And there they are, lazing about without one single care in the world. It is not what I expected to come home to, every evening, for the last few years.

As big as a small mountain lion, Tip languidly licks his long raccoon striped tail only to slowly blink at me from the floor.

“Hello…” I say, but back to grooming he goes. His sweet smaller sister, Crystal is looking out the garden window, chasing the squirrels in her mind. She emits this rapid fire succession of barely audible chirps at the glass. I call for her attention, but it falls on her fluffy, deaf ears.

Last but not least, is the wee little tank engine who just does, Ms. Gigi, plowing through every doorway looking for food morsels like a truffle pig. She looks at me as if to say, “can’t you see me wasting away to nothing here? Please feed me immediately!”