma led the way with her flashlight, the twins went carefully down the stairs, where they met Mom and Dad, both heading for the kitchen. When they all stepped into the room, and Elma turned on the gas lamp, Thelma gasped. Tiger was on the counter near the sink. The cat’s rigid frame moved in closer to his prey, while he growled and hissed. Tiger seemed larger than he was, hunching his back as he swatted and nipped at the rat. The next thing she knew, the fat rodent was in the sink. Like a flash, Tiger jumped in there, too. A few seconds later, the cat leaped out of the sink with the rat in his mouth. When Tiger’s paws hit the floor, his head jerked forward, and he dropped the rat.

Mom and Elma both screamed as the rat zipped under the table, with the cat in hot pursuit.

“I’ll get the broom!” Dad shouted, while Mom and Elma each grabbed hold of a chair and climbed up on the seat.

Unsure of what to do, Thelma stood off to one side so she wouldn’t get hit when Dad returned, swinging that broom.

By the time Dad came back, Tiger had caught the rat again, and the rodent was dead.

Thelma breathed a sigh of relief. At least that problem had been solved.