Monday, July 22, 2013

101. The Appointment

“Miss Percinetti?” she calls, pronouncing it right, “watch the floor, we just mopped.” 

You scurry back through the bright lights and past a yappy dog in another exam room. 

“Is everything okay?” you ask, “Are you going to have to drug her?” 

“She is, uh ... agitated,” the vet says.  “I just thought if she saw you, it might calm her.” 
You smile at the vet, but you secretly think the vet must be an idiot if she can’t handle a 5-pound tabby cat.  You wonder if you should switch vets.  You promise yourself you will Google new vets when you get back to the car.    

You walk into the sterile room and spy Tippy scrunched in the back corner of her cat carrier, hissing.  Tippy is not normally a hisser, but this situation seems to bring out the worst in her.  She sees you and thinks she’s saved.  She starts meowing loudly—Take me out of here!
You walk over and coo, Hey Tippy, it’s okay, I’m right here!  Just a quick exam and a few shots, that’s it!  I love you. You’re fine.

Tippy reaches her little paw through the side and you reach back to her, attempting to communicate with this darling fluffy creature that you have adored for going on 10 years now. 
Tippy claws your hand fiercely and draws blood. 

You are surprised, but try to act like you’re not, even as the blood is gushing from four perfectly symmetrical scratches. 
“Are you all right?” gasps the vet, immediately handing you some tissues. 

You tell here you’re fine, but you’re not fine.  You’re mad at Tippy.  Sweet little Tippy.  At home you charm her, but not here.         
 
MOV
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16 comments:

  1. How was the cat put into the carrier in the first place is what I want to know. I have to stand my carriers up on their ends, grab my cat's paws with each hand, and lower her inside like a tied pig. Cats are fun.

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  2. Oh, there's no charming kitty at the vet. The vet just has to gear up and get the exam done.

    Draug's comment made me laugh because getting them into the carrier is tricky! I have one who is a kitty Houdini - she can unlock and unzip the soft-sided carrier.

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  3. Cats man... they have a mind of their own.

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  4. My normally docile cat becomes apoplectic when at the vets. She has several frowny face stickers on her file. As for getting her out of her carrier.... I have to take it apart with her in it, then lift the top off like a lid.

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  5. Last time I took mine to the vet he made a determined attempt to escape. At least there were no casualties!

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  6. What makes the whole thing weirder is the fact that cats (in my experience) will seek out the smallest, tightest little nooks and crannies in which to sleep...But once that carrier comes out...

    This is a great story, and one cat owners can relate to with painful fondness. Thank you for linking up! Please remember to return for the voting!

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  7. This is great. I can so relate. I would absolutely play like I wasn't fazed by my pet's betrayal--especially after I mentally reduced the vet to an idiot because SHE couldn't handle Tippy.

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  8. Great story...and true to cats! Not often that I see something written in the 2nd person point of view. It's a nice change from 3rd and 1st person.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks!! It is really fun to write in 2nd person. I almost always write in 1st person, and I HATE to write in 3rd, or even read anything in 3rd. I want to read memoirs!

      2nd is definitely a challenge. It has to be the right piece, and it has to be done is such a way that it is seamless and the audience almost does not even notice.

      Glad you think I pulled it off. :)

      best,
      MOV

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  9. Uh oh. Poor Tippy, she has further unpleasantness heading her way. I agree I forget how much I like 2nd person until I read it. This was a great read.

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    1. Thanks! I will try 2nd person again soon.

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  10. I've never had a cat, but I had a basset hound once whose entire body turned into a drooling jello boneless limp heap of fur at the vet. She was the opposite of out of control. She would just lay on the floor, (laughing, I'm sure) as we tried to figure out a way to haul her up onto the table so the vet could examine her.

    Fun times at the vet! I could relate to this one!

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  11. Yeah, fun times at the vet. Enjoyed.

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  12. Tippy is not normally a hisser - Lol
    Cat's are complete b@$+@&D$ when they want to be...

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  13. Ha! I can so relate. Nicely done.

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