Oh, why didn’t he text me so that I could send him one that matched what was happening with him. I set my cell on the bed.
* * *
Next morning while I was getting the cat food ready, Red went into the litter box. She sniffed it, then jumped out. But it was clear she had to go because she went back to it but again something about the smell made her walk away. I stopped what I was doing and cleaned it out for her.
Purple was on her quest to find a way out. She wanted in the bottom cupboard but I refused to open it for her. She stayed in the bathroom after I came out. A few minutes later I heard a wild scrambling noise. I rushed in to find Purple had pulled and clawed her way up onto the top of the medicine cabinet. There was only about a ten centimeter space between it and the ceiling and she was squashed there. She looked at me then up at the sky light over the tub. Did she think that was a way out? Rather than pull her down, I left her to check all possible exits.
Eventually, I heard the clanging of the metal, shower curtain holders. I went in and she had one front paw on the top of the curtain rod and the other paw part way down the mirror. I lifted her off the cabinet and set her on the floor.
“We thought we would go do some grocery shopping in Campbell River,” Mom said. “Do you want to come?”
Seriously? Shopping with my parents? Shopping with my friends was fun. We had the same tastes and we could wander aimlessly from store to store with no idea of what we were looking for. My parents were more time oriented. They knew what they wanted and where to get it. And when they were finished they came home.
“No, thanks. I’ll stay here.”
I decided to have a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. While I sat at the table. Purple came over and wanted a handout. I broke off a small chunk of cheese and gave it to her. Daisy saw her eating something and started towards her. To avoid a fight, I broke off a piece and gave it to her. She looked at it, smelled it, then looked at Purple. Obviously what she had was better. Daisy ignored her piece of cheese and went over to Purple. By this time Purple was finished.
I looked at the floor and Saltry was watching the exchange. I gave her a piece but she too was more interested in what Purple and Daisy had received. Red, on my bed, was also given a small amount. The only one who actually ate her piece was Purple. The others only wanted the right of refusal.
Besides groceries, Mom and Dad returned with some fried chicken for supper. It was another evening of card playing and bed. So unexciting. Still no word from Jesse.
* * *
Wednesday morning was rainy. We stayed in the motorhome until lunch. Mom brought out bread, butter, salad dressing, mustard, cheese, sliced ham and pastrami. Daisy came to see what was smelling so good. The others joined her.
Dad gave each of them some of his ham. They gobbled it up. I gave them each a small piece of my pastrami. Red didn’t touch hers but the others ate theirs after smelling it carefully. I gave Red’s piece to Saltry and set another one in front of Purple. Daisy was in the step when I tossed the second piece to her. It didn’t quite make it to her. She looked at it then at me as if to ask, “And how am I supposed to eat it over there?”
I got up and moved it closer to her but she turned up her nose at it. Purple went and ate it. The rain continued all afternoon. We played Scrabble then Mom and Dad went to nap in their bedroom.
I picked up my cell phone. I sent Jesse a text. Hi.
I figured it was innocent enough.
I read for an hour before he answered. Hi back.
That was encouraging. Still camping. Raining here. Boring.
Things have quieted down. Dad still drinking, Mom still mad. No more fighting.
That sounded good in roundabout way. Not sure how to give a harmless answer. Glad to hear.
When will you be back?
Not sure. I guess when Mom and Dad get bored enough.
Let me know.
Ok
Mom and Dad got up. We had macaroni and beans for supper and a pie for dessert.
“If it is raining tomorrow, we’ll go home,” Dad said, as we played our third game of cribbage.
Before going to sleep I prayed the rain would keep up all night.
* * *
The morning was dreary. I was elated but I tried not to show it. I waited for Dad or Mom to say something. Did I have to remind Dad of what he had said?
Apparently, Dad’s memory was still good.
“Let’s pack up and go home,” he said, as we ate breakfast. “Camping is no fun in the rain.”
We just left the dirty dishes in the sink. There was a dishwasher at home for them. We took everything off the counters and prepared to leave. Dad unhooked our power, water, and sewer and put the chairs away.
I mentally kept telling them to hurry. I didn’t want the skies to clear and they decide to stay. Once we were belted in and on our way, I sent a text to Jesse.
On our way home.
I was relieved. I would always remember this camping trip because I had overcome my fear of fire. But going home meant I could get on with my new life of living on an acreage with my four cats. And I would now be able to get to know Jesse better.
The End
http://www.joandonaldsonyarmey.com
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About the Author
Joan was born in New Westminster, B.C. Canada, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.
Joan began her writing career with a short story, progressed to travel and historical articles, and then on to travel books. Her Backroads series described the back roads of British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, and Alaska. Joan’s fiction is proudly published by Canadian publisher Books We Love Ltd.
Crazy Cat Kid is the first book of Joan’s new My Crazy Cat Kid Life series for young adults.
Joan also has a Canadian Historical series for young adults and adults. The first two books are titled West to the Bay and West to Grande Portage. As she says: Canadian history is not boring.
She has had three mystery novels, Illegally Dead, The Only Shadow In The House, and Whistler's Murder published in what she calls the Travelling Detective Series. They come in a boxed set. In her stand-alone novel, Gold Fever, she combines mystery with a little romance.
She is now working on her third Canadian historical for young adults and her second My Crazy Cat Kid Life novel.
Crazy Cat Kid (Crazy Cat Kids Book 1) Page 18