Day39: Did I do that?

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day39: Did I do that?

I have a little magnet calendar on my fridge. Every day it shows a cute cat or kitten, or a quote. 

Yesterday it was this ...

Today it’s this ...

And yesterday it was a quote by Chris Evans:

“Cats are an example of peace and tranquility”

Hm, no offense to Chris Evans but she obviously has never met Halley and Greyson. Oh the both of them are peaceful and tranquil when they’re asleep, but when they’re awake ... hold on to your hat.

Take this morning for instance. The both of them were racing around the place at full tilt. They sprinted from the bedroom through the living room onto the balcony, only to return from the balcony via the kitchen, into the living room and back to the bedroom.

Charlotte and Holly stayed out of their way, as did I, because – not having breaks on their paws – they are an accident waiting for a place to happen.

Charlotte

Holly

Usually, nothing happens, Halley and Greyson eventually get tired and go to sleep. Today was different.

The balcony door had been open all morning. When I went to shower, I closed the door because I don’t like to leave them unsupervised. The balcony is perfectly safe, protected by double netting, but still, you never know what could happen.

Having finished my shower and morning routine, I came into the kitchen, Greyson saw me and got such a fright that he took off like an arrow from a bow and ran straight into the screen door. It’s a good thing I hadn’t closed the glass door, or he could have been hurt.

As it was, when he saw what he did he sped to by bedroom, dived under the bed and stayed there for a good ten minutes. When I went to check on him, the poor thing sat there with eyes as big as tea saucers.

I tried to coax him to come out but ah ah, he was having none of it. Eventually, he left his hiding place, slowly, carefully, placing one dainty paw in front of another. It’s never taken him that long to get from the bedroom to the living room.

When he went to take a look at the balcony screen door, or rather where the balcony screen door used to be, it was with a lot of sniffing and head bobbing. He gave a good impression of Steve Urkel’s ... Did I do that?

Doorman wanted

With the rise of temperatures, I decided to let the cats out. The poor things have been cooped up since November and were in desperate need of some fresh air.

As soon as Holly heard the balcony door opening, she came charging through the living room and went nose first into the screen door. Apparently she’d forgotten that in addition to a glass door, the balcony has a screen door with netting.

Holly was followed by Mickey, Gabriel, Chanel and Charlotte. That Charlotte went out came as a bit of a surprise to me, because in general Charlotte is not a fan of the great outdoors.

Having the balcony door open felt a little chilly for me though, so I closed it. No sooner was the door closed or the door games started.

Mickey wanted to come in.

Gabriel wanted to come in.

Mickey wanted to go out.

Chanel wanted to come in.

Mickey wanted to come in.

Charlotte wanted to come in.

Mickey wanted to go out.

While the cats went in and out, and in and out, it was up and down and up and down for me. Every time I sat down, someone wanted to come in or go out. These cats needed a doorman.

After a while I decided to ignore Chanel, who would sit by the door, waiting to go out yet again. When I remained seated, she turned with bedroom eyes and a look that said … “Pleeeeeeeease.” Oh alright them, and I was up again.

Ignoring Mickey, who wanted to come in wasn’t possible either. If I took too long getting up, he would meow as if to say … “Hurry up already!”

All things considered, Gabriel was the least trouble. He was happy to sit by the door and sniff the fresh air. 

Self defense

Every night before going to bed, I check and double check the locks on the front door.  I was glad I did last night, as around 2:30 a.m. I heard the doorknob being turned.

Despite the fact that I knew both locks were secure, I lay in bed stiff with fright.  Who was that?  What did he want?  If he managed to get in, what could I do? 

The question how would I defend myself stayed with me for some time.

I don’t sleep with a gun, a knife or a baseball bat within reach.  As for the pen being mightier than the sword … I don’t think my Papermate is going to do much damage.

My son has a sword, a Highland design, but it’s not sharpened.  Besides, the thing is so heavy, it takes considerable effort just to lift it,  never mind swing it.

I remembered a friend of mine who, back in South Africa, slept with an ax under her bed.  But axes are so messy and I can’t stand the sight of blood.

So the pen being mightier than the sword might be my best option.  If the burglar has the time, I guess I could write him a story, so boring it would send him packing or lulls him to sleep.

Then again, it might not have been a potential burglar, but simply a drunk or confused soul trying to get home.  I had a similar experience a couple of years ago.

Coming home after a long, hard day at work, I got off the elevator two floors too soon and found myself on the 9^th instead of on the 11^th floor.  I didn’t notice, because the paint on the walls is the same, as is the carpeting on the floor, and the doors to the various units.

Having arrived at the corner unit, I put my key in the lock, but for some reason the key wouldn’t turn.  Strange.  I tried the doorknob, but no luck there either. 

When the door was opened by a strange woman, I thought, “What is she doing in my apartment?”  Then again, this didn’t look like my apartment.

“May I help you?” she said.

I stood there, frowning and gaping at her like a fish out of water.

That’s when I noticed the number on the door – it said 909.  Oops.

So, maybe last night’s visitor was my downstairs or upstairs neighbor, who now has a similar story to tell.