When I arrived home the other morning, I was greeted by two kitties waiting for me on the other side of the kitchen door. Now, the only thing unusual about this was that both Noodleman and SpiceGirl looked SO INNOCENT and were SO GLAD to see me!
Lifting my gaze from the two furballs, I became immediately aware that the countertop above the dishwasher was completely free of clutter. Which would have been nice except for one thing. All the 'clutter' was presently sitting on our kitchen floor... bills, pens, a pair of my husband's safety glasses, and other odds and ends that usually wind up on countertops "temporarily".
Among this mess, I also noticed a small torn baggie laying off to one side.
"Oh good," I said dryly. "You guys found the catnip!"
While I resigned myself to picking everything up and placing it BACK on the dishwasher, both cats jumped about, wrestling with each other, and then chasing each other in a kitty's version of 'Tag, You're It'.
As Noodleman and SpiceGirl raced through the kitchen for the tenth time in two minutes, I called after them, "Hey, guys...You DO know that you're STONED, right?!"
Since it would probably be a while before both kitties wore themselves out, I decided some peace and solitude was due me after having to face all this on top of a hard night at work.
So I went in to the bathroom and filled the tub with almost-hot water and floral-scented bubblebath soap.
After gathering my reading book, a change of clothes, the cell phone, and a cup of tea, it was finally time to relax!
Leaving the bathroom door slightly ajar so as to be able to hear any and all activity taking place in the rest of the house, I sank gratefully into the soothing scented water piled high with suds.
"Aaaaaahhhhhhh". Such luxury!
The sound of silence was appreciatively noticed, also...the furry Stoner Twins had stopped running around!
As I read my book and became completely involved in it's plot, I didn't notice the bathroom door slowly opening several inches.
It wasn't until SpiceGirl jumped up on the side of the tub that I realized I wasn't alone anymore.
"Hi, baby kitty." I smiled. "Feeling more like your old self, now?"
She slowly stuck out a paw and gingerly touched some of the suds closest to her.
Putting my book down, I lifted a small pile of suds up to SpiceGirl's face while crooning, "It's just soapsuds, that's all, little kitty. Here...take a look".
While SpiceGirl was inspecting this multitude of bubbles, Noodleman walked in and looked at both of us as though saying, "Hey...where's mine?"
So, scooping up another handful of suds, I held it out for Noodleman to sniff...and sniff...and sniff...and my arm started to go numb because of the position it was in!
Also, SpiceGirl had now jumped down to make sure that what Noodleman was sniffing wasn't better than what she had been shown. Sniffing alongside of him, SpiceGirl was finally satisfied that all was 'even, steven' and sauntered out the door with Noodleman right behind her.
Thankfully pulling my almost-bloodless arm back inside the tub, I sank deeper into the water, certain that all kitty-curiosity had been satisfied and that peace and quiet would now reign supreme!
Suddenly I became aware of the sound of running...towards the bathroom...and before I could react, SpiceGirl raced through the entrance, jumped up on the side of the tub, and DROPPED SOMETHING INTO THE WATER!
Feeling something hard hit my leg, I threw the book aside and jumped straight up, sloshing water everywhere!
"Please, God" I prayed..."please don't let it be the mouse from under the dishwasher!!"
But before I could start looking for whatever it was that SpiceGirl had 'deep-six'd', Noodleman came bounding into the room...stopped for only a second...saw SpiceGirl sitting now on top of the commode...and JUMPED AT HER!
Have you ever had a time when you could see what the immediate future holds?
Well, this was one of those times.
In slow motion, I watched as SpiceGirl gracefully leaped high into the air to escape Noodleman's lunge...
Only to disappear underneath THE SOAPSUDS!
Water churning and frothing, a wet white head popped up and gasped for air! Watching my timing, I grabbed her with two hands and lifted her out of the tub..., a dripping bundle of wet fur and indignant cat!
Grabbing my towel, I quickly wrapped her up in it, being careful to avoid her flailing feet...and claws! "You're okay, little one". I attempted to reassure her while trying to towel-dry her little squirming body.
In the meantime, Noodleman just stood there, watching the entire scenario. Then he went over to the tub and, placing two paws on the side, peered down into the water.
"Oh no you don't", I admonished him. "One cat in the tub is quite enough!"
Satisfied that SpiceGirl was as dry as she was going to be with the towel, I let go of her struggling body and watched her race out the door to parts unknown.
Noodleman, however, was still peering down into the suds.
Sighingly, I knew my bubblebath was now over. Then I remembered that SpiceGirl had dropped something into the tub. Not wanting to pick up a dead mouse, sight unseen at least, I gingerly reached into the water and pulled the plug so that the water would drain out.
Noodleman remained patiently in place.
As I continued to wonder why Noodleman was suddenly so infatuated with tub water, we both stood side by side, waiting for the draining to finish.
...Him in his dry furry 'tuxedo', and me still dripping water while now wrapped up in my husband's towel.
And the answer to all my questions became abundantly clear as the water finished draining, and the suds parted.
There on the floor of the tub lay NOODLEMAN'S TOY MOUSE!
"Oh no, she DIDN'T..." I muttered to myself while picking up the fake-fur toy.
Noodleman anxiously watched as I wrapped his 'mouse' in the towel I had previously used for SpiceGirl. Then, once it was as dry as it was going to get, I handed it down to Noodleman who sniffed it, and then took it in his mouth.
Watching him leave with his prized possession, I had to laugh. For all the times that SpiceGirl had teased, taunted, and pounced on him...not to mention play with his toys without permission...Noodleman had finally had enough and done something about it.
Revenge, given the right moment, can be SO sweet!
