I know I promised more of my New Year's Goals yesterday. However, I kind of got caught up in the Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy. Sorry.
But, by doing so, I get to exercise my inner Thurber. So, I proudly present, Mighty Boomer and the Shake-In-Bake Cat.
I've never said I have a normal family. With four adults, 3 cats, and a snake, chaos is bound to occur naturally on occasion. But, this morning will live on in Wenzel family lore for years to come. It was the day that our 1 1/2 year old cat, Boomer, caught his first mouse and turned the house upside down in the process.
From what I've been told, since Stephen and I slept through it, the whole process began quite innocently. Jane spotted a small streak of blood on the floor in front of the pantry. She figured the boys (Ty and Boomer) had gotten a little rough last night and she really didn't give it a second thought and drank her coffee. That is, until she opened the pantry door. Out shot a adult mouse! Mighty Boomer and the Shake-In-Bake Cat (Ty - 15 lb tub of lard cat) gave chase around the kitchen. And the Mighty Boom caught him and refused to let him go. He was holding the mouse like he does a twist tie. He knows he isn't supposed to have it, but be darned if he is going to let you take it.
As Jane continued her tale, she explained than she didn't want Boomer to eat the mouse, so she was trying to get it from him. He kept doing the low warning growl and coveting his mouse. Every once in awhile, he'd release and he and Ty would corner and pounce on Mouse. However, it was always the Mighty Boomer to catch the Mouse. Soon, Boomer decided that Jane was trying to get his new toy and took off with him. Jane, in close pursuit, for she really didn't want to loose a dead or hurt mouse in the house, followed in chase.
Boomer went into Jane and Bill's bedroom and went under the bed. Ty followed. Jane decided that trapping them was the best she was going to do. She turned the light on, explained the situation, and closed the door. She went and got some wet cat food to lure the Boom and Ty away from Mr. Mouse and went back to the room. Unfortunately, the bedroom lock had trigger and she locked herself out of her own bedroom!!!
Unfortunately for Jane, she seems to be the only person in the house capable of unlocking the door. She was trying to give Bill instructions on how to unlock the door, to no avail. Finally, with one more direction to push and twist the door knob, the door opened. Bill had gotten the cat into the bathroom and closed the door in an attempt to further segregate our Mighty Mouse Hunter Boomer and his toy. Jane opened the door. In the farthest corner, mouse in mouth, was Boomer. Low and deep was the growl at the thought of giving up his pray. Jane placed the food pan on the floor and Boomer dropped the mouse. He was, of course, dead from the massive trauma of being run throughout most of the first floor of the house and repeatedly pounced upon and concussed. Boomer strolled over to his food like a lion who had taken down a zebra and proudly ate his wet food, which I can only assume smelled slightly better than the mouse. Jane grabbed tongs, went back into the bathroom, and grabbed the recently concussed and not so bloodied mouse body and prompt disposed of his body in a dignified mouse removal ceremony which involved the outside trash can, a Washington Post newspaper cover, the tongs, and a ceremonial drop.
Now our Boomer, king of the house, is looking for more. Unfortunately, there are mostly likely more. At least we have Mighty Boomer to save us. And his 15 lb. sidekick, too! Heaven help us all!
