Jay Smith is a writer and book store browser from Harrisburg Pennsylvania. You can find his books here at this link.

Squeekie, the official bookstore cat
of Cupboard Maker Books.

Squeekie was a star, one of the literary glitterati around Cupboard Maker Books. He conducted himself like an elder gentleman in a Somerset Maugham novel. I met him a few years ago and he greeted me with a gift: his attention. It was his way to greet newcomers and inspect them, compliment them by circling the ankles and squeaking up at them. If you were found interesting enough, he might sit at your feet and wait for your response otherwise he would be on his way along the stacks to another important engagement. He was dignified at all times, even when picked up by people without his permission. The gift of his attention was brief because he had other people to greet and engage. After all, it was his book store and his duty was to his guests.

It was also Squeekie’s duty to inspect the events and host the crowds by herding them in lines or inspecting the table displays or even taking a spot in the author’s row between writers. Again, it was his store and his face on a few of the books. He loved his responsibilities and carried them out with great affection.

When I met Squeeks years ago, I met a friend. He was on one of his favorite perches, in the front window overlooking the train tracks. We spoke a bit and he crawled up onto my chest to continue our conversation around the store. He kneaded my shoulder and purred all the way to the front counter where he asked to hop off. Since then, he and I were buddies and he always found time for me even when there were crowds around the store waiting for his attention.

Author Jay Smith
accompanied by Squeekie

After a while, that effort started to take a lot out of the old man. He would be “on” for hours on Saturdays, taking breaks “backstage” in the office to rest and refuel. But like any good performer and host, he was always driven to get back out and make sure everyone was having a good time, even when the lines were out the door for a NYT Bestselling author or the Fortress Publishing, Inc. crew, no one overshadowed Squeeks and he crashed hard Saturday nights.

He was a dignified old man, but he was not above playing with the rescue cats and negotiating with his sometimes (okay, OFTEN) cranky partner Annika (Cupboard Maker Cats). Squeekie, always the diplomatic type, mentored the new cats until they found their forever homes. He would often cut loose and drink water straight from the restroom tap, taking advantage of the acoustics therein to sing us a song to shake the rafters.

On those rare visits I’d make to Cupboard Maker during the week, I would always find Squeekie napping, a habit he enjoyed. Even as he got older and those nap times expanded, Squeekie would recognize voices and wake up just long enough to greet his guests from his bed. He would chirp and purr and accept scratches and pets, then drift away again.
Squeekie was an old soul and my friend. He passed away last night after a long life rubbing elbows with the greats and caring for a lot of people who loved him very much. I was honored to be one of his writers for his anthology series and proud to have him choose my table whenever I had a chance to sign.

Squeekie was instrumental in helping out with book signings.
seen here with Author Heather Hutsell

My heart hurts for those who lived and loved with Squeekie every day at Cupboard Maker Books and all his fans.

Sleep well, buddy. You’ve got a bigger adventure to come when you wake up.

Cupboard Maker Books Website

Jay Smith on Amazon.com