It had been one hell of a morning. On my way from taking the recyclables and trash to the basement I had stopped to pick up yesterday’s mail. A large carton containing kitty treats waited for me in the lobby. I decided to unpack it there, put the treats into the large bag hanging from the handlebars of my walker, put the empty carton over my head, and headed back to the apartment. I didn’t need to look ahead of me and I knew I looked like a moron. I pushed that walker with my eyes on my feet, so I didn’t give a good goddam if anyone saw me or what they thought.
When I got inside the apartment, Thatch said, You look silly.
I realized that I had worn the carton into the apartment when my intention was to leave it outside the door. Dammit, dammit, dammit, I thought, as I removed the carton from my head and opened the door to set it outside in the hall. At that moment, Stella made a dash into the hallway.
Stella! I called, get back in here!
She paid me no mind as she ran over to the apartment of the man with the bike and sniffed his door. All right, little girl, you wanna be outside, you can stay outside.
I closed the door and wandered off to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I finished, I opened the door and she was still sniffing about the hall. This is good, I thought. As long as she’s not snooping about on other floors, I might get her back inside. All right, Stella, I said, come on in.
She ignored me, but Thatch walked between my legs and stepped out into the hallway. What are you doing, Stella? he asked.
Thatch! I exclaimed, you’ve always been afraid of leaving the apartment.
I’ve been out with you and Annabelle before, he said.
I guess my little boy is growing up. I suddenly feel old.
You are old, Daddy, he sad.
Thanks for reminded me. I just feel older.
Stella walked over to Thatch, who stepped back into the apartment. She followed him inside, and I closed the door in relief. Thank God, I thought as I followed them into the living area. What fresh hell will they drag me into next? I wondered.
Get off the bed, Annabelle, I ordered.
She stopped singing “Sleepy Man,” and looked at me. Why? she asked.
Because I need to make it.
Why?
She resumed her song. We went through this every morning. It was time to deal with my housekeeping: make the bed, a cursory tidy of the apartment, breakfast, and then my morning meds.
Why, you ask me. Let me ask you this, Missy Belle. After going through this same routine every day for the past three and a half years since you moved in, how is it that you can remember music and lyrics to a ton of Broadway songs and not remember that I make the bed each day.
Touchy, touchy! He’s in a mood today, she said to Thatch, who had jumped onto the bed to join her.
He’s as bad as you are! I said. He just wants to be petted and cuddled, don’t you, Thatch?
Thatch rolled onto his back. I’m ready! he shouted.
You little flirt, I laughed. Not now.
Rats! Thatch sat up in dismay. He’s no fun, Annabelle!
Please, please, just get off the bed, you two! I want to make it.
He’s impossible, Thatch. Let’s go to our office.
You know full well that once the bed is made, you two and Stella can sleep, play, whatever you do. I. JUST. NEED. TO. MAKE. IT. FIRST!
Come on, Thatch. She jumped off the bed and Thatch followed her.
I watched them disappear into the linen closet, then turned back to the bed. I pulled it away from the filing cabinets, piled the pillows onto a chair, and pulled the top sheet up to the headboard. There was some resistance. I tugged again with no success.
Damned tangled blankets, I thought. I tossed the bedspread and quilt back to straighten the sheet, and a sleeping Stella opened her eyes to look at me.
Stella! I didn’t know you were hiding under all of tangle. Would you move, Missy?
She sat up and gave me a sphinx-like stare as I thought, Oh, speak English, Stella. I wish Annabelle were here to translate Cat for me.
I grabbed the sheet and tugged it up to the headboard, dragging Stella with it. As I reached to straighten out the quilt, she jumped onto my arm, bit my wrist, and ran off to the linen closet. I finished making the bed and then I lay in it.
©2021, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 