C’mon, babies! It’s time for our soap! I lay on my bed. I had just changed channels from the court shows to our favorite soap opera.
Three cats leaped onto my bed. Stella lay down beside me and promptly fell asleep. Thatch, settled on my other side, set his front paws onto my belly, and watched the screen. Annabelle regally settled on the pillow next to me.
We watched the first section in silence. As a general rule, we only talked to each other in the commercial breaks. First, we had a short stimulating opening sequence so we knew what stories would feature that day,. then came the opening credits, followed by a short sequence before the commercial.
I hate this baby plot, I said.
As soon as the commercial began, Annabelle said loudly, I don’t know how the city in this soap can have so many blatantly obvious psycho bitches.
Is it the writing or the acting? Thatch asked.
Yeah, I said, for a person who was locked up for insanity, she’s clearly not playing with a full deck.
Deck? Annabelle asked. I didn’t see a deck.
A deck of cards, Annabelle, I explained.
No one was playing cards, were they, Thatch? Sometimes you make no sense at all.
I sighed and said nothing. I’m so glad I didn’t say “two sandwiches short a picnic,” I thought. Instead, I said, You didn’t eat breakfast again, Annabelle. Are you feeling poorly?
I didn’t feel like it. We stars have our whims, you know. Oh, wait. We’re back to the soap.
At the next commercial break, I asked, Annabelle, seriously, are you feeling poorly?
Maybe I’m on a diet, she said.
Thatch laughed. Annabelle, your idea of a diet is not having a second dessert.
That isn’t true and you know it!
Okay, okay. babies, I interjected, let’s not not start fighting. I think you should apologize, Thatch.
I was just joking, Annabelle.
Okay, Buster, she said grumpily, but I’ll get you back.
Hey! I said sternly, no fighting. Stella raised her head, looked around, and went back to sleep.
I wish we had a snack, Annabelle told us.
Snacks are after dinner, you know that, I answered. I have a special treat for tomorrow night’s movie.
A New Year’s Eve treat? Thatch asked/
Shhh, Annabelle interrupted. The soap’s back.
When the soap ended, I wiped my eyes/. Annabelle jumped onto my chest and looked into my eyes.
Are you crying? she asked me.
Yes, I admitted, that last scene got to me.
Thatch climbed onto my chest and looked into my eyes. You really are!
I sat up as two cats jumped off my chest. I’ll tell you why I love this soap, babies. Sometimes the plot is ridiculous, a lot of the acting is not very good, and then, suddenly, there’s a moment of wonderful acting or a bit of truth and reality that just touches my heart. In that last scene, the actor’s heart-broken confession was so raw emotionally,Ot was so real it hurt. I couldn’t believe it. He’s so bland most of the time, and today he scored. It moved me, really moved me.
So, what are we doing for New Year’s Eve? Annabelle asked.
What’s the special; treat? Thatch asked.
Stella sat up, stretched, and ran off to the kibble dishes for a snack.
Did you like today’s soap. Stella? I called after her.
She really hates them, Annabelle said. She likes to have an hour to curl up beside you and sleep.
She does? I asked.
Yes, she does, Annabelle told me. She’s very fond of you, Daddy.
Well, I love her. I love all of you.
So, what are we doing for New Year’s Eve? Thatch asked me.
I thought we might watch the Todd-AO version of Oklahoma! I told them. I’ve always wanted to see it . . .
And I want to play Ado Annie some day, Annabelle told us.
Not Laurie? I asked.
Nope. Ado Annie can steal the show. “With me, it’s all or nothin’,” she sang.
I can’t wait to see that, I said.
I’m going to be a wonderful Ado Annie!
And we’ll have some egg nog and some treats, I told them, special, very special; treats. I need to think about your dinners tonight.
What kind of treats? Thatch asked.
You’ll know tomorrow.
As I rose off the bed and reached for my cane, Annabelle and Thatch burst into “Oklahoma.” As I hobbled past the dishes of kibble sitting on the floor near the kitchen, Stella jumped onto my foot and bit my ankle. She jumped off my foot and ran into the living area. As I reached the kitchen, I heard two cats mangle the spelling of Oklahoma.
There was a moment of silence. Stella banged her tambourine.
Happy New Year!
©2021, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 