Betsy Hanes Perry in Natter - the full thing
I have spent the evening so far dealing with other people's crises.
First I got home and discovered that somebody had let the cat escape outside. Spent time outside calling for cat and alternately comforting hysterical children. Eventually got children to settle inside. Sat on back porch waiting. Saw cat. Dark grey cat with use of only three legs. Wrong cat. Saw another cat. Grey tabby with plumy tail. Looked promising. Followed cat to side of house. Yup, our cat. Sat on ground and started talking soothingly to cat. Child came up behind and said "Shadow?" Cat spooked. yelled at child. Started talking soothingly to cat. Cat enjoyed being outside. checked out leaf. Checked out wall. Checked out out of doors. Grabbed cat. Took cat inside.
Then talked one child through homework hysteria. Two different hysterias. Then talked other child through discussion of why no algebra had been done for two weeks. Then grounded other child.
Tired. v. tired. A need for many martinis.
And, no, we will not be getting more cat. Or more child.
(a few posts later)
Child just asked me what I wanted to do with popcorn ball.
Child apparently didn't hear wings of Angel of Death whizzing over head.