Hey! Annabelle yelled, Down in front!
Stella! I called, Missy, you need to move.
You’re wasting your breath, Thatch advised.
You’re blocking my view! Annabelle called. Stella! Stella! Move your butt!
We had been watching Midsomer Murders, and Stella had become so enamored of the program that she had moved down to the edge of my bed. There, she stood up on the bed frame and became engrossed in the mystery. With Stella smack in the middle of the picture, Annabelle, Thatch, and I could only see the edges of the screen. I grabbed the remote and froze the movie.
We’ll have to wait till she moves, I said too Annabelle and Thatch. I don’t want to disturb her pleasure. She was really into it.
I was, too! Annabelle snapped. They just killed off my first choice for the murderer, and now I don’t know who the killer is. I know I can figure it out. I’m a great detective.
Just wait, Missy. As soon as she comes back to us, I’ll back up just a bit and we’ll watch the rest of the movie.
She’s impossible, Annabelle said to Thatch.
Oh, Annabelle, she’s having a good time, Thatch said. You know, she’s just a little girl.
Annabelle gave him a long look. You’re right, Thatch. She so big, I always think she’s older than she is. She’s twice your size!
So you’ll cut her some slack?
Uh . . . yes, I guess. For now . . . but, you know, she can drive ne crazy-
And she plays rough, Thatch added, but she’s really a sweetheart.
When Stella realized the movie had stopped, she returned to the three of us, took a treat from their treat dish, and settled down next to Thatch.
Stella, Thatch said, welcome back. You know, when you block the TV, we can’t see through you.
Roll it, buster! Annabelle ordered.
It had been an exhausting day. I had purchased a much-needed chest of drawers on Craig’s List, and, after kitty cleanup, making the bed, and vacuuming, my morning was spent removing the drawers from the broken-down chest I was replacing and dragging the frame out into the hall. Waiting for me to transfer their contents to the new dresser, the five drawers were spread about the apartment.
The seller, who arrived just a little after noon, was wonderful. I had warned him I was in bad physical shape, and he carried five drawers and the frame into my building, onto the elevator, and up to the third floor. After he left, I spent the afternoon transferring the contents of the old drawers to the new and dragging the old chest to the basement. By 4:00, after I fed the cats, my body was so sore I couldn’t wait to take a long hot bath.
Annabelle and Stella checked out the new dresser and climbed all over it. Thatch avoided it.
Thatch, I asked, don’t you like the new dresser?
Too many unfamiliar scents, he said. I’m not sure I trust it.
Okay, take your time. I put the your sleeping box on top, just like it was on the old one. I want you to be happy.
Yeah, he said, but he refused to go near it. I had some dinner, put my dishes in the sink, and took a bath. Annabelle and Stella sat on the tub and watched me relax in the warm water. Stella, jumped onto Annabelle and bit her ear.
Now, watch it! I said. If you two wrestle and fall in here, you’ll get all wet. And if you get wet, you’ll freak out and run through the apartment getting everything you touch wet. If that happens, you die. Okay?
The wrestling stopped.
I’m hungry, Annabelle said. Will you give us our treat?
You just ate, Missycat. I’ll give you your treats when we settle in for tonight’s movie.
What are we watching? Thatch, who had wandered in for some water, asked
A Midsomer Murders mystery, I think.
Oh, good! Annabelle said. I’m really good at solving these.
You never guess the killer, I thought. Instead I said, Maybe tonight you won’t.
I know I will, Annabelle said. I’m very good at mysteries.
From a cat who can’t find her way home from the floor above us, I thought. Instead I said, this should be fun! I love Midsomer Murders!
I used to be Sherlock Holmes, Annabelle announced, but now I prefer to be Irene Adler, Sherlock’s girlfriend and actress!
And I’m Sherlock now! Thatch added. It’s more fun than being Dr. Whatsit. That’s Stella’s part now.
Let’s get ready, Annabelle told them.
Singing “What A night this is going to be,” she leaped off the edge of the tub, followed by Stella, and the two of them left the bathroom side by side, with Thatch chasing after them. For all of her scolding Stella, Annabelle’s very good to her.
When I finished my bath and wandered into the living area, the three cats sat on my bed.
Casanova, I’m-a still waiting for you! Annabelle yelled in her best Camille Saviola impersonation from Nine. She wore a feather on her head, and I noticed that Thatch and Stella wore their deerstalkers.
Okay, okay! Let me get dressed and then I’ll bring your treats and start the movie.
And so we watched Midsomer Murders, Stella blocked our view, and Annabelle did not guess the killer. So much for being a great detective, I thought. Instead, I said, this was a hard case, Annabelle. I had no idea who the killer was.
Well, we actresses are known more for our beauty and talent than detective skills, but I’m still an excellent sleuth, really, I am.
I switched off the DVD player and television. Well, babies, I told them, I think it’s bedtime. Let me take my meds and turn off the lights.
I rummaged through the top drawer of my bed table, found my meds, and took them. When I turned down the bed, I noticed that Thatch was no longer with us.
Thatch? Thatch, baby? I called.
Over here, Daddy! Thatch sat on the box on top of the new dresser. I thought I’d check it out. I am Sherlock Holmes, you know.
What a brave detective you are, Sherlock! I called. Are you coming to bed with all of us?
Later. I have to get used to this new chester drawers first.
Okay! Well, ladies, I said to Annabelle and Stella, are you ready for bed?
I am! Annabelle stated as she ran to her sleeping spot and settled down. It’s been a long day.
And you slept away most of it, I thought. Instead I said, Well, sleep well, Missy. And you, Stella? Ready for bed.
I lay down, and pulled up the blankets. Stella immediately ran down to the bottom of the bed, jumped onto my foot, and bit my toes.
©2020, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 