TABATHA FORRESTER
Out of nowhere a quite shocking event occurred. A vehicle zoomed through the street, stopping right in front of me, and that’s not all, it was an RCMP vehicle and the siren lights were on.
I didn’t know what to do. Looking left, right, behind me and then in front of me there appeared to be no way of escape. Besides RCMP officers are usually the cream-of-the-crop when it comes to Canadian law enforcement personnel. The fellow in the vehicle could probably pick me off like a wooden duck at a shooting contest in a carnival booth.
I stayed put. I figured the best way to deal with this problem was to stay calm; I was going back home to Ontario and everything was just fine.
A tall, burly red-haired man exited the RCMP vehicle but not before he turned off the siren lights. This is usually a good sign. Furthermore, his hand wasn’t on his holster and the expression on his face manifested empathy.
Nevertheless he was humungous, about 6 feet 6 inches and weighed roughly 300 pounds. I instinctively crouched down in case he was deceiving me.
“Kitty, how’s it going?”
“Huh, officer, umm, I mean you’re asking me how it’s going.”
“Yes, I sure am?”
“Oh, officer, I’m just fine. You kind of caught me off guard, cutting me off like that. I’ve never been cut off like that before.”
“The reason I cut you off before you crossed the street was because I was worried about you. It’s almost midnight. My shift ends soon. I wanted to warn you about an extremely dangerous predator named Tommy Wilson. He killed a man named Bugsy and he knocked out a little pregnant squirrel named Cynthia. Cynthia is a favourite at the Astoria City Park. Even I know her. And I’ll tell you something else, if I ever see the perpetrator of this heinous crime I’ll clobber him to a pulp with my night stick.
Tommy Wilson is also wanted for being the ring leader in the Astoria Bank robbery. What’s more, at least 6 persons were gunned down in cold blood during this heinous crime.”
I had to know more about the murders; “huh, I thought he killed less persons than that. Officer what do you mean at least 5 counts of murder?”
“At least 5 bank workers were murdered, and an elderly security guard too. The security guard was a part-timer. No one had ever robbed the Astoria Bank before therefore, no one at the bank felt that a brawny young man was needed to maintain order and safety therein.
Anyway, be careful wherever you’re heading too. Tommy Wilson is considered extremely dangerous. Worse yet, he’s a really nice looking cat, athletic, and charming. While on the run, he’ll be extremely desperate, thereby incredibly dangerous. In law enforcement this is a red flag. Imagine a wounded big cat on the run. Understand what I’m trying to say?”
“Yes, officer, thank you very much.”
“Kitty, you’re very welcome, and have a beautiful night. Wait, kitty, what’s your name anyway?”
He caught me totally off guard. I had to think really fast.
What name could I use? The first name that I could come up with was that of a hero named Corey Jameson, he passed away a few years ago. He was a brave cat who fought off several rapists in order to protect a ‘rape-drugged’ undergraduate student named Cynthia Corbett.
“Umm, my name, my name is Corey Jameson?”
“That’s a cute name. My name is Officer Edward Lawrence. I was born in Saskatchewan. Where were you born?”
“Huh, umm, I was born in Ontario.”
“Corey, it was a pleasure meeting you. Unfortunately, you and I are both in a hurry; I have to get back to headquarters, you have a bus to catch.”
Officer Lawrence grinned at me and then waved goodbye. He turned away then walked back to his vehicle. I didn’t move an inch until he drove off disappearing into the night.
I took several deep breaths, exhaling slowly following each deep breath then I proceeded to cross the street. I entered the Foxhound Bus Station at 11:45 P.M. nervous and confused. I had no idea where I was going to go.
I strolled through the bus station searching for the ticket booths. Thankfully it didn’t take long to find them. I galloped there, stopping at the line. There were six persons ahead of me. I didn’t mind waiting as long as I caught a bus leaving Astoria.
My turn came a short while. I took several steps towards ticket booth #9 then leaped onto the counter. I opened my shoulder bag, readying myself to pay for the bus fare.
“Hello kitty, how are you tonight?”
“Madam, I’m doing just fine, thanks for asking. By the way, do you have any super-specials, I mean, like a late night thing or something of a sort?”
“Well, kitty, we do. We have a special to British Columbia. If you purchase your ticket before midnight it will only be for 50 dollars, round trip will cost 85 dollars. It’s an incredible deal. And you’re very lucky too because the particular super special expires at midnight.”
“Yes, Miss, I want it! Here’s 50 dollars for a one-way trip.”
The ticket booth attendant took my money and then she got to work printing out my bus ticket.
“Here you go kitty, this is your ticket, and this is your receipt. Don’t lose either please. This is a non-refundable ticket. The receipt proves that you’re the person who paid for the ticket. Have a very enjoyable trip and please come back; Foxhound Bus Service prides itself in being the best inter- provincial bus service in Canada.”
I put my ticket and receipt inside my shoulder bag. After pausing for a moment, I closed my shoulder bag, thanked the ticket booth attendant and then leaped onto the floor. No sooner had I begun to walk away the ticket booth attendant called out to me.
“Kitty, walk straight ahead to Gate #12. Be careful.”
I had no time to turn and say thank you. I could see the passengers boarding the bus. The last thing I wanted to do was miss my bus.
I hustled my way to the line. The bus driver was a brown– haired, obese and freckled-faced. He was forty-something and had a jovial appearance.
When my turn came I handed my ticket to the bus driver and then waited for him to inspect it.
“Oh my dear, kitty, you must be a big shot! The ticket booth attendant gave you a super discounted ticket that’s good for a whole year.”
“Huh, Mister, I was under the impression that I had to use my ticket immediately.”
“Normally that’s the case but not for you.”(The bus driver winked at me indicating that this was an out of policy act and that I should be thankful and keep quiet.).
I obliged him by taking my ticket and boarding the bus without saying another word. To tell you the truth I felt really bad about not even having the courtesy to turn back after the ticket booth attendant gave me directions. But then, remember, I was in a real hurry.
I walked to the back of the bus then leaped onto a designated chair. I craned my neck and then studied the other passengers. I counted 9 of them; 8 of the passengers were males and one was a female. No one appeared to be out of place. They looked like typical Canadians.
I un-craned my neck then slithered my way to the window. I wanted to get one last look at Astoria before leaving. It was a given that I was never going to return. In fact, I’d probably never be able to return to this part of the province. Here I was, an innocent fugitive knowing that I could never return to a Canadian city. What a sad tale, indeed.
Nevertheless, I had pressing concerns to deal with. I understood that local police or RCMP Officers could board our bus at any time during my ride. The RCMP has jurisdiction throughout all of Canada, especially if it’s known that a fugitive has crossed provincial lines. If however, I were to cross the Canadian border into the United States, the FBI and Interpol would become a ‘nemesis addendum’ to my ongoing problems. The last thing I needed was to be on America’s Most Wanted list. In that case, I’d have to leave the entire hemisphere and live in Europe. Even in this part of the world there’d be no guarantee. With internet and satellite television people from around the world could spot me quite easily. As for extradition, hardly a government out there would raise a finger to help me. I’d probably end up living with Julian Assange. No thanks, I’d rather play it safe.
“Ladies and gentlemen on behalf of Foxhound Inc., I wish each and every one of you a safe and enjoyable journey.”
A short while later we were on our way. The bus driver exited the Foxhound parking lot and then turned right. Then he headed to the highway. I made sure to see as much of Astoria as I could until we left city limits. We drove through the downtown core to Stanton Street heading east. Six blocks later the bus driver entered the ramp leading into the highway. It was over, no more Astoria forever.
Upon our entry into the highway I lost my ability to stay awake. It was already 12:15 P.M. and in a general sense most highways look the same after dark; there’s not much to look at except other vehicles.
I closed my eyes, instantly falling asleep. I had a whole lot of sleeping to do. The stress and anxiety, along with the treachery, deceit, and running that I was forced to endure took a toll on me. I had one dream after another. Deep sleep and dreaming are essential for a good night’s rest.
I awakened at 6:45 A.M., seeing nothing but highway I closed my eyes then fell into another deep sleep. I awakened several more times throughout the morning but at noon I awakened for the last time. We were in the Maple City Foxhound Bus Station. Maple City is in west central Manitoba. I couldn’t stay cooped up in the bus any longer. By then, most of the passengers in the bus were newbie, I mean, they were fresh passengers. I’d been cooped up in the bus for many hours-on-end.
As I exited the bus I couldn’t help but notice that the driver was a different person. This driver was a middle-aged, red-haired and kind of good looking woman. She had a medium build and freckles scattered throughout her body especially on her face. She had beautiful blue eyes. Unfortunately, she was frowning.
“Bye kitty, hope to see you soon!”
“Oh, thanks Miss and same to you!” Her kind words couldn’t hide her mood. I didn’t take it personally, driving a bus from town and city to town and city is a demanding job.
I walked to the Foxhound bus terminal. As soon as I entered the building I smelled something stinky. To my left was a wino, dead asleep. He smelled like a guy who hadn’t bathed in ages and drank hard liquor often. If you’ve ever lived in a large North American city you know what I mean. The smell’s quite repulsive, indeed.
I continued walking through the building until I reached the exit. I took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then exhaled. I was now in unfamiliar territory without any legal identification. I hate to say it but I had to go about getting fake I. D. again. This time around I’d ask for a legal– looking nondriver’s identification card and absolutely nothing else. I’d pay a maximum of 50 dollars and not a penny more. And under no circumstances would I even talk to someone who appeared underhanded or criminal-like; only clean cut law-biding-looking persons would be acceptable.
Indeed, the bus driver was feeling down and out. Perhaps some cat-style therapy would help. The good news is, we both had some extra time on our hands and the bus driver was technically still in her work quarters. All she had to do was present herself in front of her bus a short while before the scheduled departure.
“Miss, listen, both of us have some extra time on our hands. We should go to the snack bar it’ll be my treat; a meal, a snack, or a soft drink, coffee or a hot chocolate.
“Wow, kitty that sounds awesome. Actually, I’m in the mood for coffee, nothing else. I’ll eat as soon as I arrive at my final destination for today which is Belmont, Ontario. I’m staying there for a couple of days. I have a cousin there. Linda’s a very kind and courteous person, I’m always welcome in her home. One more thing, I’m bigger and older than you, therefore, the tab will be on me.”
“So be it, let’s go to the snack bar; coffee for two, okay?”
“Umm, Miss, by the way, what’s your name?”
“My name is Tabitha Forrester, and what’s your name, kitty?”
“Umm, my name is Corey Jameson.”
Tabitha and I went to the snack bar and then stood in line to give our order. There were only 3 persons ahead of us. Our turn came a short while later.
“Hi, Tabitha, how are you doing?”
“Karen, I’m doing just fine. Corey and I want 2 extra large coffees, 4 creams and 3 sugars in each. Corey, is that okay?”
I grinned and then nodded my head. Tabitha paid for our order then we stood away from the line. A small crowd of people entered the snack bar, likely because a bus had just arrived.
“Here you go, Tabitha.”
“Thanks, Karen, you’re a sweet person.”
Tabitha carried the coffee cups to a table located in a far corner of the snack bar. The snack bar’s interior was well designed. The tables, chairs, napkins, and shakers were clean and organized.
We sat down, and then Tabitha removed the lid from each coffee cup. Instantly, I felt that something was missing. I focused really hard on the problem at hand; I got it.
“Tabitha I forgot to get a straw. I can’t drink this coffee without a straw. If I do the cup will tip over and burn me.”
No sooner had I turned to position myself to leap off of the table Karen appeared out of nowhere, “Corey, sorry about that. Here’s your straw. I heard Tabitha call you Corey after she made her order.”
“Thanks a lot Karen. I really appreciate you helping me in such a sweet manner.”
Karen walked back to the cash register, meanwhile Tabitha was fuming. She didn’t like the idea of me speaking to another girl. Or maybe there was bad blood between them.
“Huh, that little wench thinks she can snatch you away from me! Even though she’s a close friend of mine, it doesn’t give her the right to cross the line. If she does I’ll make sure all hell breaks loose. I don’t like it when women do that. They see you with a guy, and oh my, they must interject themselves into the relationship. Some of these girls are as sharp as scalpels.”
At that very moment, I became certain that Tabitha was a bit off base. I couldn’t pinpoint her mental health ailment though. I started sucking on the straw hoping that Tabitha would forget what’d ensued with Karen.
“So, umm, Tabitha, how long have you been a Foxhound bus driver?”
“Corey, I understand exactly what you’re trying to do. Let me see, you want to try to figure out my age, right?”
“No, Tabitha, I just want to know more about you. You seem like a very nice and interesting person. Please don’t take offense to my question, I really mean it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I overstepped my bounds here. I jumped the gun like a gunslinger. Okay, I’ve been at Foxhound for 5 year. That doesn’t make me an old hag. Some female bus drivers have been driving at Foxhound for 25 or 30 years. They’re all fat, ugly, and wrinkled up, not beautiful like me. I’m the most beautiful female bus driver in the whole world, right?”
“Huh, yes, umm, you’re an incredibly beautiful bus driver. And it’s an honor to be your friend.”
“Corey, I didn’t ask you about whether I was incredibly beautiful or not. I want to know if you think that I’m the most beautiful female bus driver, uh-hum, in the whole world.”
I was wrong, Tabitha wasn’t a bit off base she was a total nutcase. I had to go along with her twisted thoughts and illusions.
“Yes, Tabitha, you’re the most beautiful female bus driver in the whole world. And that’s not all you’re a very nice person too.”
Following my ‘correct response’ I took notice of something in my peripheral vision. Karen was waving her hand, trying to get my attention.
As soon as she realized I saw her she whispered some words to me.
“Corey, please DO NOT trust this psycho case. Foxhound Inc. has given her one last chance, if she behaves like a nut case in any way, shape, or form again, especially while she’s driving, the game will be over.
Tabitha’s extremely possessive. Worse yet, she can’t make it with a man. She may think you’re her new man. Be extremely careful and DO NOT tell her where you live or divulge incriminating information.”
Tabitha took notice of my diverted gaze. She quickly turned her head to face Karen. Thankfully, Karen had just turned away to serve a customer.
“Corey was Karen mocking me. If she was please tell me? I promise I won’t bludgeon her to death. I’m not that kind of a girl. Oh, by the way did you see the movie Psycho?”
Considering the context of our conversation, her question about the movie Psycho just about made me poop and pee in my seat. It was the creepiest question anyone had ever asked me. I felt that answering it would lead to more creepy questions, therefore, I ignored it completely.
“Oh, umm, no, I’m sure Karen loves you dearly. Don’t think badly about her. Listen, I got really strong vibes from Karen when you ordered our coffees. She may actually love you like her own sister, and she’d never hurt your feelings.”
Tabitha continued drinking her coffee. I did likewise. For the following 15 or so minutes not a word was spoken by either of us. Then we finished our coffees.
“Corey, let’s sit together in a far off secluded corner of the Foxhound Terminal okay?”
“That sounds like a good idea. Let’s go there right now.”
I leaped onto the floor Tabitha threw our coffee cups into the garbage can. Then, she turned to face Karen, waved goodbye and proceeded to leave the snack bar. I followed Tabitha, staying to her right. I had two problems. How was I going to terminate our meeting? Worse yet how would she respond? I was starting to feel quite uncomfortable around her. And I had a strong feeling that there was more creepy behavior to be manifested.
Shortly thereafter, we arrived at a nice isolated spot. Therein was a long bench and the nearest person to us was at least 100 feet away. Tabitha and I could speak with each other candidly and without having to look over our shoulders. I never liked snoops.
No sooner had we sat down a man dressed in a dark gray trench coat, wearing shades, and a black hat sat roughly 20 feet from us. What’s more, his coat collar was pulled up like the non-cropped ears of a Doberman pinscher, if you’ve ever seen that rare look. And there was one more thing I could’ve sworn that this shady looking character was in the snack bar when Tabitha and I were there. I was just about to bring up this matter with Tabitha, unfortunately she spoke before I could even get a word in.
“Corey, I have a secret to tell you. Now, I want you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone in the whole world, okay?”
“All right, cat’s honor, I promise that I won’t tell anyone in the whole world, neither a human nor an animal, nor even myself for that matter. Your secret shall be locked up inside me and under no circumstances shall I reveal it to anyone else, even the threat of torture, banishment, and death will not break my silence.”
“Oh my dear, Corey, I love you so much! Thank goodness, I can finally tell someone my big secret. Listen up, okay, first things’ first, I want you to slide towards me. You and I must be close enough to smell each other’s breath and feel the air expelling from our mouths when we speak.”
I found that quite disgusting. Humans do have a plethora of breath fresheners, but when they don’t use them, they have the worst, most disgusting breath of all mammals. I had to slither my way out of this one without insulting Tabitha.
“Tabitha, I’m a cat, and more so, an Anglophone cat. We have a personal space beam that’s larger than lovey-dovey humans. Please DO NOT take it as an insult, okay. I’ll slide as close as I can to you without feeling uncomfortable. Is that satisfactory?”
Tabitha grinned at me and then waved me closer to her. Judging from her body language she took no offense to my remark.
“Corey I’m on probation from the Foxhound management. You see, umm, a whole bunch of Foxhound employees have been lodged complaints against me. They say that I’m a psycho case, that I’m unfit to drive a Foxhound bus, and that the best job suitable for me is that of assistant trainee janitor, strictly assistant toilet cleaning.
One more strike and I’m out. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to do anything else. I don’t look my years, but guess what, I’m 40 years-old, have never been married and have no kids. I live alone, and beside the enemies that I work with, I have a dismal social life; Karen considers me a customer first. You’re the only person in the whole world that I can open up to.”
I braced myself for more freaky stuff. I felt like I was dreaming. How could any person’s mind be so warped?”
“Corey, I’m on anti-psychotic and anti-depressant meds. I don’t like taking my meds they have side effects that are very annoying. I haven’t been taking my meds lately. Actually, it’s been a couple of weeks.
Corey, when I drive a Foxhound bus sometimes I see monsters, goblins, and creeps standing on the shoulder of the highway. I feel like swerving my bus and striking them dead cold. I become so enraged I lose contact with reality, even forgetting about the passengers in the bus.”
“Tabitha, you must not drive a Foxhound bus ever again. Take your meds and please find another occupation!”
No sooner had I said those words the man in the trench coat stood up. Immediately thereafter, a dozen persons including Foxhound Inc. employees and local Maple City Police officers converged upon us. I had absolutely no clue what was going on.
“Tabitha, you’re under arrest!” shouted a tall, burly policeman.
“What’s going on here, I’m just having a friendly conversation with my friend Tabitha.”
The man in the trench coat approached us then spoke, I’m undercover Officer Daniels. We got you on tape, every last word needed to incriminate and fire you from your job. Furthermore, the crown (prosecuting attorney) will likely seek to charge you with a whole sleuth of crimes. You’re a threat to society. Corey thanks a lot for helping us.”
I was shocked, unable to speak. Suddenly two stocky policemen threw Tabitha onto the floor, cuffed her, and then took her away; meanwhile, she was screaming her head off. A congregation of travellers converged upon the scene. Everyone in the arresting group left, except for the man wearing the trench coat.
“Corey, I’m going to need your full name, address, and phone number; if you can give me your email too that’ll be nice.
You may be called upon as a witness in a Foxhound hearing and in a court of law.”
“Damn you Corey, you betrayed me! You let these goblins and wizards grab hold of me! Don’t you love me?”
“Corey, listen, I have to give the officers instructions pertaining to Tabitha’s arrest and where she should be taken. I need to gag Tabitha too, and she may have to be put in a straightjacket. Stay put, okay. This is an order from an officer of the law. If you leave the Foxhound Terminal you will be committing a serious crime punishable by death ... I mean incarceration.”
“Okay, Officer Daniels, I’ll stay put, I promise.”
As soon as Officer Daniels left me I ran the nearest exit. The force of my momentum literally shattered the glass door.
Everyone in the terminal, including Officer Daniels heard the commotion. I couldn’t have cared less though, I was on the run.
“Hey, stop right there! Damn you Corey, I told you not to move! Come back or we’ll use lethal force against you!”
It was a bluff. As soon as I ran through the exit I came across a spacious parking lot, people therein were coming and going. Too many potential innocent bystanders and witnesses meant that the police could not fire at me.
Meanwhile, I could hear the treading of feet fast approaching. Worse yet, it was one in the afternoon and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, literally illuminating the entire area. I sprinted through the parking lot then entered Yellowstone Street; thank goodness it was a side-street. I had no other choice in the matter. I ran to the end of Yellowstone Street and then leaped onto a large tree, then scaling it like a leopard. I was now atop a hefty tree looking down upon a large area.
I crouched down so no one could see me. No sooner had I closed my eyes I passed out. The stress of it all was too much for me. Upon awakening I noticed that it was dark already. Glancing up at the sky I pondered about what it would be like to live on another planet. I’m not talking about Jupiter or Neptune, or whatever. I’m talking about inhabitable planets. Perhaps it would be better for me. Unfortunately, it was impossible to get there. Unless the Gray aliens were to somehow come to Earth and then take me back with them, an impossible scenario indeed.
There was no time to daydream. My life, along with Tabitha’s, were presently in turmoil. She was going to be incarcerated, I was on the run. I couldn’t stay in Maple City too long, perhaps one or two days at the very most. Someone in law enforcement may put two and two together, making a connection between me and the killer cat.
I earnestly pondered about what to do next, trying to conjure up some viable options. What do I do next? This was the million dollar question that I asked myself. With no one to confide with it was all up to me to come up with an answer.
There were no police vehicles or personnel in sight, and I heard no chatter from them either, a clear sign that the coast was clear. I carefully descended the hefty tree, face down of course. I’m not a sloth or a bear.
Upon descending unto the ground I deduced that I had to stay clear of the Foxhound Inc. terminal, a dangerous place indeed.
I left Yellowstone Street, entering another one immediately thereafter. It was then that I realized that my presence in a dead-end side street could’ve ended up being a death sentence.
There’s nowhere to run. Thank goodness for trees.
It was 8:00 P.M. and for the following two hours I strolled through Maple City. A new thought pulsated through my mind. I felt really sorry for Tabitha. Perhaps, I could help her escape her tormentors.
I entered Raymond Street then headed to Jack’s Restaurant. I wasn’t seeking food. In actuality I was searching for an underhanded fellow. Someone who could help me; I had a game-plan in my head. All I needed was one article, a fake identification card.
My sudden desperation resulted in my lower of standards. For the time being, an underhanded person would be the only one who could possibly help me.
I kept low, staying out of the way of customers entering and leaving Jack’s Restaurant. I headed to the back of the restaurant near the Dumpsters.
No sooner had I arrived I saw a raccoon eating food that had been tossed away into a blue Dumpster. It was no surprise, raccoons and rats are notorious for this kind of behavior.
“Hey, excuse me do you want to make some extra money?” I asked.
Instantly, the raccoon dropped his food and then