And I told him about the rescue center and the dozens of animals Id mothered over the years.
Chipper has a new home. Hell be leaving here next week. The woman is very excited to have him and I think it will be a great match.
Wont you miss him?
Of course, but there is always another neglected or rejected animal to foster.
What will you get next?
Nothing, if I can help it. I planned to reject Charley and Chester the cat when they got to my door. The director thinks he has an animal for me but for the next two or three months Ill be watching my twin nephews while my sister goes to South America to adopt a baby. That will be problem enough.
David is a wonderful conversationalist and an even better listener. Without a bit of hesitation, I found myself telling him about Mickey and Jeff and their longing for another child.
Would you like to see pictures of my nephews? I volunteered.
We brought our beverages and a plate of my fresh cookies to the couch so I could sit beside him and show him the album of pictures of the boys.
Theyre a handsome pair, David commented. I dont know if Ive ever seen a cuter set of twins.
Thats part of the problem. Because they are so cute and have the look of little angels with tarnished halos, they get away with far more than they should. That combined with unquenchable energy, cunning intelligence and the slyness of a pair of fox pups, their parents never had a chance.
Never?
Tommy loves to pound, pummel, clobber, bash, hammer, crush and pulverize. Hes our he-man twin. Terry, on the other hand, has remarkable managerial skills. Hell be a CEO someday, Im sure of it.
So Terry is the brains and Tommy, the brawn?
A perfect combination for whipping a perfectly lovely but inexperienced set of parents into compliance, lunacy and servitude without them ever seeing it coming.
How do they get away with it? David inquired, obviously enjoying our discussion. Of course, David enjoys many things I wouldnt have expected. Hes very down to earth and approachable for someone with his position in life. Ill bet his patients never feel like lab rats.
They are also incredibly funny. I offered him the cookie plate again. So funny, in fact, that its difficult to keep from bursting into laughter even though you really didnt want your refrigerator cleaned and the contents fed to the dog.
Are you bragging or complaining? he asked bluntly.
A little of both. When were not crying, were laughing.
I was enjoying this a little too much, I realized. I was doing a terrible job of avoiding David. My resolve to put the episode we shared behind me was fading and I didnt want that to happen. Next thing I knew hed be trying to talk me back into the circus maze of tests and medications I was determined to avoid. That thought made me very nervous.
Hammie, detecting my anxietyI havent had a handsome man in my house for a very long time, after allbegan to whirr on his wheel with greater and greater speed. If his foot slipped and he were not in a cage, he could have propelled himself across the room with momentum alone.
Davids smile became more and more strained as the racket grew, until finally he stood up. I have some mechanical skills, maybe youd like me to look at that hamsters wheel. The expression on his face said, Or else.
I lifted Hammie out of his cage and held him close to my chest as David did minor surgery on the offending wheel. The hamsters heart was pounding so hard that it felt as if it might pump right through his rib cage and fur and land in my hand.
I know the feeling, buddy. I know the feeling.
There, let him try this. David dusted his hands together and shredded paper and hay bedding flew off his fingers.
I swear I saw an expression of surprise on Hammies face when he jumped on the wheel and there was no sound other than a soft, pleasant whirr. No clanking, no rattling, no sounding as if he were going to run his entire cage off its table. After a few moments, the whirr made Hammie relax since he dozed
Chipper has a new home. Hell be leaving here next week. The woman is very excited to have him and I think it will be a great match.
Wont you miss him?
Of course, but there is always another neglected or rejected animal to foster.
What will you get next?
Nothing, if I can help it. I planned to reject Charley and Chester the cat when they got to my door. The director thinks he has an animal for me but for the next two or three months Ill be watching my twin nephews while my sister goes to South America to adopt a baby. That will be problem enough.
David is a wonderful conversationalist and an even better listener. Without a bit of hesitation, I found myself telling him about Mickey and Jeff and their longing for another child.
Would you like to see pictures of my nephews? I volunteered.
We brought our beverages and a plate of my fresh cookies to the couch so I could sit beside him and show him the album of pictures of the boys.
Theyre a handsome pair, David commented. I dont know if Ive ever seen a cuter set of twins.
Thats part of the problem. Because they are so cute and have the look of little angels with tarnished halos, they get away with far more than they should. That combined with unquenchable energy, cunning intelligence and the slyness of a pair of fox pups, their parents never had a chance.
Never?
Tommy loves to pound, pummel, clobber, bash, hammer, crush and pulverize. Hes our he-man twin. Terry, on the other hand, has remarkable managerial skills. Hell be a CEO someday, Im sure of it.
So Terry is the brains and Tommy, the brawn?
A perfect combination for whipping a perfectly lovely but inexperienced set of parents into compliance, lunacy and servitude without them ever seeing it coming.
How do they get away with it? David inquired, obviously enjoying our discussion. Of course, David enjoys many things I wouldnt have expected. Hes very down to earth and approachable for someone with his position in life. Ill bet his patients never feel like lab rats.
They are also incredibly funny. I offered him the cookie plate again. So funny, in fact, that its difficult to keep from bursting into laughter even though you really didnt want your refrigerator cleaned and the contents fed to the dog.
Are you bragging or complaining? he asked bluntly.
A little of both. When were not crying, were laughing.
I was enjoying this a little too much, I realized. I was doing a terrible job of avoiding David. My resolve to put the episode we shared behind me was fading and I didnt want that to happen. Next thing I knew hed be trying to talk me back into the circus maze of tests and medications I was determined to avoid. That thought made me very nervous.
Hammie, detecting my anxietyI havent had a handsome man in my house for a very long time, after allbegan to whirr on his wheel with greater and greater speed. If his foot slipped and he were not in a cage, he could have propelled himself across the room with momentum alone.
Davids smile became more and more strained as the racket grew, until finally he stood up. I have some mechanical skills, maybe youd like me to look at that hamsters wheel. The expression on his face said, Or else.
I lifted Hammie out of his cage and held him close to my chest as David did minor surgery on the offending wheel. The hamsters heart was pounding so hard that it felt as if it might pump right through his rib cage and fur and land in my hand.
I know the feeling, buddy. I know the feeling.
There, let him try this. David dusted his hands together and shredded paper and hay bedding flew off his fingers.
I swear I saw an expression of surprise on Hammies face when he jumped on the wheel and there was no sound other than a soft, pleasant whirr. No clanking, no rattling, no sounding as if he were going to run his entire cage off its table. After a few moments, the whirr made Hammie relax since he dozed
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