AppleTreePets: Day One Hundred Fifty Four

Absence Makes the Boos go Crazy

For three days, Rooney has been walking, sleeping, going outside, etc. - with a stuffed toy in her mouth. The reason? This is her way of coping when her Dad is out of town. The worst part is when she falls asleep sucking on a toy, then can't breathe. Bullmastiffs have a challenge breathing as it is - well the ones with a Bulldog face that is. Jack has more of a Mastiff face, so he doesn't have as much trouble in the breathing department.

I feel bad for her, but nothing short of her Dad's return will dislodge a sticky, fuzzy whatever from her jaws. She empties her toy bin completely, searching for that special thing which she hopes will make her feel better.There are toys all over the house. I just let it go, and factor in tripping over them for the duration of his trip. And, because she literally sucks the stuffing out of her toys, I have to periodically remove fuzz crusted on her nose and even pull stuffing from inside her mouth. I know that, when he returns, order will be restored and the toys will go back in the box and stay there. Until his next journey.

When Dad is away

He's ba-ack!

Since every other creature is dependant on me for their wellbeing, and I rarely leave the house, I'm not sure how the rest of them would cope in my absence. Especially the cats. I imagine the dialogue would go something like this:

Eli: Okay. It appears as though she's gone. She left us!
Chance: Who?
Finn: Oh, my goodness, Chance! Mom - that's who! Is she really gone?
Eli: It appears that way. We're all going to die...
Dash: Is that lady gone? Don't worry! I've been working on a plan to get out of here. We'll just go outside and eat those squirmy things. I'm fast - I can catch enough for all of you sissies!
Finn: But Mom said we shouldn't eat them. She said they'll make us sick.
Eli: 'Mom said. Mom said.' If she cared about us she never would have left us in the first place!
Chance: Do I still have to pee in the box if she's gone?
All in unison: YES!!!
Fancy: Ahem. Look, I know you all live to panic, but I'm pretty sure she'll be back. I know her and she would never leave us. Besides, the man is still here.
Eli: But he doesn't like cats. Look at him over there with those dogs. It makes me sick the way he spoils them. Do you think he's going to empty our poop box? And he hates the smell of cat food. I heard him gag once when she opened a can of tuna fish. We're going to die I tell you!
Chance: I'm gonna poop on the floor then.
Finn: You're probably the reason she left us! Why can't you just use the box like the rest of us? Oh my goodness... I think I'm going to faint...

Me: Hey guys! What's wrong? I just went out to get the mail. Why are you all sitting in the kitchen, looking so worried?

Eli: Excuse me. I wasn't worried. I didn't even know you were gone...
Dash: Look how high I can jump now!!!!
Finn: You were gone soooo long....
Fancy: They're all nuts - do you know that? I tried to tell them you were coming back. Since you're here, I could sure go for a treat.
Chance: Uh oh. I didn't think she was coming back so I pooped and peed on the floor....hide me!

Me: Chance!!! I was gone two minutes! You little stinker!! Where are you?........