Although he will definitely be missed in Long Beach, not-so-little-any-more Theo has triumphantly returned to Hillsboro to live with Rick.
We were all a little nervous about this arrangement at first, but the cardiologist agreed that as long as Theo leaves the power cords and drive lines alone, it’s a fine idea for Rick to have his cat back home.
And Theo has always been Rick’s cat—after all, last April he was born right under Rick’s bed! But while Rick was in the hospital, Theo was one lonely little fellow, so I took him to live with his “brothers” at my house for a few months.
Having Alvin, Simon, and Theodore all under one roof was a continuous circus. Simon and Theo quickly became the best of buddies, and running up and down the hall at 3 a.m. was one of their favorite things to do together.
Alvin, the eldest at 3 ½, has always been a little more aloof, preferring to watch the antics without joining in—unless it’s time for my shower. Then Alvin is the first one in the bathroom, taking up “his spot” on the toilet seat while Simon sits on the clothes hamper and Theo paces continuously along the edge of the tub, pulling the ends of the curtain back at each rotation.
So now the dynamics have suddenly been altered in both homes. “Different” is not necessarily a bad thing, but I really am going to miss “the littlest chipmunk.” He’s a sweet little bugger—full of piss and vinegar, of course, but who wants a boring cat?
Good thing I have visitation rights!