Saturday blog post #4

You may think the reaction of The Preserver to when a book gets wet was bad. Wait until you learn of this week's book misfortune.

The scenario: both The Preserver and The Handler return home from a hard day at the office, only to discover that their cute new kitten enjoys using books as a scratching post. The kitten is purring away among the shredded remains.

The Preserver's eyes twitch. Her hands fly up to her mouth which forms an 'o' of surprise. How could such a small, sweet ball of fur do this to a precious book? The Preserver looks at the kitten, who notices his owner is home and mews. The Preserver's eyes go back to the book. Hands trembling, she lifts it up, gasping as more shreds of paper collect on the floor. Thanks to the kitten's arrival, The Preserver's funds are a little low. Buying a new book is out of the question. Devastated over the damage, The Preserver places the book carefully on a high shelf, away from the kitten's claws. She heads to the kitchen, rattles the biscuit bowl and lures the kitten away from the scene of destruction. Distracted, she hurries back to the study, and shuts the door. This will be one room the kitten is forever banned from.

Wiping her tears, so she doesn't wet the paper shreds, The Preserver mournfully picks up all the scraps of paper, and deposits them on her desk. She picks up the book, grabs the sellotape, and begins pieceing the book back together. The Preserver may know the book off by heart, but having a few letters missing off words brings back the tears. The thought of returning the kitten crosses her mind once, but, remembering how nice it was when the little fluffball curls up by her side at night.

Scarred forever, she sets the book back in it's rightful place, where it looks normal from the outside, aside from an almost artful scratch down the spine. The Preserver will never read it again, but she can't bear to throw it away.

The Handler, in her usual casual style, upon seeing the half destroyed book, laughs. She knew life with a kitten would provide unexpected situations. She hadn't quite imagined that would run into her first love, books. Still, it shows the kitten had good taste. Why scratch a plain, wooden post when pages crammed with descriptions of other worlds will do? The kitten might, somehow, have been looking for something to read. (Yes, The Handler can be quite delusional). The Handler scoops up the kitten, not the book, and hugs him tight. "Teaches me to leave books out for you, doesn't it?" The Handler receives wet nose on her wrist as a way of reply. "Well, it'll make me head to the library more often. I guess I can do without coffee for a week, to help pay for this."

The kitten purrs in agreement, oblivious to the fact that without coffee in the afternoon, The Handler won't be eager to dangle the mouse on the string over the edge of the sofa. The Handler brushes up the ruined book, paper fragments and all, pops them in the recyling bin and sets about preparing the kitten's food. Just another blip in another normal day.

How would you react if a pet ruined a book? Would your eyes twitch? Or would you think 'never mind' and just get on with the day? Me? I'd be annoyed for a moment, but would then head to the library more often.