WRITERS ABROAD MAGAZINE: THE THIRD SPACE
Murphy’ s Retirement Plan
By Nicola Cleasby( Nina Croft)
Murphy had led a full and varied life, but lately he could feel himself slowing down. On the lookout for a comfortable place to spend his declining years, he had finally settled on a large, detached property, not too far from the beach, and which backed onto a golf course where the hunting was always excellent. He was already half-way in love with the lady of the house, and she with him. There was, in fact, only one problem with the whole set up...
‘ I wish you wouldn’ t let that animal in here, darling,’ Robert said.‘ I’ m sure it’ s got fleas.’ Sarah peered up at him, then down at the large ginger cat curled on her lap, purring loudly.‘ You’ re just jealous,’ she said,‘ because Murphy’ s getting his tummy rubbed.’
She was probably right. Any tummy rubbing around here and he wanted to be the recipient. But it wasn’ t only that. The cat was huge, scruffy, with only one ear and a badly scarred face. Totally incongruous in his elegant home. He’ d planned their retirement to Spain in every detail, and those plans did not involve sharing his wife’ s attentions with an ugly tomcat.
‘ How about I buy you a kitten?’ he suggested.‘ A Siamese or a Persian. That would be nice, wouldn’ t it?’‘ Murphy’ s nice.’ Robert frowned.‘ He set off the upstairs alarm again last night, I only just managed to call the guardia in time to stop them coming out.’‘ He probably heard something suspicious and wanted to help. He’ s so clever.’ Robert shook his head in disgust; he was obviously going to have to sort the problem out himself.
The following morning, after a sleepless night— having had to call the guardia three times to cancel the alarm— Robert slipped back to the house after Sarah had left for the day. He was carrying a brand new cat basket...
Sarah was in bed by the time he got home that night. He’ d hoped she’ d be asleep but she glanced up as he came in.‘ What have you done to your face, Robert?’ He shrugged.‘ It’ s nothing.’‘ You look like you were attacked by a wild animal.’‘ I just bumped into a tree on the golf course, the branches caught my face.’‘ Oh. You didn’ t see Murphy when you came in did you? I haven’ t seen him since this morning.’
‘ No,’ he replied, but couldn’ t quite look her in the eye.‘ He’ s probably just gone off somewhere. You know strays, they never settle. Look, how about I buy you that Persian kitten tomorrow?’‘ No, I’ m sure Murphy will be back.’ A few minutes passed, Robert was almost asleep when Sarah sat up abruptly.‘ I can’ t relax, I think I’ ll just go and see if he’ s out there.’‘ Don’ t be silly, darling. Go to sleep.’‘ But …’ she paused.‘ Did you hear that?’
35 | May 2016