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