Last night the animals drove me crazy, and we narrated this children’s story:

“Hermano,” Flaco says to Nopalito. “Mama and Papa won’t let me go out tonight, and I’ve got to get my prowl on. Can you help me out?”

“Orale,” Nopalito replies. “I can distract Papa like nobody’s business!”

Papa calls Nopalito and SweetPea for their last trip out before bed. Nopalito skips down to the bottom of the stairs. He looks to the left, towards the toileting area, and then towards the right, toward the orchard, where are are interesting things to eat, like figs, or slugs, or who knows what.

“Nopalito,” Papa calls out warningly.

Nopalito looks up the steps at Papa and then races off to the right.

“Nopalito!” Poppa scolds, coming down the steps after him.

“Thanks ‘mano!” Flaco calls, as he races out of the house before Papa can stop him.

“I got your back,” Nopalito replies.

SweetPea scampers up the stairs, unaware of the drama of dog and cat.

And so we all go to bed, without Flaco, since he’s on the prowl, and with much snuggling.

Less than an hour later, Flaco meows at the outside door. Mama grumbles and makes her way into the kitchen, turns on the light, and opens the door for Flaco. Flaco immediately runs into the bathroom and starts to meow some more.

Mama thinks Flaco is crying because the toilet lid is closed. Flaco sometimes likes to drink water out of the toilet and leaves the seat covered with dirty paw prints, as if a whole family of raccoons have been by. Mama starts to fill up Flaco’s water fountain in the study, so he will have plenty of fresh water. Flaco continues to cry “Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!”

That’s what Mama hears.

What Flaco is actually saying though, is “Mouse! Mouse! Mouse! Mouse! Mouse!”

He happily calls to Nopalito and SweetPea because he has brought them a tasty mouse.

“Hey, ‘manito,” he calls to Nopalito, “I saw you trying to steal my food before, so I thought you were hungry!”

“Eeek!” Mama screams, when she sees the mouse. “No! No! No! No! No!”

“What?” Papa calls from the bedroom.

“He brought something in with him! Ugh! I think it’s a mouse!”

Nopalito comes tearing out of the bedroom happily, with Papa right on his heels. “Oh no” Papa says, “no mouse for you!” Papa grabs Nopalito and carries him back to the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

Flaco tries to show Mama what a marvelous toy a mouse can be, batting it across the floor, scooping it up with one taloned paw and making it fly through the air.”

“Ugh!” says Mama, as she gets out the dustpan. “I’m sorry little mouse.” She scoops up the sad little mouse and tosses it outside in the direction of the orchard. I hope it’s in the orchard, she says to herself. I hope I didn’t throw it all the way into the neighbor’s yard.

Mama and Flaco come to bed and Mama continues to grumble under her breath.

“Parents just don’t understand,” Nopalito whispers to Flaco. A short while later, he gets out of bed and walks to the bedroom door, where he promptly vomits up whatever he ate in the orchard.

“Good night, Flaco.”

“Good night, Nopalito.”