The day of reckoning finally arrived. Andy and I did our best to prevent it, but it was inevitable. It happened with the arrivals of each of the cats except Eli, who was here before Jack arrived. As a matter of fact, Mr. E kept puppy Jack under a coffee table for about two weeks upon his arrival. He did this by patiently sitting on top of the table himself and swatting puppy Jack on the head every time he tried to escape. I have pictures. As a result, Jack has a healthy respect for Mr. E, and has never so much as looked at him sideways. Every other newbie has been put in their place, however. Yesterday was Dash's turn.
Setting the scene:
Andy and I were both sitting at the table, working on our computers. I had just finished writing my blog in which I described how challenging it is to save Dash from himself. The other cats have been pretty tolerant toward him. Rooney just likes to chase him but can't catch him, and wouldn't do anything if she could. Jack was trying to eat, with Dash jumping back and forth over top of him and swatting his tail. If somebody out there thinks dogs don't keep score, I am here to prove you wrong.
Dash: Mama keeps saying I should stay away from the big dog. HA! I'm not afraid of him! I'm not afraid of anything!
Finn: Well, you should be! I remember one time, when I first got here, I got too close and he roared at me! Scared my whiskers off! I walk around him now.
Chance: Me, too! I tried to smell his face one time and he growled at me. Never again!
Fancy: Look, kid. I remember that dog from when I was "out there." I wanted to come in the yard but he scared the crap out of me. I would sit on the wall and wait till he went in the house. Just stay away from him. He's kinda the boss around here. I'm just sayin...
Eli: Ex-cuh-use me! I am the boss here! Have you ever seen him go after me? No! Why? Because I was here first. You all need to learn a lesson from this.
Chance, Finn and Fancy: Yeah, whatever. You're the boss? Uh-huh. Give us a break.
Dash: Well, I don't care. Watch this!
Then, right before our eyes, Dash went up to a sleeping Jack and started bopping him on the head. The rest is a blur. Jack uttered a deep growl, which alerted Andy who jumped up to intervene. As Jack was trying to get traction on the tile to get his new nemesis, terrified Dash jumped a foot into the air and ran, as fast as his little legs could go, off to hide. Jack had the wrath of God rain down on him. Andy and I both let him know, in no uncertain terms, he was never, ever allowed to growl, snap, bite or otherwise scare or harm anything except somebody breaking into the house to kill us. He got the "Jack look" which says, "I know, but come on! He's a pain in my ass. Besides, I just have to do that one time and they leave me alone." We knew it was destined to happen. We were just hoping it wouldn't.
It took awhile to find Dash. Andy finally told me to peek around the corner, and when I did, there he sat, wide-eyed, peering around the corner of the couch, with his brothers nearby shaking their heads. I picked him up and tried to comfort him.
Me: See, this is what I've been trying to tell you. Now you know why we wanted you to leave the big dog alone.
Dash: He scared me, Mama. I thought he was going to eat me!
Me: Well, maybe you'll leave Jack alone now. He won't bother you unless you bother him.
Dash: I don't like it here anymore. I don't like dogs.
Me: Dash. You aren't going anywhere. Rooney won't hurt you and Jack just wanted to scare you. We would never let anybody hurt you. We love you.
Dash: Okay. I guess I'll stay. But hold me for awhile.
Me: No problem.
For the rest of the day, Dash did what every cat but Eli does. He walked waaaay around Jack. By around I mean, through another room around. He didn't so much as look at him. And for the rest of the day, Jack kept giving me "the look." It's the look that says, "See, I know what I'm doing. I'm sorry you're mad at me but I have to do my thing. It works." Well, Mr. Jack, you're still in the doghouse. I love my cats and you are not the boss. (Well, neither am I, but let's not tell him that.)
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