My Cat Dodsworth

From: Mike Schmidt (mschmidt@wxc.com)
Story type: Ghost
Location: Memphis, TN
Source: Form Submission

My Cat Dodsworth

After reading one of the stories, "My Cat Nicky," I remembered another event that involved Dodsworth (see "My First Apartment").

He was a tabby tom, just like Nicky; and he also hated rain. Anyway, he was very affectionate and a house cat all his life. He lived for 11 1/2 years and moved with me to Nashville and Memphis. In Memphis, he became sick and finally I had to have him put down. I'd never done that before, and after burying him in my veterinarian/friend's yard, I went home and felt very guilty. One evening about a week later, my wife-to-be and I were driving home and a large tabby that looked like Dodsworth walked out in the street in front of the car and sat down. I stopped and blew the horn, but he just sat there. I got out and tried to shoo him away, but he wouldn't budge. I finally picked him up to carry him into the yard of the nearest house, and when I picked him up, he pushed his nose against mine, just like Dodsie used to do. I can't help thinking that maybe Dodsie was sending a message that night that everything was OK... or maybe I just needed to see it that way.