The Madness of Jake Caulder chapter 13

Chapter 13

End of August 1994

​After Mrs. Caulder’s murder,​Jake was handed over to child services to see what was to be done with him. He had become quieter than normal, not surprising for someone so young to have experienced such a thing as he had. He became very withdrawn and wouldn’t respond to questions from anyone.

​It wasn’t until Mrs. Keller, the former owner of Fluffy, came to see how Jake was doing that he started to appear as if he might be on the road to recovery. He called her by name, and seemed at ease with her. After signing papers for Jake’s release into her care, Jake went home with Mrs. Keller to be the son she never had.

​When they pulled up to the front door, Jake didn’t want to get out of the car. There on the front porch was Fluffy. Or at least he thought it was. With a little coaxing, Mrs. Keller got Jake out of the car and brought Jake towards the cat

​“Jake, I want you to meet the other member of my family. His name’s Casey. Don’t be frightened. He won’t bite.”

​Jake seemed in a daze as he approached the cat that he was sure was Fluffy, but as he got close, he realized that this cat was entirely different from the original one. The cat approached cautiously, not knowing what to make of this boy clinging to its owner, but after a moment, he came and rubbed up against him, purring as he did.

​“You see Jake, Casey likes you. Go ahead and pet him to show him you like him too.”

​Jake hesitated for a moment, certain that Casey/Fluffy would strike out and bite him but the cat just rubbed up against Jake’s leg even more and purred louder.

​“Oh he is nice.” Jake said as a smile came over his face. “You aren’t at all like that nasty Fluffy used to be.” he said in little more than a whisper.

​“What was that Jake?” Mrs. Keller asked somewhat alarmed.

​“I just said that Casey and I will be good friends”

​But Mrs. Keller wasn’t at all sure that that’s what Jake had said and she got a sense of foreboding that she just couldn’t explain or shake. Maybe that’s what he had said. After all, her hearing wasn’t as good as it once had been.