Sugar AWOL

Drew had gotten a ride to his Robotics Team's final evening of the year. They were going to a go cart place for some fun and games. He zoomed out the door on his well deserved trip while I continued to rest. I had worked this morning, but come home in the afternoon to recharge so I would be able to do the final choir rehearsal of the season. Afterwards, we were heading to Lugia's soft ice cream place to celebrate.

I waited until the last possible moment to drag myself from the chair. I grabbed my shoes and purse and called Sugar to put her in her crate. No answer. I called again. Sugar! Come. Nothing. That's strange. Where could she be? I wonder if she got shut in Drew's room. I opened the door and called her. Not a peep. I opened the door to my room and the bathroom, calling her name. Not a sound.

Where on earth could she be? Suddenly I felt sick to my stomach. What if she had snuck out when Drew left? She could be wandering around in the hallway - or worse yet, someone could have let her outside. I ran to the hall and called her. Frantic, I opened the outside doors and called. Not a sign of her. I am panicked.

Back in the apartment, I call and call. Where could she be? How could she have gotten out? What if she was lost and frightened. What if . . .

I hear a tiny little whimper. She has to be nearby. I call her again. No sound. I try to think where the sound could have come from. I am tearing open closet doors, cabinet doors, everyplace conceivable. No Sugar. I stop and try to calm myself. I stand in the middle of the living room and call her again. She whispers a soft little whine.

Then I spy a slip of white beneath the recliner footrest. Oh, no! When I got out of the chair, she was sleeping on the floor underneath the footrest and got swept inside the blue recliner. All I could see was just the edge of her paw. I release her from her prison, relief flooding over me. I can't imagine why she didn't raise a huge fuss, but I am so happy to have found her.

Really, I must be more careful. After all, she is just a baby. Just don't ever do that again. Now into your crate!