I am SO angry.
With the part-time cleaner.
She’s new and I had been telling and reminding her again and again to be careful with the doors and yet, she’s careless. I should have sacked her earlier.
So I was with the boys in the living room when suddenly I saw Stargate wide open and there the cleaner was, waving her hands, obviously trying to get the cats back. Stargate is the gateway from Ginger’s Catio to the garden and outside the house.
Stargate is permanently LOCKED and she isn’t allowed to open it. She must have found the key and opened it to go to the garden.
I rushed to the gate only to find her having come inside and I quickly asked if any cat had escaped and she said no. “Tak ada”, she replied nonchalantly. But I immediately checked and did a headcount. Ginger and Minnie were missing.
Oh no.
Minnie???!!!
Minnie would be a mission: impossible to get back.
I immediately went out to look and found Ginger in the drain (as always) and Minnie in front of the neighbour’s gate. Gerald was with her.
I ran back inside the house, got out a kibble jar with a bowl and tried to lure her back. But as you probably know, she came close enough, but not close enough for me to catch her. I know it would be impossible to actually catch Minnie and carry her all the way back to the house. I cannot even touch her in the catio. She’s a touch-me-not.
Gerald tried to help, but Minnie just went further away. Misty was also on hand to help.
I knew it was futile trying to chase Minnie. By now, she had already gone about four houses away. Gerald was following her.
I came back to the house and contacted the cleaning agency to sack the cleaner. No more of this cleaner and no more from this agency. I was furious.
I can accept human error but this wasn’t a mistake. She lied and she opened a gate which was locked.
This happened at 4pm.
After I booted the cleaner out and Jia-Wen took the boys back, I started my search for Minnie.
By about 4.3opm, Ginger returned. He just needed half an hour of being in the longkang. I wasn’t worried about Ginger; I know he will surely return. But Minnie….
Ginger is back!
It was then almost 5pm and time to feed Gerald and Misty.
Only Creamy came. Gerald and Misty must be helping me guard Minnie or something.
As I was about to go look for Gerald and Misty, my very kind neighbour whom I had alerted rushed over to tell me she saw Gerald ushering Minnie (yes, Minnie – I had already sent Minnie’s photo to her) walking along her garden wall. This kind neighbour lives two houses away from me. Gerald was trying to get Minnie to come back.
I didn’t have to do the Japanese Method of asking street cats to help. Gerald (and maybe even Misty) were already helping.
I went out to look only to find Gerald and Misty trotting back to eat.
But Gerald and Misty didn’t even eat. I think they were as worried as I was. Poor things.
To be continued.