Grumpy Old Tom

Ring ring! Ring ring! Ring ring!
Brad: 'Angelina's residence.'
Nicole: 'May I speak to Angelina, purrrlease.'
Brad: 'Sure. Whom may I say is on the line?
Nicole: 'It's her sister-in-law Nicole.'
Brad: 'Oh, it's you. I'll get her.'
Nicole: 'Thanks Brad.'
Brad: 'Angelina, Nicole's on the line for you.'
Angelina: 'Thanks Brad. And, don't eavesdrop. Now, shoo!
Brad: 'You're mean, Angelina!'
Angelina: 'Oh, just go away, Brad. Hey, hie Nicole. What's up?'
Nicole: 'Hey Angelina. I got news for you.'
Angelina: 'What is it? Don't tell me you're pregnant again?'
Nicole: 'No, silly. Just like you, I've had the snip snip too. It's about your brother Tom.'
Angelina: 'Why? Has he been giving you trouble? Beaten you up or something?'
Nicole: 'Sort of. He's been very grumpy lately.'
Angelina: 'Really? What's bugging him?'
Nicole: 'Hahaha...what an apt question. Not bugs though, more like fleas.'
Angelina: 'Really? So I was spot on.'
Nicole: 'Yeah. So he has this sort of ulcer on his upper lip and a bald patch at the back of his neck too.'

Poor Tom. That ulcer on his upper lip is making him grumpy.

Angelina: 'Eeuuwww! Fleas can do that?'

Nicole: 'According to the vet, Dr J, yes, fleas can do that. Apparently, Tom is more sensitive than the rest of us.'

Angelina: 'But I thought all of you are totally indoor. Just like us. So, how did he get the fleas?'

Nicole: 'From strays.'

Angelina: 'Far out! Did you invite them for dinner?'

Nicole: 'No, doofus. We have this new neighbour who puts out catfood outside his unit so the strays came all the time. The vet said the fleas could have come through underneath our door.'

Angelina: 'Serious?'

Nicole: 'And these pesky fleas can lay dormant for about six months without infecting anyone. But as soon as they find a likely host, they'll have a feast. They may stay on you or jump off again.'

Angelina: 'What about the rest of you? Anyone else infected?'

Nicole: 'Fortunately, only Tom is. As a precaution, all of us had to be sprayed too. I really hate having my fur all wet with chemicals.'

Angelina: 'Yeah, that's terrible. So, Tom's not coping well, eh?'

Nicole: 'Definitely not. He has to eat tablets twice a day and some sort of gel applied to the lips too.'

Angelina: 'Hahaha...scaredy cat! Don't tell me he's one of those who hates pills?'

Nicole: 'That's your brother. And these pills contain steroids, you know.'

Angelina: 'Steroids? Soon he'll have an athlete's bulk, eh.'

Nicole: 'Yeah, maybe he should start training for the catolympics.'

Angelina: 'Aren't steroids supposed to be harmful to felines?'

Nicole: 'Oh, the vet said only if we're exposed to it for a long period. Can cause renal failure, diabetes etc. But Tom will be on a small dose for only about two weeks.'

Angelina: 'And so you'll have to cope with grumpy Tom for the next two weeks?'

Nicole: 'Well, that's the story of my life.'

Angelina: 'And Dad's grumpy too I suppose as he had to pay an extra vet's bill?'

Angelina and Nicole: 'Men! hahahahaha...'

Angelina: 'Thanks for the news, Nicole.'

Nicole: 'No worries, Angelina. Bye!'

Angelina: 'Oh, OK. Bye! My regards to the kits, and Dad'

Nicole: 'Yeah. Sure. My regards to Mama and Brad. What is he now? Pet or servant? PA?'

Angelina: 'Neither. Slave. teeheehee!'

Nicole: 'Hahaha..bye sis.'

Angelina:'Bye...'

Brad: 'I heard that Angelina.'

Angelina: 'I told you not to eavesdrop.'

Brad: 'You're so mean, Angelina.'

Angelina: 'Yeah? So what's new?'

Brad: 'I.NO.FRIEND.YOU.'

Angelina: 'Fine. Whatever.'