For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The doctor came out and said that was all he could do for Muffin right now. She is breathing, but lightly and her heart is working, but is still weak. “Now,” he said, “what about you? I can see you’re in pain.” So I told him about my wound and getting hit there hard. He took x-rays and gave me a good examination. There was nothing serious, but a lot of bruising on my lower back. He told me to take it easy for a few days. I told him that would have to wait, I need to find out who did this to Muffin. “I’ll say it a bit differently,” he said, “you need to take it easy, rest now, or you could end up not walking at all.” He seemed to be serious when he was talking. “Well,” I said, “as long as Muffin is in here I won’t be doing much.” “Good,” he said, “then maybe I should keep her here for a while.” He smiled and walked away.
Well, I’m quite sure he can be trusted, which is good since I have to leave Muffin here. I arranged to have Mr. Cat stay with Muffin, that will help Muffin fight harder and Mr. Cat can protect her too. And he can always get in touch with me. Caren and I drove back to her odd square house. I kept thinking about that place. Is this about the cats and I, or is it about that house? A house that odd must have some secrets, we just have to find out what they are. “At least you’re driving normally this time,” Caren said. “Steve, are you awake?”, she asked more loudly this time. “Oh, sorry,” I said, “just doing some thinking and I tend to lose track of what’s going on around me.”
“Um, maybe I should drive, so you can think, safely”, she said. “I’m okay,” I assured her, “I haven’t gone over the edge yet.” “Thanks,” she said, “that’s not too comforting.” Before coming back she bought new locks for the doors and I put them on right away. “No one is going to get through these locks easily,” I told Caren. “I hope not,” she said, “they were expensive.” “Sometimes you can’t worry about the cost,” I explained, “the purpose is to keep others out. Now, that cellar, what is down there anyway?” “I have no idea,” she said, “I’ve never been down there.” “You bought the house without looking through it all?”, I asked. “I looked through the house, kind of looked at the attic, but the sales person selling the house said it was just a typical dirty cellar, with nothing in it except some empty boxes.
Oh yes, the lady police officer did look down there when I made my complaint, but she said the same thing.” “Good,” I said, “then it won’t take long to look it over.” I got out my flashlight, just in case there were no lights working down there, then I opened the trap door in the floor. The stairs were steep, but remarkably clean. Caren followed behind me. There was a light switch at the bottom of the stairs. I turned it on and we both stood there staring around the cellar. It was one large, nicely furnished room, very clean and obviously had been here for some time. “Both those women lied to me!”, exclaimed Caren. “Yes, it would appear that way,” I said, “now the question is, why did they lie about it?” “That means the police are mixed up in this,” said Caren. “Well, it only means the one officer is mixed up in this, that’s why she checked this out herself,” I said.
Just then the laughing started and the trap door slammed shut! Caren screamed and almost knocked me over as she grabbed me. I really must remember this so I can be better prepared for the next time she hugs me. “I was expecting that would happen,” I said casually. “You expected it and still came down here anyway?”, she asked, “sometimes you’re hard to understand.” “Don’t worry,” I told her, “there must be another way out of here, this is how your stalker is getting inside.” “I don’t think this is making me feel any better Steve,” said Caren nervously, “what if he is watching us right now?” I plug in my little scrambler. “Well, at least he can’t hear us now anyway,” I said, and started looking around. “Um, what are you looking for?”, asked Caren. “A hidden door, there has to be one if people are coming in this way,” I explained. “Meanwhile the stalker is upstairs going through all my things again,” she said, almost crying.
To Be Continued.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
So interesting that Caren would take others’ words about the cellar. A strange action for a homeowner to take. She must be naive or not a good thinker. Hmmm.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I must admit, it seems strange, but she doesn’t come across as a brave person. It’s rather odd she would want to live out here all alone anyway. I get the impression she might be running from something. But how does all this fit together?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good question! Looking forward to the next chapter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I want to see how we get out of that cellar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree…why would Caren buy the place without looking throughout ? Both people said it was just a dirty cellar ? Hmmm..and poor Muffin ! How can her little body withstand so much damage ! Good thing Mr. Cat is there with her ! Excellent storyline Steve ! π΅οΈββοΈππΌπ©π€βοΈβοΈ
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is odd, but it is her first house purchase and she doesn’t seem to know much about certain things, so she is naive and too trusting at times. Though trusting the police officer seemed natural enough. But she seems like she might be running from something. Her explanation for her expensive car seemed okay though she didn’t say it with real confidence. But how does it all fit together? Yes, the doctor wasn’t too optimistic about Muffin, perhaps she will end up with some permanent damage like her human, but hopefully not.π€ππΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
LikeLiked by 1 person
So why would they tell her there were only empty boxes??π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a good question. They must be part of what is going on, whatever that is.π Seems to me it’s more than just a stalker, someone wants her out of the house, but why?π€ Or is it all just to trap me again?π€ Seems like there would be an easier way to do that though.π³πππΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
LikeLike
You must not be feeling like you’re nowhere any longer.. your thinking is clearer! Am I correct?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yep, those treatments I had seemed to work, though I will likely need more treatments later according to the doctor that treated me. Now to get out of this cellar prison. Sigh.π€ππ³
LikeLike
Like you said!! Got to be another way and out!! You need to do like the cats… get on all fours and start sniffing around until you feel a draft an there you go!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m barely walking and he wants me down on my hands and knees?π€π³π¬ You’re supposed to be on my side!π€¨
LikeLike
You want out of the cellar don’t you?π€¨ π€π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Preferably still walking.π€¨πΆββοΈπ
LikeLike
Walking… crawling…. eh moving is moving don’t worry so much!πππ€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think going out the way we came in would be the fastest solution. How is a locked from the outside trap door going to stop a smart PI?π€π
LikeLike
Now you’re asking the questionπ I don’t think it can!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you really think I would let someone lock us in here? Do you?π€ππ€¨
LikeLike
Ahhhh.. ya!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not this super genius PI! I know exactly what to do. Except Mr. Cat isn’t here and he’s our lock picker. Sigh.π€π
LikeLike
So how does that help?π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mr. Cat could get us out, if he was here. I wonder if one of my mini fire bombs would work?π€π³π₯π₯
LikeLike
Don’t play with fire!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
One way to get out.π³π₯
LikeLike
Just don’t get burned. I need to apologize πͺ I feel asleep last night while we were chattering. I woke up and sent my good night. Sorry about that oneπ¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm, maybe I should hire my services to talk people to sleep!ππΉ
LikeLiked by 1 person
It wasn’t you… My sleep has been less good lately, so I fall asleep when sitting on my chair even.π΄π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, but I still say it’s me!ππππΉ
LikeLike
Well I’ll let you claim it this time!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I might need a good reference for my new job, “Steve’s Sleep Support Service”!ππ
LikeLike
I said I was sorry .. it was just a 90 minute napπππ that commute wears me out!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, that’s okay, I understand, no need to apologize. I have fallen asleep while writing a post, more than once! I couldn’t handle a commute that long, plus working all day, would drive me crazy.π€ͺπ€―π€―ππΉ
LikeLike
So far…. not crazy just tired!π΄π΄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t have as far to go to get crazy. Well, time to write another chapter of my story, talk later!ππ
LikeLike
Alright! I’ll be here when you get back!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
But will I be here when I get back? That’s the question.π€π³ππ€―
LikeLike
That IS the question! Are you here? Or are you all there?π€π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I’m here, you’re there. If I were all there I couldn’t be here.π€ππ€―
LikeLike
That’s true… but that means Im not all there if I am here!π₯΄π₯΄π₯΄π
LikeLiked by 1 person
But you’re not here, you’re there, so no need to worry. How strange, some clouds have come in. Is it ever going to get cold by the weekend!π³π¬π₯Άβ
LikeLike
Maybe? It’s been cloudy here this afternoon, but still warm. Actually warming up the rest of this week. I still haven’t heard from the people that wanted to do the phone interview! Grrr
LikeLiked by 2 people
Warming up??? We could get flurries on Friday and Saturday, but some places actually have snowfall warnings out! 8 to 16 inches of snow!
LikeLike
I noticed that the mountains in Montana were supposed to get feet of snow
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s where it’s coming from.π³π¬
LikeLike
You really need to consider moving south!ππ₯Άπ₯Ά
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only I could…ππππ΄π΄
LikeLike
Hey… you’re gonna get a Sunburned tongue if you do that in the southland!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t need to worry up here!ππππΉ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bad habits!!π€¨π€¨ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never heard of those flowers before, but if they’re bad I won’t try em.πππΉπΉ
LikeLike
Good choice!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m thinking so.ππ€―
LikeLike
Naturabubbly!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
What did you make for supper??
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sure did! I ate long time ago.
LikeLike
Okay…πππ me too
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the way to do it! What did you have?
LikeLike
Salmon steak and baked potatoe, with a kittle strawberry π ice cream!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
You put strawberry ice cream on your baked potato?π³π³
LikeLike
Don’t you wish??ππ and I liked it!!ππππππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh huh, good for you, but I guess if you can eat fish, you can eat anything! Time to sign off, I’m in too much pain, overdid it today again. Good night, chatter tomorrow!ππΈππ΄
LikeLike
Alrighty, I’ve got that old commute to deal with in the morning.. chat tomorrow??π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. But I’m not here right now.π
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s okay, cuz I there right so im not here either!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes sense to me.ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Feeble minds think alike!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who’s the other person?π€ππ
LikeLike
You had to ask!!πππππ€π€π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better than trying to guess.πππ€π€
LikeLike
So did you figure it out yet?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was supposed to do something?π€π³
LikeLike
Don’t worry… everything is okay!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I’m worried.π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then you should worry!π¬π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I’m really worried!!π²π²π²π²π²
LikeLike
No..
You were supposed to be relieved πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I’m getting super worried!π³π¬π³π¬π³
LikeLike
Ahhhh….. I give up!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Steve faints with worry.π€ͺπ€ͺπ€ͺπ€ͺπ€ͺ
LikeLike
He needed a nap anyway πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.ππ
LikeLike
Anytime!π I am here to support you!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good, maybe I won’t fall down so much then.π€£π€£
LikeLike
Don’t get carried away!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Doubt that will happen.π€ππΉ
LikeLike
You can never be certain! π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who needs a curtain, I have lots already.π
LikeLike
They can be used to lift you up ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
That I would like to see, the only time mine do anything is when the wind is blowing.ππ
I’ll be back in a couple minutes, don’t go away.ππ
LikeLike
I’ll be right here
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m back, don’t go away!
LikeLike
Okay, didn’t even get up!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Time for bed, good night Dusty!πππ΄
LikeLike
Good Night Steve
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Dusty!
LikeLike
Good morning Steve!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is, it is! Except maybe for Bert. It still is!ππΊππ»
LikeLike
Is he still eating at your place? That mangie bear!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
He came back again at 11 while I was planting my flowers, he was on one end of the deck, I on the other end, the door is exactly in the middle. He stomped and snorted loudly which is a warning for me to leave. Gladly, but I had to walk towards him to get in the door. I did have my bear spray ready just in case. Soon as I got in he feasted on flowers. Guess I won’t have much flowers this year either. No birds, no flowers, no walking, no pictures. Now what?
LikeLike
Hmmm…π€π€π€ that’s a tough one! Maybe move everything except your bird feeders inside for a few more weeks. Until he can find food in the forest. That means no walks to the river though..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, my walks are out for a while anyway. No bird feeding. But I can’t bring my flowers inside, no room, this is a small place.π€π
LikeLike
You need to build a greenhouse! And no it doesn’t need to greenπ€¨π€ͺπ€ͺπ€π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Bert would destroy the greenhouse. This deck isn’t really big enough for one anyway.ππ
LikeLike
Then keep that bear spray handi and hope for the best!π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, laugh at me and my troubles. Sigh.π
LikeLike
Me?? What? Laughing at you?? I am laughing with you!! ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry, but I’m not laughing right now. This could ruin my entire summer, which isn’t very long anyway.π Oh well, things could be worse.π
LikeLike
Hey… you are going to have a great summer… however short or long it is.. Bert won’t be able to outlast you! That I know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He seems to have a regular way he goes which means coming through the yard here to other places he visits. He might be finding food at other places too, which means he will be here all summer. Right now I wish I was still driving, then I could go other places easily and not have to worry.ππ
LikeLike
Well that mainge is going to cause him to nit be so active. Anyway how was your day?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a beautiful warm day, got up to 83 again so very nice indeed. It was 85 inside. Tomorrow is supposed to be 85 but thunderstorms coming in the afternoon and night. Then the temp starts to drop. Planted more flowers, hopefully they will survive, they weren’t looking too good after Bert was through with them.
LikeLike
Were you able to get them replanted quickly when Bert left?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I waited about an hour to make sure Bert wasn’t coming back right away. Some of them were quite wilted by that time, too far gone.
LikeLike
I’m sorry to hear that! Were they very expensive to replace? What kind were they?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I decided to try some zinnias this year, they weren’t cheap and there are none left now. Others were some specialty pansies, carnations and osteopermums, something I hadn’t tried before. Plus some regular petunias. I can get more of those yet.
LikeLike
It’s all you can really do.. It’s still early enough they should still do fine for the season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think most will survive okay, some I didn’t bother keeping, they were too far gone. Now if he does it again, that will finish them for sure.
LikeLike
If that happens then your having a message sent to you to try next year!!ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you say cry next year? How about I do that this year instead!π
LikeLike
Okay then… get it out of your system… you got flowers, birds and Muffin to take care of..πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Birds?π³ Didn’t you read today?π€π No more bird feeding, that also means squirrels and chipmunks. Well, I might try to keep the chipmunks happy, though I’m not quite sure how just yet.π€π
LikeLike
Yes! I read π today.. but since when did that stop you from feeding them anyway!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bert made up my mind for me this time. I give up. If I could get some lumber I might be able to outsmart him.π€π
LikeLike
Well.. covid seems to be on his side this year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, otherwise he would be up against my intelligence with his, uh, his, um… greater intelligence!π€―π€―π»
LikeLike
Yeah… let’s go with the covid for now!!π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll go with that!
LikeLike
ππππ Good Night Steve!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Dusty!π
LikeLike
Good Morning Steve π
LikeLiked by 1 person
ππΊπ
LikeLike
Hi Muffin!! How could I forget about you?? (Chin scratch) π
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s having her pre evening nap, I’ll let her know.π
LikeLike
Thank you!ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
You’ll be happy to know I had my 1st covid shot today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Good for you, I knew you would!ππΊ
LikeLike
Somewhat reluctantly though.ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe that. Did it hurt? Which one did you get?
LikeLike
The Pfizer version, didn’t even feel it. No I need to wait until June 9th to get my next one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, you got the good one.π June 9th????π³π³ I have to wait until Aug 13th!π² Let me know how you feel tomorrow.π€π
LikeLike
Okay, everyone says you don’t feel any different with the first dose. It’s the second one that makes you feel yucky. We’ll see.π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. I’m in trouble. Anyway, you have nothing to worry about. Let me know how you feel tomorrow.π€
LikeLike
Will do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay. As they say in the old country, “a jab in the arm is better than a punch in the nose.”
LikeLike
Is that a warning??β οΈπ³π²
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why would I do that?π€π Sure is lots of lightning and thunder, doesn’t quit, but not much rain.π³π€
LikeLike
It’s out there somewhere!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep.
LikeLike
I am a bit concerned with how my immune system will react. The RA could flare up and that would be bad. But a chance I need to take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure if it does act up it will be short, like with me. Only bothered me for 3 days.
LikeLike
That’s good. I just don’t like poking the bear! If you get me analogy..π
LikeLiked by 1 person
As they say in the old country, “a bear is like a bee, but never bee like a bear.”
LikeLike
That’s a great motto!!π π»
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like it. One of my favorites.π
LikeLike
Excellant choice!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so.
LikeLike
Maybe you should play “Captain May I” with the stalker?ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
But I don’t know who the stalker is?π€
LikeLike
Turn off the scrambler and ask them..π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did I plug in a scrambler down here?π€
LikeLike
You wrote that he did!π€¨
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did I? Good for me. Good thing I remembered, because I forgot.ππ€π
LikeLike
you are not taking rest, are you? but Doctor advised it π§ why did you come for investigation this soon, so this is a pre-planned story, Caren was tricked or was it you and muffin π€π€¨ hmm, time to find out who is all behind this, after all, they deserve a big punishment after what they did to muffin π§πͺ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m sort of resting,π not doing anything hard,π¬ just walking around looking.π³ But I will be resting later, kind of.π Hard to stop right now, we have to find these people.π πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
LikeLike
yeah that’s right, don’t stop, keep searching by walking π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Except I’m not supposed to be walking.ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, doctor said that, but when did you followed doctors advice π π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Um, well, uh, let’s see, um, hmm, I must have once or twice.π€ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahahaπ, like when ? π π we knew how sincere when it comes to follow doctors advice
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, maybe I don’t always follow the doctor’s advice, but sometimes I’m sort of close, sort of.π€ππππ
LikeLike
Yeah, close, so close to it ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
See? You agree with me!ππΉ
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaππ
LikeLiked by 1 person