When I returned from my walk to the bank, Annabelle and Thatch met me outside the apartment.
What are you two doing out here? Didn’t Val let you in? I asked them.
Yes, Annabelle said. He did.
So why are you here in the hall?
Aliens! Thatch whispered.
They’ve landed, whispered Annabelle.
Aliens? I said as I opened the door.
No! They yelled in unison.
What’s wrong with you two?
Don’t open the door! Thatch gripped my leg.
Annabelle turned in circles at my feet.
Don’t go in, she whispered. There are two UFO’s in there.
I opened the door. Screaming at the top of their lungs, Annabelle and Thatch ran in terror down the hall.
Hey! Come back! I called after them.
Earlier, I had asked Val if he could keep Annabelle and Thatch busy helping him clean the basement laundry room while I set up two new air purifiers.
God knows this apartment is full of dust and mold, and the vet recommended we try an air purifier in the case that Annabelle’s respiratory problems were allergy-related. Assembly would go much quicker without their assistance, since they would only lose assembly parts, play in the packing material, and increase the assembly time. Annabelle loves being with Val, and Val loves Annabelle, so he agreed. The kitties got into their play clothes to help him, I dropped them off at his apartment, and I proceeded to set up two air purifiers.
It went easier than I anticipated. When they were assembled, I was surprised at how large they were; they looked smaller online. I imagined Annabelle and Thatch could fit comfortably inside one of them.
After I finished setting them up and turning them on, I walked to the corner bank for some cash. On my way back, I ran into Val, who was washing down the sidewalk in front of the building
Thanks for keeping them busy. Were they any help? I asked him.
None at all. When I laid out a trash bag, they climbed in. As soon as I emptied a garbage bin, they jumped in and out. When I mopped the floor, they rode on the mop. After Thatch climbed into a dryer and Annabelle asked me for a quarter, I fired them. They explored the basement and chased a ghost while I finished up.
Now you know why I asked you to keep them busy. I appreciate your taking them off my hands for a while. Are they home?
I unlocked the door and let them inside. I have a lot of work today.
I hope they didn’t slow you down much.
No, I like them. They’re fun.
And that’s where things stood when I got to the third floor. I watched two screaming kitties run down the stairs in terror while I chased after them.
Annabelle! Thatch! Come back. Those aren’t UFO’s.
Annabelle stopped on the landing to the first floor. Right behind her, Thatch ploughed into her, and she blocked his fall.
What did you say? She looked up at me.
I said, those are not UFO’s. Those “things” are air purifiers to help your allergies. Come back to the apartment, and I’ll show you how they work.
You’re not setting us up for an alien abduction?
Annabelle! Why would I want aliens to abduct you? I love my babies.
I love you, Daddy, Thatch said.
You’re only saying that so he won’t let them abduct you, Annabelle snapped.
They are not UFO’s, okay? Come see them. I started up the stairs.
This had better not be a trap, Annabelle muttered as she followed me.
I ignored her, but I was aware that they followed me with little enthusiasm.
When I opened the apartment door and they saw the blue lights flashing on this humming round white object about 20 inches tall, they ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.
It is not a UFO! It’s a very attractive air purifier! I yelled through the door.
Annabelle cautiously came out of the bathroom.
You’re sure?
Absolutely. I bought two of them. The other one’s over by my bed.
She inspected it very carefully. She sniffed it, jumped onto the top and examined the dials and lights. She followed the plug from the body of the purifier to the power strip.
Thatch? Thatch? she called. Come and check this out! We can play “The Queen of Outer Space” with these things.
Thatch ran to her side and he climbed all over it before they ran to my bed to check out the other one.
Thatch was thrilled. There’s one for me and there’s one for you! How do we drive them?
Annabelle was already into her actress mode. Oooh, I het zat kveen, she moaned over and over in her best Gabor impersonation while Thatch applauded and urged her on.
I’ve told her over and over: stay off the SyFy channel.
©2018, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 