I’m up early, and Shawshank is working this morning. Podrick spent the entire night curled up under the blankets with me. We went to bed, he played with Shawshank‘s feet, then us humans settled in with our blanket fort shield. After walking around and jumping over/on us, Pod pawed at the edge of the quilt. I lifted it, he slipped underneath and curled up against my chest. Once I wrapped an arm around him, he chose a finger to focus on, and that’s how we fell asleep. I woke up once, briefly, to him sucking my thumb and “baking biscuits” on my forearm.
Shawshank had yesterday off, so we did the shopping. He left to grab some things at work while I put on my makeup. I assumed a human form and found clothes. While I put socks on, I started hearing faint, squeaky meows. WHERE’S PODRICK? I check the dresser; when I mute the TV, I can hear him by the utility/furnace room. While he’s chonky, I’m sure he could squeeze through the vent slats in the door. But I can’t find Pod. He’s not in any of the shit we’re storing in that space. Is he in the furnace? I pull out tools. I text Shawshank, I need you home, and keep looking. Even Pipping had the grace to act concerned. When Shawshank wasn’t home in 5 minutes, I opened the back door to see if I could see the truck.
MEOW!
There’s Pod, sitting on a small table on the back stoop, shivering, tail all puffed up. He slipped out when Shawshank left. I picked him up and brought him back inside, and he purred nonstop.
We survived the rest of the day with much less anxiety and excitement.
