Monday, June 29, 2015

Is This Your Cat?

So the other evening it went like this:

(Me futzing around on the computer while Wallaby naps in his room and Arizona snoozes on the couch.)

(Car drives up Steepest Driveway Evah … moments later, a brisk knock sounds at the downstairs door.)

Me: Goes out onto upper porch to check out the situation. There's a strange man standing there, pretty big, looking kind of intense. However, the car is a minivan-ish thing, there are two kids in the back and a woman in the passenger side. Despite those episodes of Criminal Minds about serial killer families, I decide they're probably not an immediate threat, and go down the stairs. "Can I help you?"

Him: "We're Number Nine."

(There's probably a science fiction reference there, but I take it to mean that these are our neighbors a few houses down, who we know to wave at and occasionally return their dogs.)

Me: "Hi. Welcome to Nineteen."

Her: (Sticks arm out window.) "Is this your cat?"

Me: (Regards little black-and-white fluff ball with a mingled sensation of uh-oh, I'm in trouble and SQUEEEEE!) "Um, no."

Her: (Face falling.) "Darn. We were hoping … It just came into our yard. And we've got those two big dogs. It's really friendly … and there's that storm coming ..."

Me: (Puts on my "SUCKER" hat, steps forward and takes kitten.)

Kitten: (Correctly reading "SUCKER" sign.) Burrows under my chin and purrs. 

Me: (Realizing that kitty is pretty much an animated skeleton beneath the fluff.) "I guess I can ask around, and find her a home. Or maybe she can stay."

Neighbors: (General relief, some small talk--they seem like really nice people, actually, and we've got some stuff in common. Arizona and I really need to have that block party we keep talking about. Anyway, they take off.)

Me: (Regards house.) "Okay, kitten. Be cute!"

(We go upstairs.) 

Arizona: (Rouses. Blinks at kitten. Realizes it's not Pixel or Lucy. And then, because he's awesome, he says "Awww" and reaches out to take the kitten.) "Are you hungry, little one? You look hungry. Come on, we've got some squishy food in the other room."

[Later, after I put out some Facebook calls on the local forum, asking if anyone is missing a kitten, or wants one, and get a whole lot of "Congratulations on your new family member!" posts in return …]

Arizona: (Looks at me wearing purring kitten on my shoulder and the baby in my lap, while Pixel sits near my feet and Lucy hovers in the doorway, trying to look uninterested.) "I guess I should thank you for deciding to volunteer at the horse rescue. I thought you were kidding when you said you didn't dare work at a kitty rescue."

Me: "In my defense, it doesn't count as crazy until the cats outnumber the people. And, no, I'm not going to use that as logic for having another baby. I promise!" 

Because three feels like the exact right number to me, in both people and pets. So please join us in welcoming Bunker to the fold!





14 comments:

  1. Kitty!!!!! I love cats! Sadly I'm allergic to cats and they make my face swell up (it's hilarious until I can't breathe, though I still laugh through it haha). So you can use me as an excuse to get another cat if that situation comes up, "we can have another cat cuz Stacy can't and lives for the kitty pics I post!" Hehe!

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    1. Ohh, noes! (I must confess to having had some major 'what if the baby is allergic' angst while pregnant. So far, so good, though. Me? I'm allergic to hay and dust. Funny how much better I can breathe these days ...)

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  2. This post is just so 'you' because it showcases that big, goopy heart of yours. Welcome to Bunker...he's a lucky kitty.

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    1. Awww, thanks … We're lucky to have her. Though now that I've gotten caught being all mushy, my inner badass thinks it's time to hit the shooting range or something. LOL!

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  3. Oh I love Tuxedo kitties! They delightfully weird. Don't worry if this one likes to sleep in the sink or lick plastic bags. It's totes normal. :D

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    1. Hahaha! So far, haven't noticed much weirdness, aside from the obligatory 'Yippee, we're going to the bathroom, I must get there first!' thing.

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  4. He makes me want to get all oopy-goopy baby-talky. Except those eyes show a lot's going on back there. :) Congratulations on the new member of the family!

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    1. LOL! Yes, there's definitely some scheming going on there ... ;)

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  5. Awww....that is such a cute story!

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    1. 0
      'xz9fi1byh
      (That was from Bunker. I think it means 'Thank you! Prrrrr.')

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  6. Cute story.You are awesome, and so is Arizona. Besides 3 is a magic number according to Schoolhouse Rocks. Congratulations.

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    1. Uh, oh … now I'm going to be singing Conjunction Junction for the rest of the afternoon!

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  7. How's Wallaby doing with the new fur sibling? And congrats on the new addition. It's great when a loving home gets bigger. :)

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    1. Wallaby loves that we've got a kitty that doesn't wisely keep its distance. We're working on 'gentle touch' and I'm making sure there isn't too much grabbing going on. I tried to get a kid-and-kitten picture, but they're both such moving targets ...

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