MEDUSA
By Beatriz Salcedo-Strumpf
Cassandra used to say to her friends: “Medusa is one of the most beautiful felines in the world.”
Medusa, an angora cat with one green and one blue eye. Her long and fluffy tail sometimes became like a question mark when her owner took her for a walk to the park at sunrise as if she were a dog. When the other dogs watched her and approached her they took precautions. But Medusa immediately hissed and scratched their noses, and they ran away from her as if they saw the devil.
People loved her elegance and charisma. Other pedestrians stopped to caress her and ask Cassandra how she trained Medusa to walk on a harness and leash. “She does it by instinct,” she said with pride.
Cassandra was unmarried and a retired teacher. She lived in her apartment alone with Medusa and had a very special relationship: they spent all their time together except when Cassandra went to the mall or to buy groceries or visit her friends where she used to work. Naturally, they went together to the beauty parlor for a trim once a month.
At night, Medusa curled up alongside her owner and with her purring took Cassandra to the world of dreams. It seemed that both enjoy an erotic relationship since Cassandra loved the passionate licks that Medusa gave with her rough tongue in her face, arms and legs while Medusa will stretch sensually so that Cassandra caressed her softly all over her body.
One day, Cassandra met Hector at the park. His attention was drawn by Medusa’s elegant walk and Cassandra’s long black hair. He approached them flattering Medusa’s beauty. Since that day Hector waited for Cassandra with her gorgeous feline.
After a few weeks of seeing each other at the park, Hector invited Cassandra to go out to a café; she accepted gladly.
After a few pleasant meetings and conversations, Cassandra invited Hector to her apartment. When they arrived Cassandra was very surprised that Medusa didn’t come to greet her with her usual musical meow. She called to her for a few minutes and she emerged and approached Hector. First, she smelled Hector as if were her first time smelling him. The curious behavior of the cat made him nervous. He tried to caress her and she scratched him painfully. Cassandra offered to wash the wound to avoid an infection.
That evening, Hector said goodbye to Cassandra and left a little bit confused by Medusa’s strange behavior. Cassandra assured him that Medusa will get accustomed to his presence and he agreed.
That night Medusa refused for the first time to sleep with her master. Medusa slept in the living room’s sofa alone. Cassandra went to her bedroom without understanding the behavior of her adorable feline.
The days passed. Hector and Cassandra continued their meetings at the same café at least twice a week. After one of their dates she proposed to go back to her apartment and see if Medusa’s jealousy had subsided.
This time Medusa greeted her owner and as soon as Cassandra sat in the armchair, she jumped into her lap and started to purr flirtatiously. When the chat was very lively, Hector went to the restroom. Medusa took advantage of the moment and peed on his blazer, without Cassandra noticing. When he returned, Hector felt more at ease with Medusa’s calm behavior.
A short time later, Hector said it was time for him to leave. But when he went for his blazer, Hector noticed it was wet and was greeted by the unpleasant odor of cat pee. It was completely wet.
Once more, Cassandra was embarrassed and apologetic with Hector. She explained to him that Medusa had never done this before. She thought that Medusa might be sick and promised she would take her to the vet the next day. Moreover, Cassandra offered to take his blazer to the dry cleaner.
Hector said goodbye very affectionately, although he was worried about Medusa’s boldness. When Hetor was gone, Cassandra confronted Medusa angrily and looked into her blue-green eyes: “ Medusa, why do you keep complicating me my life with Hector? Devil cat!”
Without Cassandra realizing, Medusa’s eyes changed from their normal color to red, full of evil and malevolence. Medusa, without purring or meowing, went to Cassandra’s bed, letting her know that it was time to go to sleep on the pillows made of goose feathers.
The next day, Cassandra took her cat at the vet. The results showed no illness or infection.
Cassandra thought that perhaps in the morning the three of them should go for a walk and then to the café. Perhaps Medusa would enjoy the walk and would be occupied pestering the dogs or hunting birds and squirrels.
Hector accepted and agreed to get together at the same park where they first met. He awaited them anxiously and impatiently. To their surprise, Medusa ignored Hector. The three walked towards the café.
Inside the café was a little caged monkey that would amuse the guests with tricks and dances. This time, however, the monkey was out of his cage. Medusa approached him, unable to contain her curiosity; when she grew close, the monkey screamed with terror, starting a horrendous fight between them. Hector tried to separate them without success. Once more, he emerged covered in scratches, this time from both animals. One of the waiters apologized for letting the monkey out and returned the monkey to his cage.
Cassandra took her cat into her arms and asked Hector if they could leave. The three walked in silence to Cassandra’s apartment. She offered Hector some tea to help calm his nerves after such a catastrophic incident. He accepted, but said he would stay for only a few minutes. Cassandra played a CD of the song “Ode to Joy.” She excused herself for a moment to the bathroom.
Hector stayed in the living room with Medusa. In front of him was a large mirror. In the reflection, he suddenly saw the cat’s ears become massive horns; the fluffy tail turned long, red and thin; and the incisors grew long. Medusa grew to the size of the entire mirror. A sulfurous odor enveloped Hector, and a sensation of hatred emanated from the diabolic sight. Hector began to sweat copiously and his breath grew labored. His heart couldn’t tolerate the malevolent sight, and he fell to the floor, as if struck by a bolt of lightening.
Cassandra heard the sound of his fall and rushed into the living room, mouth agape. With horror, she saw the lifeless body of her beloved and tried to revive him. When she was unsuccessful, she called 911. Cassandra waited for the ambulance in the armchair. Medusa jumped into her lap and licked her hands, trying to console her. Then she glanced at the mirror decorating the wall for a glimpse of her diabolical image laughing malevolently at its success.
In the meantime, her owner sobbed for her loss and heard in the distance the sound of the ambulance.
Talita 
El gato es muy blanco! Esta historia fue muy entretenida y triste.
El gato es muy blanco! Esta historia fue muy entrenada y triste. (First comment had spelling errors)
Que historia tan horrorosa. No me gustan los gatos ahora me gustan menos. El gato de esta historia es tan celoso quiere a su duena pero no quiere que su duena este con nadie mas! Se ve lindo y blanco pero no lo es porque es un gato malvado quizas es asi porque se llama Medusa. Creo que esta es una historia muy facinante me gusto.
Karina:
Me alegra mucho que te haya gustado.
Medusa es muy hermoso! El final de la historia fue muy inesperado y sorprendente. Me gustó mucho!
Esta historia fue muy emocionante! El gato tenia un lado que nadie esperaba. Para empezar el gato fue muy simpática y dulce y luego el gato era muy malo. Me quede muy sorprendida para averiguar el gato era el diablo. Me gusta esta historia porque es muy creativo.
il vostro gatto Medusa è stupendo !
ese gato es tan gordo pero aún lindo
I used to not like cats as a kid, but about a year ago I got a pure bread russian blue cat and he’s the coolest cat ever.
I don’t like cats and have always been a little afraid of them. Que triste y horrible!
Este gato es una locura. Me gustó mucho esta historia. Creo que es muy triste que el gato se sentía muy celoso de la nueva persona en la vida de Cassandra. El final de esta historia fue impactante. No esperaba Héctor se enferme. Fue un giro inesperado y me gustó mucho.
Me sorprendió que la historia terminó con Hector muerto y Medusa lo mató. Yo debería haber sabido que Medusa era mala por su nombre. Me encantan gatos y tengo tres pero espero que mis gatos no son malos! Estoy triste por Cassandra.
Esta historia fue muy interesante ! Me gustó cómo el gato era difícil de predecir. El gato parecía muy agradable y luego el gato era todo lo contrario. No era lo que esperaba, pero he disfrutado leyendo esto.
El gato es muy loca. Medusa es un gato de miedo. No puedo creer que celosamente tornó violenta. Me siento triste por Cassandra. No me gustan gatos especialmente Medusa!
Ese es un muy hermoso gato blanco . Creo que Medusa era muy celoso de que ella iba a ser reemplazado, y que tal vez ella pensaba que Cassandra sólo debe ser de ella . Es muy claro que el nombre del gato, Medusa es una referencia al personaje griego Medusa . Paralelo muy interesante.
Ese gato es absolutamente malo. No quiero un gato como ese. ¿Cómo podría tener nunca una relación si el gato era una criatura diabólica? Eso sería tan inconveniente. Me puedo imaginar.
No se que un gato puede ser tan malvado. Tengo solo perros todo mi vida. Sabo un gato similar a Medusa, llamado Fiona. Fiona no es como malvado como Medusa. Medusa no tiene mucho amor.
Lo que es una historia horrible . El gato es muy blanco y media . El gato no es muy agradable después de todo!
medussa parece como un puñado veces
Another exciting story! With such a huge plot twist! Who knew an animal could be the villain! You should share these in class!!
I enjoyed this story because I thought it was interesting the way that the cat was so jealous. I’ve never liked cats and this story gives me more reason to. However the twist was very crazy and it goes to show how pets are really drawn to their owners.
Medusa es muy Hermosa! Su cuenta fue muy interesante a leer y me gusta el giro que el gato es, de verdad, un gato del diablo!
I enjoyed this story because it was very interesting the way it spoke about the cat. It shows the different traits that a cat can have and how loyal they are to their owners.
Very cool story and a cool plot twist. I defiantly didn’t expect the cat to be the villain. This also reminds me of my cat at home because she is all white as well just like the picture.
Al principio pensé que esto era una historia verdadera. Fue reconfortante y dulce. Entonces se puso muy ficción. Fue escrito muy bien y unquie. Me hizo querer leer más.
¡Me encantó la historia! El gato parecía tan amoroso y hermoso al principio pero poco alguien sabe cómo podría ser mal Mudsa. La historia se volvió oscurezca bastante rápido. Pensé que Mudsa iba a aprender a amar Hector y tres de ellos se convertiría en una familia. No esperaba para que Hector a morir al final. Me pregunto si el dueño se dio cuenta de que el gato fue el motivo de la muerte de Héctor y lo que ella decide hacer al respecto. También disfruté mucho la forma de que la historia fue escrita. Realmente había atrapado mi interés y me mantuvo intrigado con el giro argumental. Además, fue escrito con tal detalle perfecto, realmente me hizo sentir como si fuera casi.
Una historia muy interesante aquí. Interesante cómo el gato parece ser tan bonito y hermoso en el principio. Poco sabíamos que se volvería tan malo. Esperanzadamente, el dueño terminó por descubrir que el gato era la causa de la muerte de los hectors. Realmente disfruté de cómo esta historia fue escrita y una gran lectura.
I thought medusa was just a name of for the nice cats usual eyes what a plot twist that she was evil!
I really like this story, it was very interesting. Medusa looks identical to my cat Miley at home!
It was a good story and i was surprised to find out that the cat was the bad guy in the end.
This is a good story and I like the twist at the end. Also, Medusa looks like my cat back at home.
This is a very well written story with a very good twist ending. I have never been a big fan of cats so I definately enjoyed the ending and how the cat was portrayed at the end.
que historia más loca Es cierto que en la sociedad, las apariencias engañan. También hay muchas historias de fiestas celosas que hacen cosas locas para obtener lo que desean. Personalmente, no me gusta la actitud de Medusa. Su comportamiento es el de un tipo controlador de persona / animal. Esas personas / animales son muy manipuladores y deben evitarse a toda costa.