It was a dreadful morning in Manhattan. Nothing but rain, high temperatures, and on those days with no rain, the humidity was so high that a walk to the basement to dump the garbage and recyclables left me drenched in sweat and wanting a long cold bath.
Would you hurry up? Annabelle asked me while I cleaned the litter box.
I’m trying, Missy. There’s so little ventilation in this bathroom, the heat is killing me.
A trickle of sweat rolled down my forehead and into my right eye. Oh, Jesus, does that burn, I thought.
It’s killing Thatch and Stella, too, she told me. They are shedding like crazy.
I know, I replied; I brush them every day and the amount of hair is enough to stuff a pillow.
Yuck! Annabelle told me. Why haven’t you finished cleaning that box?
It was a particularly gross and messy litter box this morning, Missy Belle! One of you pooped on the side of the box and onto the litter mat. Was that you? Did you do that?
Ask me no questions, and . . .
You’ll tell me no lies, I finished for her. It looks like something you would do.
What does that mean?
It looks like one of you was trying something new and different and failed.
Fiddlesticks, Annabelle replied. Let me know when you’re finished, she said as she left the bathroom.
I finished the cleanup, assembled the litter box and litter trap, tied up the garbage bag containing the dirty litter, and washed my hands. I then took the garbage bag to my walker and dropped it into my trash bag before I returned to the kitchen to wash their dirty breakfast dishes.
As soon as I had washed their dishes, I cleaned off the stove and sink. I returned to the walker, maneuvered it to the door, and wheeled it out of the apartment and into the hall. When the elevator arrived, I pressed B and rode to the basement where I sorted the items in my trash bag and tossed them into the correct garbage bins: paper and cardboard, plastic and metal, and landfill garbage. When that was finished, I pushed the walker over to the wall and did my leg stretches. When I was finished, the basement heat was exhausting and my body was soaking wet from the sweat.
Annabelle is so right, I thought. Yuck! I’m outa here.
I pushed the walker off the elevator and headed to my apartment at the end of the hall. I slowly opened the door and maneuvered the walker into the foyer. After setting it in its place, I rook my cane hanging on the edge of the stove and hobbled into the living area.
I’m back, babies! It’s too hot in the basement to stay there any longer than necessary.
Three cats sitting on my bed looked up at me. I ran my eyes over the bed. Annabelle, Thatch, and Stella sat around one of the cat’s carriers; I never remember which is which. The carrier was filled with several toys and several books on musical theatre. At the entrance to the carrier, there were several hats, Annabelle’s 1890s ornate affair, a Tyrolean cap, a nurse’s cap.
Those are your hats, Annabelle! I exclaimed. What are you up to, Missy?
Caught! Thatch said to her.
Annabelle stuffed a cap into the carrier. Well, she said, you might as well know. I’m leaving for Washington DC. I’ll write, I promise!
DC? I asked. What’s going on?
My Big Chance! she answered. You know that President Biden’s dog – Commander? Is that his name? – has been biting people, and he will have to leave the White House. So, I’m going to be the White House Cat!
I think they have a White House Cat, Annabelle.
Fiddlesticks! she put another hat into her carrier. When they see me, that other cat will be history. Just wait.
I don’t want you to leave, Annabelle, Thatch whimpered. We’re a team.
I’m sorry, Thatch! My destiny is calling. I can do so much good for the country when I’m the White House Cat! I can sing on the Capitol steps, I can lobby for animal protections, I can be interviewed on MSNBC. I love Ari Melber!
Not Fox? I asked.
Never Fox, never! I can perform at White House dinners, and even though I hate having to deal with vermin, I hope I can give those MAGA morons like What’shername Greene fleas.
Fleas are vermin? Thatch asked.
No, silly, she is.
©2023, Larry Moore
Annabelle & Thatch 