CAT HOUSE CONTEST—A NEW WAY TO SAY THANK YOU

I love writing!

Sometimes it feels like work, but more often, my mind takes me away on its own little journeys. Then every once in a while, it comes up with something amazing.

That’s what happened when I began a side-story in Cat House, my upcoming Crazy Cat Lady mystery. Lynley’s neighbor drops by with a thank you box of chocolates. The gift is utterly unexpected, but Patty explains it has to do with a new group she has joined—a gratitude group.

To find out more, read the excerpt:

The scene: It’s Halloween evening. Lynley is taking a rest with her cat, Dirty Harry, before the trick-or-treaters start to appear.

The ring of the doorbell shocked me out of my comfortable contemplation. Annoyed by my inadvertent jerk, Harry leapt away and stalked into the kitchen to see if he could find a kibble treat the others had missed.

Rats! I swore to myself as I jumped into action, heading for the bowl of candy. As I rushed to the door, I couldn’t help but wonder what bold child would have the audacity—and the fearlessness—to approach an unlit porch.

Flinging open the door and proffering the bowl, I found it wasn’t a child at all.

“Lynley?” The slim woman had been about to head back down the steps but now she turned, my neighbor Patty. “I didn’t think you were home. All your lights were off.”

“Patty! Oh, I’m glad it’s you. I wasn’t quite ready for the Halloween onslaught, so I was keeping it dark. But I guess I’m ready now.”

I set the bowl on the side table and clicked on the porch light, noticing Patty had something in her hand.

She held out a flat box wrapped in orange tissue paper and tied with a black bow. “This is for you. It’s a little thank you.”

“For what?” I took the box. The big gold sticker on the ribbon branded it as chocolates from Zeno’s, my favorite local chocolatier.

“For being a great neighbor,” Patty replied. “For all the good works you do taking care of cats at your shelter. For introducing Jim and me to Kitty, the love of our lives.” She gave a slightly embarrassed shrug. “If you hadn’t encouraged us to adopt her, we might never have known how wonderfully she completes our family.”

“Wow! This is a surprise!” I took another look at the unexpected gift, then at Patty. In her early thirties, she could easily masquerade as someone much younger. Her stature, only a little over five feet, added to the pixie effect, as did her cute brown bob and wide, amber eyes. “Would you like to come in?”

“No, I’d better get home. As you said, the kids will be out any minute, and I shouldn’t leave Jim to face them by himself. We put Kitty in her room so she wouldn’t get excited by the callers. She’s a black cat so we’re taking every precaution.”

“I need to corral my clowder as well. They’re pretty good about visitors, but…”

“Kids can be noisy and excitable. They can scare a cat without meaning to.”

I held up the candy box. “Thank you for this, Patty. You really made my day. But, if I may ask, why now? Out of the blue like this?”

Patty shook her head, sending her hair bouncing. “It’s a group I joined, the Gratitude Group. We get together once a week on Zoom and talk about things we’re thankful for. It’s supposed to help people concentrate on the positive things that happen to them instead of just the negative. We’re encouraged to thank the people in our lives who help us or inspire us. And Lynley, you’ve definitely done that for me.”

I felt my face flush, but in a good way. “That sounds like a great group. You should send me the link.”

A scream split the night. There was another and another, then giggles. The trick-or-treaters were on their way.

“Oh-oh, here they come. I’d better run.”

“Thanks again, Patty,” I called as she bounced down the steps. “Drop by for tea and help me eat these delicacies before I devour the whole box myself.”

She turned and waved. “Will do. Talk soon.”

With that, she was gone to the apartments next door. From the opposite direction came the kids, at least half a dozen of them along with a pair of adults trying to look inconspicuous and failing. As the entourage approached, rushing each house with innocent enthusiasm, I quickly went to herd the cats.

 

What do you think? Do you wish there really were groups like that, where people could express their gratitude in small, kind ways without being asked? I’m not ready to start a gratitude movement myself, but I’m up for something on a smaller scale, and I need your help.

Here’s how it works.

You nominate someone you feel deserves recognition. It can be for whatever you think qualifies: a kind word, a helpful act, a good attitude. Tell me their story in a few sentences—you don’t have to tell me their name if you don’t want to, but you need to be willing to let me publish the story in a blogpost.

The winning nomination will receive 2 signed paperback copies of Cat House, one for you and one for the person you nominated. Winners will be announced on October 29th, National Cat Day and the official release date of Cat House.

Email your nominations to molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Gratitude” in the subject line. Meanwhile, be kind, love cats, read books, and share happiness when you can.