Rhea Thomas
Have You Seen My Sphinx?
Missing - Oakwood Grove Neighborhood
Paula H. on Moss Side Lane
May 27 at 8:13 AM
MISSING! My sphinx has escaped the backyard again. Please keep an eye out. Her name is Zara, and she might come to you if you call her by name. However, she doesn’t like men. Also, she’s going through menopause and is a bit grouchy, so you might want to avoid her. If she approaches you, don’t run. Hold very still and try your best to answer her riddles. If you see her, please call me and I’ll retrieve her safely, so no one gets hurt. There’s a reward.
Comments:
Jennifer T. - I haven’t seen your sphinx, but I’m very curious how you came to have one. Do you need a permit for that?
Alan M. - Is she microchipped?
Gene K. - What happens if you can’t answer her riddles correctly?
Luis H. - I wouldn’t advise calling her if you see her. She could kill a person.
Leslie R. - Oh, I’ve met her before. She’s very pleasant and intelligent. We discussed the theory of relativity for two hours.
Vick S. - Why do you keep her in the backyard and not the house?
Jennifer T. - I’m pretty sure that goes against our HOA policies.
Bev J. - I didn’t know sphinxes could go through menopause. Has she tried any hormone replacement therapy?
Linda L. - I hope she comes home soon. Prayers to you and your family.
Jake R. - I saw her! She was in the park by the school, perched on top of the playscape. She looked like she was locked in on those annoying chihuahuas that always escape their backyard and run loose in the park, barking at the ducks. How much is the reward?
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Paula H. on Moss Side Lane
May 27 at 9:43 PM
UPDATE: Thank you to everyone for helping us find Zara. She was successfully located and brought home, but not after, regrettably, eating several chihuahuas and a duck. My apologies to the one gentleman who approached and attempted to solve her riddle before we showed up. That was a close one. She’s now safely in our backyard, and we’ve reinforced the gate. She’s really quite happy here, she just occasionally gets bored. She’s my best friend, and I’m so thankful nothing bad happened to her.
Comments
Jake R. - Nothing bad happened to her … You’re kidding, right? Thank god nothing bad happened to any humans. Those poor chihuahuas…although I’m so glad I don’t have to hear them yapping anymore.
Linda L - Thank God! Our prayers to Him were answered, and your sweet friend was returned. God bless you and bless Jesus for his miracles today!
Bev J. - I really hope you’ve looked into hormone replacement therapy for her. Menopause is a b*tch. I know that I raged regularly before I got help. I could have easily eviscerated my husband. Frankly, eating chihuahuas is way more chill of a result than it could have been.
Paula H. (author) - I’ve contacted a veterinarian who handles exotic animals and my gynecologist. They are currently consulting on the best course of treatment for her unique biome.
Jennifer T. - I looked in the HOA handbook. There are no rules around sphinxes in particular, but exotic and/or mythical animals are strongly discouraged, and you need to get the HOA board's approval before having one on your property.
Vick S. - Surely you don’t keep your best friend chained in the backyard? She must have a bedroom in your house? That seems inhumane. I have a friend who has an alicorn in their backyard, but they’ve built a temperature-controlled stable for him.
Paula H., (author) - My husband purchased her on our honeymoon in Egypt. She’s always lived with us, and I can’t imagine life without her. She goes in and out of the house but seems to prefer the outdoors over the bedroom at night. As with most cats, she does like our bathtub.
Leslie R. - I’m not sure Zara could have lived with herself if she’d eaten that man. She’s a very deep thinker and empathetic being. I’m sure she would have controlled herself. We’re both reading the book Sapiens and plan to discuss it next weekend over tea.
Jennifer T. - The city of Austin does require a permit for mythological animals. I’d hate to suggest anyone might call the cops on you, but you’d better have a permit just in case.
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Luis H. on Hawthorne Street
May 28 at 8:35 AM
This is Laura, Luis’ wife. I can’t find him. He’s gone missing. He was last seen looking for our chihuahuas at Oakwood Park.
Rhea Thomas lives in Austin, Texas where she works as a program manager in the digital media world. Her short stories have been published in multiple publications, including, most recently, The Fictional Café, Toasted Cheese, and Does It Have Pockets. She spends her free time hoarding books, walking her stubborn Labrador retriever, playing games with her sons, kayaking and swimming in rivers, searching for mysteries and writing short stories that explore magical moments in the mundane. Her first book, a collection of short stories, was published in August 2025, and she’s currently working on a literary mystery novel. You can find her online at https://rheathomasauthor.com/
