"Do what must be done, Lord Vader."

[lumy12]

Week 1 of cat-sitting is behind me. Today is the first day I saw the other people at the house - the non-cat-people who are there to enjoy being in a house instead of a teensy little apartment. It's a couple with 2 kids, a 6-week-old and a 4-year-old. When I saw a car parked in front of the house I really just wanted to turn around and come back later, except I thought maybe they'd be spending the night (they are) so that would have been silly. I introduced myself and chatted for a minute and set about taking care of the "sick" cat. He's still wearing the lampshade collar so he can't eat or drink unless I'm there. (I really should have showed them how to take it off so they could let him eat more than just the once a day, but they were pretty much like "Ohhhhhh we're so glad you're taking care of the cat, we don't want to deal with that at all!" so I didn't)

I didn't realize the 4-year-old little girl was taking a nap in the guest room, where the two cats' litterboxes, food, and water are. So I just barged on through the partially open door.

Me: Ooooops - hi! *stage whisper* Sorry if I woke you.
4yrold: *stares*
Me: *tries to force the cat to eat/drink*
4yrold: *stares some more* You have funny shoes.
Me: *wearing thick flip-flops* Yeah, they're fat.
4yrold: Why?
Me: Um... I don't know. And they have berries on them.
4yrold: Lemme see!
Me: *take off flip-flop and hold it up for her inspection*
4yrold: *giggles*
Me: *goes back to trying to force unwilling cat to eat/drink*
4yrold: Do you have a daughter?
Me: Nope.
4yrold: When are you gonna be pregnant?
Me: *amused* Not for a long time. I'm not married.
4yrold: How come you're not married? Is it cuz you don't like husbands?
Me: Yeah, something like that. I'm happy by myself right now.
((we chat about how she went swimming earlier, and how my tank top "looks like overalls",and where the cat goes to the bathroom - I had to scoop one of the litterboxes - then I sat back down to wait for the cat to eat))
4yrold: Are you just gonna sit there and bother me?
Me: *smile* I don't mean to bother you, I have to take care of the kitty while I'm here.
4yrold: It bothers me that you're sitting there.
Me: Sorry, I'll be quiet. Go back to sleep, I won't bother you.
4yrold: It's okay. I have to go potty.

I ended up just moving the cat's food and water to another room and he did eat and drink there, whew.

I had wanted to do some reading while I was there but, meh. I ended up sitting by the pitiful cat (who still hates me, even though he's normally very loving and affectionate) while he bathed himself, feeling a bit awkward that I interrupted some kind of spirited discussion (there was a friend of theirs over too, so 3 adults). I had promised the kitty I'd hang out with him more today but I lied! He had less than an hour of freedom from the torturing collar.

Turns out the 4-year-old is still taking naps even though she's "too old for that" because the family's moving to China next month for a few years, and it's customary for everyone to take naps in the afternoons. Wow - why don't we do that in America? I loooove naps.

They were nice people, very friendly and very "Don't mind us, just do what you have to do" and all - I just hope they're not there this next week when I go because I'm a horrible, antisocial person who prefers to torture cats in private.

Comments

[9cannedpeaches9.livejournal.com]

awwww 4yrold. They can be so amusing, I had to babysit one and we ended up talking about which was worse out of earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Uplifting conversation.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Cute. So did you agree on which one was the worst?

[9cannedpeaches9.livejournal.com]

Tornadoes I guess. Not as cool as being asked when I'm getting pregnant, though.

[nelliedrum.livejournal.com]

hahaha!

"I have to go potty."

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

I know - sooo cute! I'd love to babysit her. Too bad she's going to China. She probably has like normal teenage babysitters anyway.

[(Anonymous)]

See, little girls speak the truth. Those shoes ARE funny. You don't need to act like you're 6 feet tall or something.

-Stad

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Ha ha! I thought about that when you guys were making fun of them last night. It's the STYLE nowadays. I'm so FASHIONABLE. Really.

And of course I thought of you when I was talking to her. You would have thought she was the cutest thing ever.

[sweet-panda.livejournal.com]

I hate children. *full body shudder of disgust*

>.>

<.<

*slays Younglings*

Kids do say the darnedest things

[meli-in-sac.livejournal.com]

Love the 4-year-old conversation! Mothers say the darnedest things too....

[gizzi1213.livejournal.com]

LOL...very amusing conversation.

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

LOL I forgot about that little girl. She's probably breaking 7-year-old hearts by now.

I guess I don't like husbands, like she said!

[gizzi1213.livejournal.com]

Many wives don't like husbands either! I wonder if they liked living in China!

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Jenny likes husbands. One in particular. *snort*

[gizzi1213.livejournal.com]

OY VEY!