Genevieve; the Third of January by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Chapter 8
Genevieve and Willy checked on one more house which was in compliance with their newly instituted and helpful roof code, but then they got to Clement’s house.
Genevieve said; “It’s understandable. He’s got his paws full with all those kittens.”
Willy said; “Yeah. Let’s just let him know that we’re here and offer to help out.”
They knocked and Puff-Puff opened the door. “Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” returned Genevieve. Is Clement available?”
Puff-Puff said; “Sort of. ..... Not really.”
Tuckered Clement; the kind courtesy of Pexels,com under their CC0 license.
Willy said; “Hi. Sort of?”
Puff-Puff said; “Yeah. Come on in. He conks out a lot.”
Genevieve and Willy entered and greetings were exchanged by all except Clement; unless a close-eyed snout wipe and a
“Brumattafonkrup” was counted as one.
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Jokingly, Genevieve said; “My goodness! What have you done to him?”
Half-jokingly, Momma Sheba replied; “Just the usual; leap on Clement, funny ride, jump ball, like that. I wish he had more energy.”
Willy said; “Okay. Don’t disturb him. We’re here because you have a ton of snow on your roof.”
Tippy said; “Where is it supposed to be?”
Genevieve said; “On the ground. There’s enough up there to cause a roof collapse.”
Willy said; “Yes. Tardiff and Lenta already had one and we’re here to make sure you don’t.”
Sunshine looked concerned and said; “Are they all right?”
Genevieve said; “Oh, yes. It was just in one area. They didn’t get hit and Willy fixed it already.”
Teddy said; “How do you get it off?”
Willy said; “Shovel or broom. You can even kick it, but that takes a while. We have others to check on, so how about Genevieve and I go clear it off right now while we still have some semblance of daylight?”
Sheba said; “Oh, no, no. Don’t trouble yourselves. There are four energetic kittens here. Wailer is over at Pablo’s again looking at books. They and I can get some brooms and shovels and do it. It seems only right.”
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Page 33
The kittens got excited and commenced checking all the closets for brooms. Not finding enough for five sets of paws they raced outside to the barn and got shovels to supplement the brooms.
Their enthusiasm had half of the roof’s snow off before Genevieve and Willy left. It went well excepting one thing. No one left a note for Clement. The noise on the roof woke him, and when he went out the front door to see what was going on he was greeted with both a broom full and shovel full of snow right on his head.
Clement snow head; the modified kind courtesy of Pexels,com under their CC0 license.
Clement looked up and said; “Are you crazy? What on earth are you ...... “
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That upward-looking, questioning approach wasn’t the brightest choice he might have made in that moment as he was answered mid question with a second clump of face plops. Clement stoically continued, though at fewer decibels; “all doing up there?” Despite his physical condition, an astute observer might have noted some degree of Clement amusement.
“Oh, so sorry,” said Teddy. “I didn’t know that you were there. This is to prevent a roof collapse. Genevieve and Willy told us all about it while you were sleeping.”
Clement said; “I guess that I made the mistake of waking up. ...... Exactly what was it that they said about the roof? I mean, the thing’s been here since before me and no one ever cleared off the snow before.”
The kittens and Momma Sheba looked at each other; puzzled for a few seconds. Sunshine finally said; “I don’t know. It seems that they suggested that there is a point at which there is too much snow for the roof. It’s no trouble for us to clear it quickly. So, why be obstinate and risk a catastrophe?”
Clement said; “That’s easy to say when you haven’t had all this snow dumped on your head, I suppose.”
Sheba said; “You shouldn’t take it so personally. You were just in the right place at the wrong time.”
Upon swift reflection, Clement could find no fault with Sunshine’s logic, and said; “Carry on, kittens.” He went back
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inside and despite a lethargic compulsion to lie back down enhanced by its coupling with cold snow on his head, was reminded of a Dr. John song, and first attempted to find out if YouTube had yet deleted the good, chubby doctor.