Shoveled once in the morning. Then it turned to freezing rain. Then turned back to snow. Shoveled again.I must say that it was beautiful. Especially Sunday when I was making my way to the grocery store.
Monday night was ceramics. I put Ralphy out around 6:PM, telling him when I got home, he could come in again.
Because of the roads, only five brave souls showed up. It was a fun night, but I was exhausted from all day cookie making on Saturday and Sunday.
When I got home, I went to let Ralphy in. He wasn't there. A bit later, I got his and Yippers dinner ready. Went out and only Yipper was there. This was very unusually, because Ralphy never-ever misses a meal.
I yelled for him, but he didn't show up. I figured he would be there in the morning. No Ralphy. He wasn't around at lunch time either.
I sent out a couple of e-mails to friends in the neighborhood to keep their eyes open for him.
When I got home from work, there was a group of kids on my neighbors steps and one throwing snowballs at the house. I really didn't care about the snowballs because they weren't being thrown at the windows.
Because Ralphy still wasn't home, I thought maybe he was in the shed and couldn't get out. I decided to make my way to the shed. The group of kids was now at my neighbors back door trying to get in. I yelled over asking what they were doing. They took off running and I thought I heard one say 'do you have the key?' I came in and called that neighbor, left a voice mail asking him if he had hidden a key someplace and what he wanting me to do. I was at my front door when I saw two of the kids run into the house.
Ahh! Paula your ass is mine now. I called, told her what I saw and heard. She said that she heard them say something about a key also. Funny thing, they said it in the back of the house and there was no way she could have heard them. Anyway, she said that she punished her two kids because she sees and hears everything. I asked her if she saw her son throwing snowballs at the house. Silence. She told me that they put the key back where they found it. Under the mat. I thought this strange. I told her that I have a call into the neighbor to see what he wanted me to do. She said that she would get the key and keep it. I told her to leave it. Paul would let me know what to do.
Now Paula has her two asses come to my house to apologize to me. I asked them why they were apologizing to me. It wasn't my house they were trying to break into and when Paul came down, they better march their asses over to apologize to him.
Paul called back and told me he had the key hidden in a secret spot in the shed. He asked me to get the key and hold it until he comes down. I told him I would and check to may sure nothing was damaged.
Next thing Paula's knocking on my door telling me that she asked her daughter where they found the key and 'my daughter would never lie to her mommy.' She said her daughter told her they found the key under the mat at the front door. I told Paula there is always a first time for a daughter to lie to her mommy and now is the time. The key wasn't there. It was hidden in the shed. Then she tells me when she looked out, she saw her daughter shoveling Paul's front step. I asked her why. What? Why was your daughter shoveling Paul's front step when he wasn't even down. Why wasn't she shoveling her own steps that haven't been shoveled yet?
She then tells me that she tracked the kids down and told them that they were boarding breaking the law and if they had went in the house they would have been. She tells me she told them the police were called. I said 'whoa. I didn't call the police. And if something happens to any of my property, I was coming after her and it wouldn't be a pretty sight.'
She told me that her son is eight and trying to fit in. No one wants to play with an eight year old. Not my problem. And it seems that he picked the wrong friends and it is your responsibility to teach your kids right from wrong.
She asked if her kids came to apologize to me. I told her they did, but questioned why? I wasn't my house. They, including you, better apologize to Paul when he comes down.
She kept saying how embarrassed she was. I couldn't help myself. I had to ask her if she was embarrassed because her kids were part of trying to break into someones house or because they got caught? I didn't get and answer from her, but that was the answer for me.
So if it wasn't for Ralphy being missing, they may have gotten into the house without my or anyone else noticing.
Then I visited a couple friends house that night. My one friend knew how upset I was that Ralphy wasn't around and told me she would say a couple prayers that he would return safe.
When I got home, I went out calling for him again. I couldn't hear any mewing like I normally would if he was around.
I am not one to pray, but I said to the angels, 'I don't ask for much, but please bring my handsome boy home to me safe and sound. It's been more than 24 hours.'
Laying in bed, I heard a noise out back. I wasn't going to check, but something told me too. When I turned on the light, there was my Ralphy. I don't think that door ever opened so fast. He came running in with me scooping him up in my arms. I fed him. Which he inhaled. He slept in bed, plastered against my leg purring the whole night.
I still don't know where he was. Where ever he was, it was someplace I couldn't hear him. A place where he wasn't being fed. Now, when he hears or sees people, he starts to panic. So I think maybe he somehow got locked in someone shed or somehow someones house. He has been sticking close to home and spending more time inside. Fine by me. I wish he would stay inside all the time.
Christmas Day brought me a couple of Tufted Titmouse.
Best Christmas gifts of all.
2 comments:
Love the birds!
Where's Baby Girl? I think you forgot her picture.
What a magnificent tree!
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