The time came, as it must for all cats, for Gizzi to see the vet!

Planning ahead, I made the appointment for a time when Louise would be here. (Louise isn't crazy about Gizzi. She calls him "Ugly Cat.") But I knew we would need her help .

I made arrangements for Willie, who provides my transportation, to be here an hour early. I thought there might be a little difficulty, but three grown women ought to be able to handle four lbs of cat, right? Yeah, sure!

Gizzi usually makes himself scarce when Louise is here. The way she swings that broom and that mop are reason enough for a smart cat to give her plenty of room. I knew, however, that his favorite spot for meditation was the closet in the entryway. I was fairly certain that we would know where to find him.

Before Willie got here, Louise closed the bedroom and bathroom doors, leaving only the office/cat bathroom open. Since all the kids were enjoying their after-breakfast naps, we were able to lock them all out of harm's way -- or so we thought!

Willie arrived like a breath of fresh air, ready to get this "show" on the road. I handed her the cat cage and told her the plan. She was to open the sliding door of the closet, whip the cat cage into position, and hopefully slide Gizzi into it, while Louise and I stood by to catch the cat, on the off chance that he was able to evade Willie. Right!!!

Willie slid the door open -- and Gizzi leaped out with the velocity of the proverbial speeding bullet. He sped through our waiting arms and legs like a little streak of butter, leaving the three of us frazzled and bewildered. "What just happened?" someone asked.

We gathered our scattered wits about us and turned to the long hallway, where Gizzi was trying unsuccessfully to get into a bedroom and under a bed. Finally he ran into the office/cat bathroom and up onto the window sill, where he hoped to escape by osmosis through the glass.

"I've got him now!" Willie yelled, and swung the cat cage once more into position. Gizzi leaped onto the cage and out the door, while we frantically clutched at -- nothing! Louise and I were beginning to have some doubts about this whole thing, but Willie led the charge into the kitchen, right on Gizzi's heels.

Now about this time, Baby woke up on one of the chairs at the kitchen table and decided to see what the heck was going on in her house. She slid to the floor about the time we rounded the corner into the kitchen, colliding with three running women and one terrified cat!

Gizzi leaped up on the counter and found himself another window -- the kitchen one, where no cat had gone before and the sill was lined with treasures! He swept the sill clean and (luckily for me and maybe for him!) only one treasure was broken.

The three of us were were stumbling about, trying to avoid Baby, who by this time was hissing and spitting and trying to get away. Gizzi made one more spectacular leap to the floor and slid through a very narrow space between the 'fridge and the pantry. Incredibly, Baby followed close behind -- and they both huddled behind the refrigerator!

Willie was ready to move the refrigerator, but I had had enough -- and I knew the kids had had "more" than enough! I called the search off and the three of us settled down to a cup of tea, (always a restorative, right?). I hated the thought of the two babies crouched behind the 'fridge, quaking and thinking dark thoughts!

Later in the day, after my two angels had gone, I went into the kitchen. I called, but no kids appeared. On impulse, I opened the bottom cabinet door, on the other side of the 'fridge. Gizzi's little face turned up to me and he yawned, his expression seeming to say "What took you so long?" He jumped down and nuzzled my leg. Baby followed, but she didn't nuzzle. She's too smart to be fooled twice in one day!

Copyright © Renee Darvin
August 4, 2000