Chapter 7
“It’s so fun how the cabins go together like Lincoln Logs.” It was like putting a puzzle together. A very heavy, very dirty one, though. “Can I get some Lincoln Logs, Daddy?”
“Put them on your Christmas list for Santa, Angel.” Daddy groaned as he and Uncle Chuck lifted a super heavy piece.
“’Kay.” I was in charge of sanding any sharp pieces from the ones they’d use next. It was tedious but fun, especially since Daddy let me choose the music we were listening to.
“Husband Daddy?” Tae’s giggles were just as loud as his words. “It’s time for lunch. Grandma Esther and Momma said so.”
“The women hath beckoned, so we must concede,” Chuck teased.
They finished setting the log we’d just put into place with insulation, having layered it between each log, then we headed inside the big cabin to eat.
Momma and Grandma, both women insisted we all call them that, had taken to using Chuck and Tae’s kitchen to feed the troops, since it was the biggest. Their words, not ours.
As much as I liked fast food, it was so much better eating theirs and didn’t hurt my tummy.
“Wash up, boys,” Momma said as we stepped inside. “Chicken and dumplings today.”
“Goddess above, I love these women.” Chuck smiled and headed up to his and Tae’s room to use the restroom while Daddy and I used the downstairs one.
“Looks like you boys are moving along pretty fast,” Grandma said as she took the seat beside me.
“With each one, we get better,” Uncle Chuck said. “The smaller ones you and Momma have go pretty quick. Only have to frame out the bedroom and bathroom for those.”
Daddy and I had been tackling the jobs in town while Uncle Chuck stayed here to work on Grandma’s cabin. On the weekends, we helped with the heavy stuff.
“Once the last exterior wall is up, it’s on to the roof. That’ll take a couple of days. The interior won’t take any time at all. I’d say you’ll be living in it by the end of the month.”
“I have to say,” Grandma began, “this has been the most excitement I’ve had in some time now, but I wish you boys would let me order the furniture. I’m a bit nervous I’ll have nowhere to sit.”
“We’ve got you covered, Grandma,” Daddy said.
“Boy, you are not buying my furniture. You’ve all done enough.”
Her argument fell on deaf ears. Daddy and I had been working on her new pieces in our spare time.
Hadn’t had much time to do more than nurse for a few minutes before I was out each night.
But all this extra work was more than worth it, especially seeing Grandma’s face when she saw it all put together just for her.
“Who said anything about buying?” Daddy teased her.
“Mmm, mmm, mmm, boy. I don’t know what you’re up to but that wicked gleam in your eye says a lot.”
“You’re not good at accepting gifts, are you, Grandma?” Daddy asked her.
“Worked hard for everything we had. Gifts were few and far between, and that’s alright. Love of family is what’s most important.” Grandma always had precise, straight-to-the-point answers.
“Alright then, not gifts but love. Sit back and enjoy the love you more than deserve.” Ooohhh, Daddy was proving to be an equal in a battle of wits with her. This was like watching the ultimate battle. Everyone’s heads bobbed back and forth, both Grandma and Daddy smiling wickedly.
“As entertaining as this is,” Uncle Chuck said, “it’s time for us to get back to work. Ladies, lunch was wonderful, as usual. Thank you.”
Right as we stepped outside, a delivery truck drove off. “Wow, that’s a lot of boxes.”
“Why don’t you boys get them moved to the shop so we can sort through them later, while the Daddies get the last wall done.”
“Okay, Uncle Chuck.” Tae and I started moving them. A couple were pretty heavy, but there was a box addressed to me and one to Tae. “What do we do with these two?”
“Who are they for?” Daddy asked.
“Me and Tae.”
“Then I guess you boys better open them and see what’s inside.”
“What do you think it is?” Tae asked as we sat on the porch to open them.
“I dunno.” We ripped into them like it was Christmas morning. I loved prezzies, but when did Daddy get the time to buy me something?
“Meow!” Tae squealed, holding up a black cat suit. “Thank you, Daddy, now I get to be a kitty too.”
That made me unwrap even faster. “Me too! Daddy, how did you find one to match Sabrina?”
“Uncle Chuck found a designer who does custom suits. What else is in there?”
“There’s more?”
“Ears!” Tae shouted.
“Paws!” I hollered when I held them up. “Ooohhh, and a tail. We’re gonna look so good.”
“Daddy, can we wear them now?” Tae asked. Well, more like whined, but I was just as excited as he was. Would Sabrina freak out when she saw me or would she play with me?
“Tonight, after you’ve showered,” Uncle Chuck said. “You don’t want to get your new costume all sweaty, do you?”
“No, Daddy. But it’s sooo cute, I just love it. Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, husband boy,” Uncle Chuck teased him back for calling him husband Daddy before.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, Angel. Why don’t you take the box inside and put it somewhere safe while we finish up out here.”
I went inside, and Sabrina came right to me, meowing. “Hello, pretty girl. Guess what? I get to be a kitty with you later.”
“Meow.”
Hopefully that was meow for yes and not meow for a cat fight. I gave her a couple of treats then went back out to help Daddy and Uncle Chuck clean up for the day.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you move this fast, Angel,” Daddy teased. I was super excited to play kitty cat with my kitty cat.
“I’m ready to play with Sabrina, Daddy.”
“Shower and dinner first, Angel.”
Hmph, Daddies were difficult.
“Did you just grunt at your Daddy?”
“No, I grunted at myself.” Sorta. Kinda. But I wasn’t a bad boy and didn’t plan to ever be one.
“Right.” Shoot, Daddy wasn’t buying that either. “We’ll talk later.”
Ugh. I hoped that wasn’t out loud. Guess I’d know later when I was sitting in the corner instead of having kitty time.
“Slow down, Angel, you’re gonna choke.” Everything was working against me today. Gotta shower first, gotta eat dinner first. All I wanted to do was play with Sabrina. One of the many positives to this large family set-up we had was dishes and the kitchen were cleaned up fast.
“Now, Daddy?”
Daddy rolled his eyes. Was there a punishment for Daddies who were naughty? “Let’s go.”
“Thanks for dinner!” I shouted as I ran out the door, across the lot, and right into our bedroom which was where Daddy found me half naked.
“Not that I mind the view.” Daddy’s eyes scanned me up and down, so I wiggled my butt just to hear him growl. “Let me help you so you don’t shred it.”
“Why is there a hole in my butt?” Daddy laughed so hard I thought he’d fall over. Then I realized… “Not that one, the one in the costume.”
“Thanks for clarifying. If you notice in the box, you got two tails. One is external, and the other one has a plug on the end.”
“Plug?” I pulled them both from the box. “Oh, that kind of plug.”
“Did you think I’d hook you up to an outlet and see how you light up?” That had him laughing again. “I know we’ve never really played with any toys aside from those requiring batteries.” Was it getting hot in here, or was it just me? “But if you’d like to try the plug, we have plenty of lube.”
Did I?
Kinda.
Yeah.
But… “Probably not while Grandma is here.”
“Makes sense. Let’s get the external one on and your paw pads and ears then see how freaked out Sabrina gets.”
I heard the front door open and went running out of our room. “Grandma! Look, I’m a kitty cat!”
She blinked, her mouth fell open, then she blinked again. “Yes, yes, you are. But why are you dressed like your cat?”
“Good job, Daddy, she recognized it matched Sabrina.”
“Gee, thanks,” Daddy said. “You’re surprised I got it to match?”
“Nope!” Sabrina eyed me from way up high on the scratchy perch Daddy made for her. I sifted through her toy basket and dumped it over. “Daddy, I can’t grab the toys with my mittens on. Will you wave the feathery thing for us to play with, please?”
“Good luck, I’ll be in my room watching TV if you need help.” Grandma mumbled something to herself as she walked down the hall, shutting her bedroom door behind her.
“Come on, Daddy.” I wanted to play, and hop, and run, and chase stuff. Sabrina had so many cool toys we’d bought her, and I wanted to play with them all.
“Fussy kitty, sit.”
“I’m not a dog, Daddy.” Yet, I still did as he said. Maybe cats could be trained to do dog stuff. Sabrina and I watched him, waiting to pounce the second the feathers swished through the air. She jumped off her treehouse while I batted a bit too hard and knocked it from his hands. “Sorry, Daddy.”
The paw pads had bubbly things on them that kept me from sliding on the wood floor. Sabrina and I both played, though she kept her distance from me. “Daddy, I don’t think Sabrina likes being matchies.” I tried to rub against her like she did to me, but she just hissed.
“Angel, it’ll just take her some time to get used to it, that’s all.”
I chased the ball around, loving the sound of the jingle bell inside. This was so much fun, but Sabrina got bored and wandered off, and I couldn’t stop yawning.
“Alright, time to settle down for the night. Let’s get you out of your costume.”
“Can we,” yawn, “play again,” yawn, “sometime?”
“Of course we can. Hopefully, after Grandma’s cabin is done, we’ll have more downtime. I’d love to take my angel out on a real date.”
“I’d love that, Daddy.” Dinner and a movie then a walk through the park holding hands. I was a big sap when it came to romantic stuff. We’d always just been work, work, work. I liked that Daddy wanted to focus more on us now.
“Let’s get your mittens off. Why don’t you put the toys away while Daddy shuts the lights off.”
“But-but, I wanted ice cream, Daddy.”
“Trey, this is the first time you’ve mentioned it. You can barely hold your eyes open and you’re on the verge of tears. Let’s lie down and Daddy will put a movie on.”
“The one with the puppies and the kitties and the poodle that headbangs?”
“Yes, my sleepy angel. Let’s get you in your jammies.” Daddy took off my mittens and unzipped me, but I jumped up on the bed to get away before he took it off.
“I want to sleep in my kitty suit.” Hadn’t thought this one through, I was basically trapped.
“No, Trey. Now get over here.” I pouted as I crawled over to him. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into you tonight.” Daddy was getting frustrated. I was tired and confused but let him finish undressing me. “It’s time for bed.”
No use arguing, I’d just lose and end up in trouble. Being a kitty was harder than I thought. Hopefully, Tae had better luck with his kitties.