Just Checking

Blog soundtrack

When Iz and I were running around doing errands yesterday, we saw a flyer on the door of a local store. It said, “Lost Cat.” Before I opened the door, I said to Iz, “Wait a minute. I want to read this.”

As it turns out, there was a lovely white kitty missing from Park Street. Of course, Park Street was a terribly busy street, so I was somewhat miffed at the owners for having an “outdoor” cat. But, since I had been through the “missing cat” experience myself, I then immediately sympathized with the owners.

Iz asked, “Mommy, what does it say?” I told her that a cat was missing. She said, “Awwwww.”

When we left the store and were driving home, Iz asked, “How will we find it?” I asked, “How will we find what?” It appeared the last 10 minutes had been light years to me; however, Iz was still in the present that was 10 minutes ago when she said, “The house.”

I asked, “What house?” She said, “If we find the kitty, how will we find the house it lives in?!” I said, “Oh. Well, there’s a phone number. We’d just call the phone number and ask.”

Then she asked, “Mom, where did Belle go?” Belle was a gray and white cat I had that never came home one day. Iz was an infant when Belle was living in the house; the funny thing was that Iz always acts as if she and Belle were BFFs at the time of Belle’s mysterious departure.

I said that I wasn’t sure where Belle had gone. Iz, as any good CSI does, asked more questions. “What time did she go out?” “Did she tell you where she was going” “Did you see her leave the premises with any other cat?” “Did you have a surveillance camera on the porch, Mommy?”

Okay, she wasn’t that zealous; however, by the time we reached Pearl Street, she had grilled me thoroughly. She was so thorough in her questioning that she had me convinced that Jean did it in the Ballroom with a candlestick!

There was an entire minute of silence in the car. This is when I know Iz is reloading questions like Dirty Harry reloads bullets in his Magnum. She asked, “Mommy, would you rather lose a cat or lose me?”

I was rather shocked at the question. Age seven must be the age of reasoning when it isn’t the age of a million and one questions. I said, “Iz, I don’t want to lose anything, but I’d rather lose a cat than you.”

She then asked, “Liam or Plume?”
I laughed.
I said, “Iz, I don’t really want to have to make that decision if I don’t have to.”

Within 10 seconds, the topic changed as fast as Iz changed her wardrobe on a Saturday afternoon. She said, “Mommy, you said that when Monty goes, no more dogs.” I said, “Well, dogs are a lot of work.”

She asked, “Well, can we get a gerbil instead?”
I said, “No.”
She asked, “A fish?”
I said, “No.
She asked, “A turtle?”
I said, “No. Just cats. Period!”

Just then, it was quiet in the back seat. She was reloading once again. She asked, “Mommy, would you rather lose me or a house?” I said, “A house.”

Like the rat-tat-tat of an Uzi, she asked, “Would you rather lose me or Nathan?” Again, I was surprised by this, but I figured that she was now at the Age of Sibling Rivalry when not at the Age of Innocence. And, surely there would be trouble tomorrow when Nathan drank ginger ale like it was water and ate ice cream like it was broccoli for the next two days after having his four wisdom teeth removed in the morning.

I said, “Iz!!!!! I couldn’t lose you or Nathan. I would die before I’d let anything happen to either of you.” She didn’t say anything. Just then, I felt a bit like Meryl Streep in Sophie’s Choice.

I wondered why she had been so inquisitive about my choices, especially in regard to her importance in my life. Though, I was sure this probably wouldn’t be the first time she’d examine and scrutinize my choices. Anyway, I hadn’t rented out her room nor had I asked the Gypsies to come and collect her; thus, I asked, “Why are you asking all these questions?”

She said, “I’m just checking!” I was then reminded that we’re all vulnerable sometimes, especially where it concerns love. Ultimately, you do know who loves you, but every now and then, no matter how much you know, you still just need to check. ♥