Regular readers know that my cats have a tendency to liven things up around here. Right now, all is peaceful except that QC is suffering from a state of depression. She is sleeping on her nap pad beside me right now, but when she hasn't been sleeping she wanders into the living room and looks mournfully at the livingroom floor then comes back to the bedroom and curls up on her pad.

It all started yesterday. I have been having major car problems lately, and have had to have the transmission replaces last week and the fuel pump replaced yesterday. I took it into the shop after telling Mike to clean the kitchen and Mandy to clean the livingroom. It took four hours, three and a half waiting for them to get to the car, before i was able to get home, but I was in a good mood. Baring any emergencies, I was down to only two major problems to work on and they could wait a week or two. I got home to find two quiet kids waiting for me. After some questioning I got the following story.

After I left, the kids decided to watch cartoons rather than clean the kitchen and livingroom. Mike sat in QC's (and mine) rocking chair. Mandy wanted the chair and told Mike to get out. He refused. She stood on one of the rockers and pushed the chair forward to force him out of it. The rocker broke. They each accused the other of having full responsibility for the damage, then sat down on the sofa to watch cartoons. I came home. All hell bust loose.

QC wants her chair back. I want the spoiled brats to have to buy us a new chair, though Mike thinks he can get his shop teacher to make a replacement rocker. I'm going to have a rocking chair for the cat and I, and if the shop teacher can't fix it, its coming out of Christmas money for their presents. Am I so unreasonable? Any repair or replacement is going to be placed off limits for the kids. I really thought teenagers would know better.

Copyright © Pam Shirk
November 22, 1999