TFWMZ13_2017-04-01

Lilith and I had us a fine time up there in Washington State. I
thought of Mephistopheles every once in a while . . . but it was just too
painful. I pushed it back to the back of my noodle. I didn’t say
anything to Lilith . . . about old Buffcakes and what he had probably
done to her Mephistopheles. I didn’t want to spoil her fun.
You won’t believe what we returned to! The absolute horror on my
Aunt’s face when she come to get us at the airport. She looked at
Lilith. “Your cat!” She burbled out. “Ah to hell with this godforsaken
planet!” I thought, “Poor Mephistopheles. He is of this world no
more.”
But no! Hell no! It wasn’t Mephistopheles that was pushing up
daisies. It happened this way! So ashamed of the ass whoopin’ Jumbo
Buffcakes got at the paws of Mephistopheles, he went downstairs, into
Aunt Mary’s basement, and he committed suicide! Hung himself on
the girder! A dangling cat!
My aunt was not a happy broad. “Not my Mephistopheles!” said
Lilith. “Yeah, your Mephistopheles,” I told her, in my head, “That
peckerwood is a monster! A serial killer!”
We got back to Festus, Kansas, with (my hero) Mestopheles in his
carrier. But . . . well . . . it was looking bad. The neighbors were all
gathering about in front of our little house. They started shouting
things. Their cats had finally started peaking their heads out from
under the beds. They finally were getting used to the calm again . . .
and here was Mephistopheles back in town. They’d heard me say that
they wouldn’t have to worry anymore about that black and fierce
feline . . . both in color and in color of his heart! I’d told them all!
Spread the word! About Jumbo Buffcakes! How Mephistopheles had
surely met his match! A goner for sure! No ands, buts, or ifs! No
more Mephistopheles!
But here he was! Back in town! Looking all around! You could see
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