See how I despaired? See how I abandoned all hope? See how I knew, I just KNEW that Mama was stuck in the den under the shed with babies all attached and needy, and I gave up the thoughts of catching anything?
That, apparently, is what they call the darkness before the dawn.
This morning, I went to take Kid 1 to her before-class class. At 6:19, I looked out the mudroom window (it’s a habit by now) and saw… nothing. Except the rusty box. Except, I couldn’t really see the door-thingie. It wasn’t properly light yet, so maybe it just wasn’t clear to me. Wait. No. WAIT. The door? Was CLOSED.
“Look. Look at it.” I commanded Kid 1.
She looked. She’s very obedient that way.
“There’s something gray in there.” We said that at the same time. We could see something sort of pacing around. Mind you, we’re forty feet away* from the trap, and the mesh door is CLOSED on the something, and we are realistic girls, and we recognized that what was inside the trap could well be Neighbor Tori’s scary one-eyed cat. But the gray thing inside the trap turned in such a way that we allowed ourselves some small measure of hope. Then it moved again, and no scary one-eyed cat has a tail like that.
By the time I returned from the school drop-off, Husband was home from early basketball, and Kids 3 and 4 were waving happy hands from the mudroom window. I pulled in with a wahoo, and Husband made me pose. Focus on the rodent in the box, not the decided lack of shower and makeup. It was six freaking thirty. Must I remind you?
See it in there? Can you? It’s there. That sort of floating white part, mid-cage? That’s its head. It’s kind of cute after all, isn’t it?
And this one is Husband’s idea of comedy.
(Ha. There was no stink. The trap worked like it was supposed to. So far.)
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So Animal Control has been called. Again. And they eventually called back. And said someone would come and take it all away, “release the critter,” and return the trap. So we could see if we’d catch another one. I just broke out in a cold sweat typing those words. Another one? How many do we have under there, anyway? Now my hair itches.
But, in all, great news today. And here’s the best good thing that came of it. If I had nothing else written** in the past week, at least I got a few thousand words done around this little misadventure we’ve had. That’s what we call The Bright Side, folks. Welcome to it.
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* That would be an estimate. I’m spacially challenged. Always have been.
** But I did get other words written. Not very good ones, and not very many… in fact I may be writing the world’s worst book. But words are coming. Coming. Coming.
(10) Comments for this blog
You are not writing the world’s worst book. Need I remind you that SYLVESTER STALLONE wrote a book? You could just press that skunk inside the covers of your manuscript and it would still be higher quality than 80% of the drivel that’s out there. See you Thursday!!!
You are not writing the world’s worst book. Need I remind you that SYLVESTER STALLONE wrote a book? You could just press that skunk inside the covers of your manuscript and it would still be higher quality than 80% of the drivel that’s out there. See you Thursday!!!
YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!! It’s a great day, indeed!!! And can I just say, you’re absolutely RUDE to be that adorable at 6:30 in the morning? And while we’re on the subject…there’s a 6:30 in the morning???? Since when?
I’m sure DeNae is right. I bet your book is better that Sly’s.
YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!! It’s a great day, indeed!!! And can I just say, you’re absolutely RUDE to be that adorable at 6:30 in the morning? And while we’re on the subject…there’s a 6:30 in the morning???? Since when?
I’m sure DeNae is right. I bet your book is better that Sly’s.
Hey! That’s right! I’m going to see you this week. I’m so excited.
Congrats on the skunk! =D …that sounded a little weird. Hmm.
Hey! That’s right! I’m going to see you this week. I’m so excited.
Congrats on the skunk! =D …that sounded a little weird. Hmm.
Hooray! Skunk-napped! Let’s just hope that when he’s released into the wild, it’s a wild far-far away. =] (and BTW, you look better at 6:30 AM in front of a skunk than I do at any hour, anywhere.)
I can’t wait to see you this weekend!!!
Hooray! Skunk-napped! Let’s just hope that when he’s released into the wild, it’s a wild far-far away. =] (and BTW, you look better at 6:30 AM in front of a skunk than I do at any hour, anywhere.)
I can’t wait to see you this weekend!!!
SO…I don’t think I ever I told you of my personal experience with skunks and the AC people in that place where you live.
One Spring we had a skunk show up in our garage. And eat our cat’s food. And then retreat under the big freezer. Right next to the door into the kitchen.
Yup.
My mom called AC. Who actually showed up. With a shotgun.
Instead of luring the critter our of the garage, they did the natural thing, of course, and shot it. Under the freezer. By the kitchen door.
Yup.
We had to evacuate the premises for a week. And throw out all the food in the freezer. And dispose of the body when the AC left it there, and told us everything was taken care of.
Maybe there’s a reason they ‘don’t do skunks’ anymore.
Glad you finally caught that little tenant of yours! Without a shotgun.
SO…I don’t think I ever I told you of my personal experience with skunks and the AC people in that place where you live.
One Spring we had a skunk show up in our garage. And eat our cat’s food. And then retreat under the big freezer. Right next to the door into the kitchen.
Yup.
My mom called AC. Who actually showed up. With a shotgun.
Instead of luring the critter our of the garage, they did the natural thing, of course, and shot it. Under the freezer. By the kitchen door.
Yup.
We had to evacuate the premises for a week. And throw out all the food in the freezer. And dispose of the body when the AC left it there, and told us everything was taken care of.
Maybe there’s a reason they ‘don’t do skunks’ anymore.
Glad you finally caught that little tenant of yours! Without a shotgun.