Part 15 ~ The Adventures of King Ben & Zeus the Big Dumb Dog

If you missed the start of this series, you can find it here. A lot of things will be the same or very similar.

A new variation on the Bounce today… After the initial bedquake and wiggle jiggle, Ben took off towards the bathroom, Zeus settled into the warm spot left by Ben. I dozed.

A little while later, another bedquake, accompanied by “I want Gramma’s tablet, please” and a reaching arm across my face, announced Ben’s return. I handed him the tablet, thanked and praised him for asking instead of snatching, and prepared myself for more wiggle jiggle. But, he ran out of the room.

I got my eyes to focus after several tries and saw that the time was a little after 6:00AM. What had Ben been doing between the the Bounce and now? Where was his tablet? Why was it so quiet? Feeling a bit of trepidation, I got up and went to investigate.

His tablet was on the couch, the TV was playing Avatar on repeat, the bathroom light was on and the toilet unflushed, but no Ben. I went back down the hall to check his room and to plug his tablet in… no Ben. I went to the end of the hall to Daughter’s room and peeked in… there he was, on his side of her bed, with the blankets pulled over his head. She was still at work, so who knows why he decided to go there. We just don’t question these things. I went to do my morning wee and get coffee and his meds, opening the side door to let Zeus out for his morning wee.

Ben got up and came out into the kitchen while I was getting my coffee, saw that I was getting his meds and giggling, ran away. I found him in my bed this time, gave him his meds and told him to scoot out of my spot.

We ‘spooned’ under the blankets until we were both warmed up (it’s chilly in my house in the morning) and then spread out a little bit. I was going through my email when I noticed that Daughter hadn’t texted and it was 20 minutes past her usual time. I had written her a text and was about to send it when she called me. Blah, blah, blah… she was leaving now. After I ended the call and deleted the unsent text, Ben jumped up and ran off. Whatever. I was warm, I didnt hear any breaking noises, so I stayed put.

Daughter arrived and I called out a hello and asked if Ben was out in the living room. Nope. Well, he must have gone back to her room. After a pit stop, she went to check and change out of her scrubs. I heard her say “Good morning” to Ben and ask him if he missed her or just liked her bed. He answered with “Mommy’s bed”. At least he’s honest.

It didn’t last long. “Gramma come living room!” was shouted as he ran by. Sigh… and so it begins.

He was doing the chalk thing and grunting Let’s go fly a kite when I finally dragged my butt into the living room. I got settled and started going through my WP reader. Time passed, and it was 9:30AM before I knew it. Daughter wandered out to the bathroom and to say she was going to sleep. I thought she had already gone to sleep. Fine, sure, whatever.

At 9:45AM Younger Daughter called in tears. What now?? She wanted the car after her sister woke up. I told her that her sister was still awake, I could come get her right then. She broke my heart with her sobbing “Please”. I told Older, grabbed my wallet and headed out the door.

There were still enough cars on the road to make driving dangerous. All of those people can’t be essential, some must be enjoying the beautiful day and working on their mental health. Very important! Anyway, I arrived and my sobbing Younger Daughter got in the car.

Her relationship is a mess, she lost her job and she feels like she doesn’t have any place to go that’s safe and hers. All she can see is darkness. I get it. I’ve been there, more than a few times. I didn’t want to give her platitudes, it wouldn’t have been helpful, but I did want her to see that things change, things get better. They might get sucky again too, but this isn’t the end. I reminded her that things were worse when her Dad was still raging at us daily, when I was bedridden, when we were so broke we were literally hungry. Things ARE better now, she just can’t see around the block of yucky in her path.

We got back to the house and I came in so Older could go to sleep. Younger sat in the car, trying to calm down before she came in to see Ben. He and Zeus immediately got excited. Ben took her hand and led her to the couch and told her to sit down, then climbed on her lap. He must have sensed her mood because he’s not generally a lap sitter (Thank goodness! He’s a big boy). Zeus ran around barking and trying to get in the middle of everything.  They sat and cuddled for a while, then Younger wanted to go lay down. Her legs were probably going numb too. Ben had his mid-morning meds, Zeus calmed down and life at Casa Cuckoo continued.

Ben kept me busy for the rest of the morning and early afternoon with fetchin & totin. He wanted to be in his jail, he wanted his jail moved, he wanted ‘blue ramen’, he wanted more juice, he wanted out of jail, he wanted back in jail… “Gramma! I need help!” Being a good peasant, I did as HRH bade me.

A little after 2:00PM Older Daughter stumbled out to relieve me from Living Room Duty. I was happy to tag out. Ben had been in a good mood, he had been keeping himself occupied without getting into too much trouble, but I was ready for horizontal time! I headed to my bed. Guess who followed? Yep, the Big Dumb Dog followed me. Ben stayed with his Mama.

Younger Daughter came out a few times to use the facilities, but didn’t stay to chat. Around 3:30PM she came into my room holding Sven. She seemed in a better frame of mind. Pets, even reptiles, help with our mental health.

Ben wound up in my room again at some point. At least he was calm and not giving me a continuous bedquake. Then he wandered off again. Younger Daughter decided to go through the closet of her old room (finally) and sort through the stuff. It’s been closed off, Ben doesn’t need it.

At 5:00PM Older started cooking a steak for Ben’s dinner. Ben had been doing his chalk thing right in front of the stove, he didnt want to move at first, then he heard steak. Of course, he ran straight to all the stuff Younger had pulled out of the closet. (My eyes are rolling so hard, just typing this) I stayed in my room. Not my problem. Plus, Zeus in the middle of any of what was happening would be chaos, and Zeus HAS to be where I am.

Just about that time, Younger’s partner showed up to take her home. Oh-kaaaaayyy… She had two loads of stuff she was taking and a big load of trash. Keeping the front door open is risky when Ben is around at the best of times. This was pre evening meds, waiting for dinner, afternoon/early evening, manic hyper time. I stayed by the door while Older cooked, Younger carried, Ben tried to escape while shooting his Nerf gun (“Oops!”) and Zeus was generally underfoot.

Hugs, “I love you”s and promises to text were exchanged and the Portal Of Danger was sealed. Ben was given his steak and his meds and things began to calm back down.

Bath and bedtime followed. Back on routine. Another adventurous day came to an end…for King Ben and the Big Dumb Dog. My day wont be over until 10:30 or 11:00, but it will be quiet(ish). I can just sit (with Sophie Cat on top of me) and breathe.

It was a bit of a mixed bag today at Casa Cuckoo. It’s like a Soap Opera or a reality show, but I couldn’t make up this stuff if I tried. I’m having fun sharing our adventures with all of you, and I hope that they’re giving you a chuckle or relieving the boredom or anxiety a little. We may all be here for quite a while, let’s have some fun.

Tune in tomorrow, ya just never know what’s gonna happen next.