The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers

Barbara was not tall but had a commanding personality and sharp wit—an attorney with her own practice, specializing in real estate.

She had good-natured opinions on everything. A meal at the Comptons was always a lively talkfest, even though Lisa made no claims to cooking skills. No one asked any questions about the casserole she served, although it tasted pretty good, and conversation never lagged.

LYLE: “I like your alligator belt, Qwill. Lisa won’t let me have one.”

QWILL: “Polly dislikes them, too, so as soon she left the country, I splurged.”

LISA: “When are you closing the barn?”

BARBARA: “How do you go about closing a barn?”

QWILL: “Pat O’Dell and his crew swarm all over the place.”

LYLE: “Better do it before we have zero temperature and four feet of snow!”

QWILL: “I was waiting until after the Lit Club meeting. I’m putting up the speaker overnight.”

LISA: “That’s changed. There’s been a death in his family. Could you speak to the Lit Club, Qwill?”

After a thoughtful pause for dramatic effect, he said, “What would you think of forming a secret society named Word Tasters Anonymous?…Anyone can join…no dues!” There was a stunned silence, and he went on. “It’s a theory currently being tested. Words have flavor as well as meaning. Words can be enjoyed on many levels. Dickens is a master of the art. Consider the last lines inA Tale of Two Cities. ”

He quoted: “‘It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.’”

Following nods and murmurs from his listeners, he went on:

“When I say those words, I can taste their exquisite sweetness…. InA Christmas Carol I feel the crispy crunchiness of consonants, vowels, and diphthongs, delighting my taste buds.” He quoted: “‘Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, Cratchit’s wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice turned gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence.’”

He explained, “Everyone knows there are music lovers, but few know that there are word lovers too: aware of the taste and feeling and magic of words, not necessarily the meanings. One of our members is a successful businesswoman who loved four words from Shakespeare: ‘Nothing comes from nothing.’ The arrangement of friendly consonants reassured her.”

Qwilleran said, “Word tasting is not limited to the work of great writers. Mildred Riker gets a shiver of pleasure from a practice sentence used in high school when learning to type.”

Everyone wanted to know it, and he quoted: “‘The time of many murders is after midnight.’”

Then, Barbara asked, “I suppose you’ve all seen Thelma’s hat photos at the bookstore?”

LYLE: “I hear the locals like the new showcases better than the hats.”

QWILL: “The hats were designed by California artists. Their taste is a little sophisticated for Moose County. I had to gulp myself at some of their productions, but I hear the library-goers in Lockmaster are so excited they can hardly wait to see the other half of the show; they’re coming up here to the bookstore to see it.”

Qwilleran enjoyed meeting Barbara. He liked attorneys. He looked forward to meeting Steve Bestover. He enjoyed his K Fund sessions with G. Allen Barter, who was less of a legal eagle and more of a brother-in-law.

On Mrs. Fulgrove’s last two visits to clean the barn…or “fluff it up,” as she said, she and her housecleaners covered the premises, frightening the cats…and then she always left a note. Qwilleran saved them for what he called the Fulgrove Witchery Collection. Her syntax was curious, to say the least.

Dear Mr. Q…Koko broke a bottle on your bathroom floor which I saved the pieces of glass so you could see what it was.

It proved to be Scottish aftershave lotion from Canada that Polly had brought from one of her trips. The following week, a porcelain figurine of a bagpiper in shoulder plaid, kilt, and knee hose was found on the living-room hearth in several fragments.

Dear Mr. Q…I think Koko did it…which he was hanging around, looking naughty. I told him he was a bad cat which he ran away. He never broke anything before….

Yours truly…Mrs. Fulgrove

Just as Qwilleran was beginning to suspect Koko of anti-Scottish tendencies, all of a sudden he witnessed a third misdemeanor. He saw Koko tear the cover of a book Polly had given him. It was only a paperback, but it was twentieth-century poems that they both enjoyed.

He thought, That cat is trying to tell me something. Does he think she should not have left Brutus and Catta with strangers? Who knows what enters his feline mind? The cats are probably eating better at Pet Plaza than they ever did at home.

FIFTEEN

And then Polly dropped a bombshell!

Dearest Qwill,

I have thrilling news, and I know you’ll be excited for me. Steven has come over to escort Shirley home, and I’m staying here for a while!

An American firm with offices in Paris advertised for a librarian to handle their commercial library, which is extensive.