Chapter 8: Critters in the house
Tony noticed something moving behind the family room entertainment center. As he got up to look closer, two of the cats crouched down staring at the corner of the room behind the Blu-Ray/DVD player. As Simba got ready to pounce, a scared chipmunk ran out from behind the furniture and started across the room.
All four cats were now stalking the terrified creature, while Tony was trying to keep the cats from attacking the chipmunk and also herd it towards the deck door. He grabbed Callie mid-pounce and she made a funny squeaking sound. When she realized that the chipmunk got away, she gave her person some cat stink-eye.
Anthony walked into the family room as the scared chipmunk ran under the end table by the sofa. "What was that, Abba?"
"A terrified chipmunk," Tony put Callie down and tried to get between Simba and Patches and the table. "Open the deck door, please and then help me shoo it out."
Anthony opened the door to the deck. Daisy ran outside thinking that Anthony was going to play in the yard. Tony looked under the table and grabbed the chipmunk from behind.
"Clear a path; I have it in my hand," Tony moved towards the deck, planning to release the chipmunk in the yard. Callie and Lightning realized that he had the scared animal in his hand and followed him outside. Asher tried to sniff Tony's hand and see what he had.
With the cats following him, Tony took the chipmunk over to the far corner of the yard and let it go, trying to keep the cats away from it. Anthony had picked up the container of cat treats while his Abba was headed out with the chipmunk. He shook the treat container and all four cats went running to Anthony.
"Good thinking," Tony ruffled Anthony's hair. "Crisis averted."
~Critters~
Ziva was stripping the kids' beds to wash sheets. She pulled Anthony's top sheet off the lower bunk and was startled by the small green snake curled under the sheet. At first she thought it was one of the rubber snakes that the kids had used to prank each other, but when its head raised and it uncoiled, she realized the snake was alive.
She quickly grabbed it behind the head and carried out into the back yard, followed by Asher and Daisy. She released the snake near the back of the yard, mentally noting to remind Anthony that live outside animals needed to stay outside!
Back inside, Ziva noticed a shoe box with small holes punched in the lid in the twins' room. She carefully lifted the lid and saw two small brown toads inside. Another trip to the back yard to release the toads and then on to LJ's room. Thankfully, LJ didn't have any live critters in his room.
When the kids came home from school, she sat them all down and reminded them that live animals from outside needed to stay outside. She explained that she had found the snake and the toads.
"But, Ima, the toads were our new pets," Rivka protested.
"No, Rivka. Outside animals do not do well inside the house. They need to stay outside. The only animals allowed inside are humans, dogs and cats." Ziva explained.
"But what if one of the cats brings in a bird or something?" LJ asked.
"Then you tell me or tell Abba or try to get the animal back outside. I do not want outside animals of any kind inside the house. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ima" all five responded together.
