I made time to write this week, here is my first start to finish cozy short.  thank you for allowing me to share...

"Not the tea cozy too!" One by one random things kept disappearing from the house. "Stress, has to be," I thought as I went about my morning. Seriously though,this was happening more and more often. True my keys, I regularly misplace ever since the hook I hang them on fell from the wall last month. "I really must put that back up" I mutter to myself.  My phone too, if its is not in my hand or my pocket I am at a complete loss. Grateful that I thought to drop it in my pockets this morning as I reached for the pocket I put my phone in, retrieve it and dial. I have to make the appointment I have been dreading for months. I had seen it on the news "take care of your mental health", such a hot topic, and too close to home, stress, depression and age, (I stop short of loneliness)... must be as I mutter to the receptionist at the doctor, knowing full well she just wants to get off the call, "Today at 3, ok thank you", I mutter.

 At first I really felt like I was just putting things down in the wrong places, now I am just not sure. My parents died young and as the oldest, without cousins or close family I have no family history to go by and only nieces considered as close family. Last thing I want is to become a burden to them. 

The kettle sounds and I add leaves to the pot, grateful that on this dreary day that I have not misplaced it too, though my tea cozy is still nowhere to be found, I make a full pot.  Lighting the tea-light on my table, I set my cup and saucer on the placemat in front of me. I settle myself into the wooden chair, by lowering myself gingerly into a comfortable position. I lift the heavy pot and pour my first cup. "Hot" I say, bringing the just poured cup to my lip, deciding that allowing it to cool slightly, is the best choice. I grab my pen and journal and write today's date, and the time of my appointment. lifting my delicate china cup to my lips, I catch movement out of the corner of my left eye, big orange kitty stretches' from my steady and constant companion, I smile as an equally large kitty yawn erupts from the crochet blanket that Rusty has claimed in the banquet window seat across from me. I may be forgetting things, I may feel the stress and loneliness left over from the pandemic isolation, but may I never lose my love and appreciation for cats, I think to myself. Especially Rusty.

I start a gratitude list, adding Rusty to the top of the list, I start a shopping list and a todo list all on the same page. Siping the second cup from the pot and savouring the delicate notes of Darjeeling and Assam, with a slight hint of Jasmine flowers. I catch myself and my mind wandering. 

Time is ticking, I mean it is really the only constant sound I can hear, the rain has turned to a light sprinkle, the birds have yet to return to their branches and the constant clicking from the hall clock reminds me I have a load to switch into the dryer. 

I rise and head to my laundry room, a small but often sunny room of the kitchen, with a door to the back yard, the kitty litter box is near the cat door incase Rusty prefers to do his business in nature. I open the washer door bending at the knees and cursing the invention of the stacked washer and dryer combo. I fill the dryer and clean the lint trap, I drop the lint over the small garbage can and notice that it is in a different place then usual. I put it back and pick up the lint I had just dropped. 

Looking at my watch, 1:30 already, today has gone by fast, I return to the table and my now mostly cold remaining tea in the pot. I pet Rusty, for a few minutes and give him a few treats, before getting ready for the trek across town, "Should I walk or ride? I think to myself. 

My nieces got together and got me the blue trike bicycle with basket I had been wanting for years. It started as a joke but with the cost of gas and working from home throughout covid, it was more of a sanity saver than money saver, in truth it was both. I gave my trusty Honda Accord, to my youngest niece who moved for university last fall. Ride I decided. "Mental Health", I mutter.

I thought about starting a soup for dinner before, but changed my mind taking a lasagna out of the freezer instead. I set in on the counter to defrost and I refilled Rusty's bowl with food and water, double checked the dryer was done, then fluffed and folded it. I can put away later, I thought as I left the pile of towels on the counter of the laundry room beside the laundry sink. Back in the kitchen I checked the oven was off, the window was locked and that the kettle was unplugged. "Maybe I could add excessive checking, to the list of symptoms," I laughed to myself as I put on my matching blue bike helmet emblazoned with  "Worlds Best Aunt" across the front. I mounted my blue stead and set off for my appointment. 

I arrived with 20 minutes to spare, parked and locked my bike in front of the hardware store and passed the coffee shop to the stairs to the second story office. I checked in and sat down, noticing the full room and lack of magazines, on the tables, or toys in the corner. The pandemic really changed things, I used to love to come to the doctor earlier rewarding myself with the latest food magazines or gaining useful gardening tips from the Country Gardener Magazine. Occasionally and only if the doctor was running later I might ever peruse the gossip magazine or two. Now however every child in the room was on an ipad, and every parent on a phone. I opened the word search game app on my phone and got lost in the magic of the mixed up letters. 

My turn finally came and I was taken to the small room, without the bed with stirrups, no longer a need for those in my life I laughed to myself. I didn't even get offered a gown to change into, my how things have changed. Soon enough the doctor, knocked and entered the room. We exchanged customary pleasantries and then got down to business. "I am worried about my mental health, and worried about dementia as well.", I manage to get the words out. My doctors face softened slightly as I choked out my words. "I see" she said, "why don't you tell me a bit about what is causing you to think this." I share about how my life has changed since the pandemic, once working in a busy office and loving my career, with even the office politics and day to day work stress, I was really missing that human connection. I shared about how now since the pandemic, the work from home culture I thought I craved, had become less appealing as I miss the day to day banter of the office and my fellow office mates. I talk about the occasional loss of keys, phone, and even admit that I occasionally have found the milk in the cupboard and finding the cereal in the fridge. I even mentioned the missing tea towels, tea cozy and my fear of becoming a burden on my nieces.  When I was finished, my doctor pushed her glasses down and looked over them at me, she asked some clarifying questions, and I asked about further testing and medication, as I had used "doctor google" over the last few months catastrophizing and diagnosing myself. Unexpectedly though, my doctor mentioned that she was going to check my blood cortisol levels, iron and a bunch of other things I had not considered, recommended that "like a complicated house plant I get more water and sunshine" and that I spend at least an hour a day outside rain or shine, once the blood test results were back we would have another appointment and go from there. Reluctantly, slightly disappointed and without a definitive diagnosis, my appointment ended and I found myself on the street, by the coffee shop. I see a neighbor in the coffee shop window, I waved as I unlock my trike put my helmet on and head to the blood service lab wanting my new paperwork to get processed as soon as possible not just so that I would have answers but in truth, just so that I would not lose another important piece of paper, taxes this year were a mess! 

I find the lab and lock up the trike, no real waiting, which is so odd, and within 15 minutes I am out, a circle bandage in the crook of my arm and back on the bike home. The sun has made its way out behind the clouds as I reach the back yard, by my garage I notice that there is one of my good missing tea towels now sitting in the mud. As I approach it, I notice what looks like blood stains on the tea towel and I stop cold. Wishing I had not spent the pandemic watching so much true crime on Netflix. I shake my head and pull the tea towel out of the mud, gasping with relief when I don't find a potential murder weapon under it. I unlock the outside door to the laundry room, and look down, muddy footprints everywhere, the cat dish is empty and the water from the water dish appears to be dumped and muddy. I think to myself what the heck? Calling for Rusty to scold him for the mess, I reached for one of the clean towels I had folded before I left I noticed that the laundry I folded has too been knocked over into the laundry sink, my laundry room looks like a muddy crime scene. I head to find the mop bucket and cleaning supplies as I call for Rusty, I retrieve the bucket from under the sink and fill it with hot soapy water, lifting the bucket to the ground Rusty finally pokes his head around the corner.

 He doesn't even look sheepishly at me as I scold him, instead he lifts his head and leaves the room. I start the clean up with no help from Rusty, the least he could do is wind himself around my legs as I mop! Finally I put the laundry room back together and head into the kitchen to put away the mop and bucket and dump the muddy water. I preheat the oven to put my lasagna in, and head to the couch to await the beep that the oven is ready. I check my much neglected work email and respond to a few when the beep finally arrives. Rusty has now made himself comfortable beside me on the couch and I could not stay mad at him, giving him a few scritches before heading into the kitchen. 

I get the baking sheet out to put the lasagna on, I prefer to cook my lasagna from room temp rather than frozen, I think it cooks more evenly and tastes better. I turned to retrieve it from the counter only it was not there. "Did I take it out before I left?" I start to question myself and decide to double check the freezer and fridge. "Not in the freezer," I say "not in the fridge either," I try to walk backwards in my mind to the steps I took before I left for my appointment, but no luck, I even checked the cereal cupboard but no lasagna there either. I was completely dumbfounded and  honestly even embarrassed, "toast and tea it is" I say  as I turn off the now pre heated oven and set about my favourite go to Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam toast as my backup meal. 

I turn on Netflix and start a show, I nodded off and woke up much later than I had anticipated, with Rusty in my lap, a sore neck and Netflix asking if I was still watching. I reluctantly got myself up, and ready for bed. Rusty had made his way to my bed before I returned from the bathroom. I got into bed still slightly dazed by my nap and went back to sleep. 

About 3 am I reached for my phone, nature called and I swear I could hear a crying,  whining sound. I got up and to the bathroom, no noises could be heard, I headed back to bed and tried to fall back asleep, the effects of the early nap and the return of a rustling sound had me on alert, Rusty however was not bothered a bit. I tossed and turned without luck, checked my social media traps and hoped that would make me tired again, I started to doze off phone in hand when I heard a crash in the kitchen. I reached for my phone and Rusty, only to find my phone Rusty was nowhere to be found, I turned my flashlight app on and made my way to the kitchen calling Rusty as I went, I could hear hissing, and a loud meow, as I entered the kitchen and felt for the light. Flipping on the light, Rusty was in front of me, eyes on the laundry room and all the hair on his furry orange body standing on end. I check the door, it is still locked, I checked the front door too, even though I rarely use it the dead bolt is still engaged. I returned to the kitchen and fill the tea kettle first and Rusty dishes second. I look out over the dark backyard and I check the time, 5 am, "I guess we are starting our day Rusty" I say. 

Morning tea pot nearly drained and list for the day made, I set the laptop on the table and get to work, I take a few calls, send more emails and soon it is time for lunch. Rusty has done little today and is resting comfortably in the window on his blanket. In the kitchen I contemplate what to eat, pre covid I would be deciding where to go with a co-work for lunch not looking through my pantry and fridge with the distain I have now.  I decided on crackers and cheese, a pickle or two and cut up an apple. I returned to the table and continued to work through lunch. About 4:30 after almost being up a full 2 hours I decide to follow my doctor's orders and spend an hour outside. I decided on a bike ride and head off on my way. The sun was shining brightly the birds had returned and I liked the way the wind gently moved as I rode. I rode into town and passed the pizza shop, stopping and decided to pick up a Hawaiian pizza ro bring back for dinner. The basket on my trike front was too small for the medium pizza I ordered so I put it on the back trap behind my seat, salivating the entire ride home. I parked my bike in the yard, took off my helmut and noticed that my recycling bin was on its side, a problem for later I decided as I took my now lukewarm pizza into the house and cracked a diet root beer open before retreating to the couch for dinner. I am sure that pineapple is not good for cats so I pick off some ham and toss it to Rusty, turning on the tv and tucking into the rest of the pizza. I left 3 slices in the box as I felt myself dozing off, it had been an early start and a long but good day so I allowed myself the much needed quick nap. 

Netflix did not have a chance to even ask me if I was still watching, I wish I could say I felt it before I heard it but I didn't, I woke to find my pizza box on the floor, all three slices missing, Rusty with all his hair standing up and screaming in the kitchen that was blood curdling, and feral. In my post nap stupor I felt for the lights in the kitchen and laundry room, a few pieces of pineapple lead a trail to the laundry room door, I could hear the cat door still swinging as I entered the room. I looked at Rusty, and locked the cat door, not taking any chances, and not knowing what had happened. Rusty was more agitated than normal and stood vigil at the cat door refusing to move and growling occasionally. I refused to unlock the cat door despite his pleas, I managed to lure Rusty from the door just before bed with some treats and scritches, doubling checking all the doors and windows before drifting off to sleep. 

Woke up to bird song and well rested, Rusty was not with me so I got up  to investigate. I found him by his bowls patiently waiting for his morning breakfast. I poured it and then went to open the cat door for him before starting my tea. I opened my laptop for work and started my day, Rusty joining me for his mid morning nap on his blanket by the window. My phone rang, the receptionist at the doctors office called and said that the doctor wanted to see me and we set an appointment for later that day. I try to convince myself that it is not going to be all bad news, and try to ge ton with work, I was engrossed in a work email when I heard it, truth be told I think I felt it earlier than heard it, I passed it off as Rusty, but when I looked Rusty was not there, the sound was behind me and the hairs on my neck were standing full on end as I turned and heard the commotion coming from the kitchen. 

Rusty was Growling and Swiping at the cat door, instinctively I slammed the cat door lock on and picked up Rusty without thinking, I tried to calm him down as I peered out the window, I surveyed the back yard, everything looked like it did the day before. I looked back at the laundry room, cat dish was empty and water everywhere.  I glanced out the window again and then I saw it. the recycling bin was moving! 

I remembered it being tipped over yesterday and that I had left it in favour of bringing the pizza in. I watched as the Recycle bin moved and shook. I put Rusty down and I grabbed the broom. I cautiously made my way to the laundry room and cracked open the door. The recycling bin stopped moving, I shut the door and inched closer, as I approached I could hear some squeaking almost cryinging, it reminded me of a few nights before. Suddenly I saw a the tip of a tail, then the head of a very large Racoon, emerge from behind my overturned Recycling bin. She went on her hind legs and began to growl. I stepped back realizing the seriousness of the situation I was now apart of, I backed up to the door and went inside, I never took my eyes off of Mama Raccoon.

I caught my breath inside behind the door and I looked out the window, the Mama Raccoon, ducked back into the recycling bin and I watched as one by one she carried her kits, all three of them and tucked them under my shed. Once she was out of site, I gathered the strength to go back to the yard and rescue my recycling bin, as I approached it, I flipped it over with my broom stick slightly afraid there could be more kits inside, but instead I found the bin lined with my tea towels, tea cozy and a few other items I had not realized I was even missing. I turned the recycling bin back the way I found it and went into the house. Relieved that Rusty and I were safe and that the mystery of my missing tea towels and tea cozy had been found, though I chose not to rescue them, leaving them for the raccoons. 

I made myself a cup of peppermint and chamomile tea to settle my nerves and found that by the time I finished it I was not as anxious about leaving to go to the doctors for my appointment as I had been before, even with the knowledge that the Raccoons were in the yard. 

Rusty had settled finally on his blanket by the window, I made sure to keep the cat door locked from now on and went to my appointment. My lab results were far better than I could have hoped and while I had convinced myself that I had something very serious going on my doctor advised me that I had a few vitamin deficiencies and low iron, we agreed I would start supplements and follow up in a month, keeping up with my daily mental health walks or rides and I agreed to reach out to a few friends. 

Over the weeks that followed I watched mama raccoon from the kitchen and laundry room windows, she and her kits were growing fast, with no access to easy cat food and water, she and the kits slowly stopped visiting, oddly enough things inside also stopped going missing and my confidence in my memory and myself returned.

Rusty is still curled up on his blanket by the window, and as I hop on my blue bike for my mental health ride into town to meet an old co-work for tea, I say a silent prayer of protection for mama raccoon and her kits and gratitude for my health, cat and well being. 

THE END

Written by Karen M. Gibson