Day Twenty Six - Ladybug
Lavender has been chasing a bug around the house all morning. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been hearing the pitter patter of her feet as she dashes around from room to room.
The past day and this morning have been quiet around the house. I’ve been spending my time reading in the renewed sitting room while Calvin does research near me. We both are thankful for all the new books that have been added to our collection. Teddy told me that he put out flyers asking people in town to donate their old books. They managed to fill up his truck with a collection of books, new and old.
Mary has been nowhere to be seen and Mrs Thompson is off spending more time with her family. I’ve heard that she’s been secretly assisting in the creation of their Halloween costumes.
And as usual, Teddy and Billy are off at work together.
The latest book I’m reading is a mystery, a tale involving a professor who likes to drink tea and solve puzzles in his spare time. Somehow this leads to him solving the disappearance of a young girl. It’s been keeping me entertained.
At least, that is, until I hear Mary yelling something from her room. It sounds like she’s commanding something to “stop!” and “cut it out right now!”.
I jump up and run up the stairs as fast as I can, with Calvin behind me.
“How could you do this?” I hear Mary yell. “I was almost done!”
I swing open her door which startles both beings inside the room.
Mary is quick to turn towards me, spreading her hands out in front of her, attempting to cover the large canvas behind her from my view. Though I don’t think she realises that I can still see through her a bit. And Lavender is on Mary’s bed, a plethora of paint paw prints all around the bedsheet. I’ll have to get Mrs Thompson’s help later.
Calvin takes in the sight and bursts into laughter. A small ladybug buzzes past me and lands on my shirt. I immediately see Lavender’s eyes fixate on it, her tail swishing back and forth as she’s ready to pounce.
“Don’t you dare.” I scold her and gently brush the bug off my shirt.
It flies off and Lavender dashes out of the room with her painted paws.
“Stop laughing!” Mary says, a look of desperation in her eyes. “That silly cat leapt at my painting and then got into my paints. It’s everywhere now!”
I look around the room and Mary isn’t lying. There are small paw prints around the room and a big smudge in the centre of her painting. Though with her standing there I can’t see the painting clearly, there are a lot of blues and greens in it.
“You focus on fixing your painting, Calvin and I will catch that cat.” I say and look to Calvin who nods, looking determined.
Calvin and I get to quick work catching Lavender. We lure her in with a bag of her favourite treats and Calvin is able to grab her as she’s distracted. And while he holds her, I’m quick to trap the ladybug in a jar, releasing it outside.
“You remember what I said about no ghost pests in the house.” I say to her.
She gives me a look which I’m sure says, “I wasn’t going to kill it! I just wanted to chase it.”
I can’t stay mad at a cute face like that.
“You better apologize to Mary!” Calvin says to her and she turns around to look at him in his arms.
She then jumps away from him and dashes up the stairs.
I swear that cat knows perfect English.