Marla: "Never mind. Just keep walking, kitty man. Or, should I say, limping."
Boo Boo: "No...I want to understand what you are putting there, and why people keep looking at it and smiling when they walk by. Usually they smile at the Boo Boo, now they are smiling at the thing. That is not right."
Boo Boo: (muttering to himself)
Boo Boo: "Oh. So this is how it is? You deny my injury any sympathy?"
Marla: "Oh, yes. Yes I do. After dealing with my concerned citizens and my own guilt all morning yesterday, I took you to the vet, whereupon you promptly stopped limping."
Boo Boo: " I know. The pretty lady called me stoic."
Marla: "I KNOW. That is not the place for you to be stoic. That is the place for you to get necessary medical attention. I was paying for their knowledge, care and ability. $51 to be exact. And all you did was suck back Greenies and 'present'."
Boo Boo: "You were paying for your paranoia that having an outdoor cat is sometimes frowned upon. Assuaging your guilt. Sissy indoor cats get injured too, you know. Doing what, I don't know...maybe jumping off warm soft comfortable sofas?"
Marla: "I was trying to stop strangers from accusing me of neglecting a domestic animal! People were concerned for your well-being and stopped me to ask about you! I want the $51 bucks back! That's a year's worth of underwear for me! A pair of shoes! Fruits and vegetables for the whole family for two weeks! Half the cost of eavestrough cleaning! Haircuts for Josie and me! A letterpress class for Steve! That's the six breakaway collars, not counting ID tags and licenses that you've lost this year! Oh, the things that we could do with $51! Don't you love us?"
Boo Boo: "She stuck a thing in my bumhole!"
Marla: "She was checking your temperature in case you had an infection from a minute puncture wound!"
Boo Boo: "My BUMHOLE! A thing! Stuck up it!"
Marla: "She was being thorough. Admittedly, it was optional - but I went for it when you elected not to limp! I do love you Boo Boo - I wanted to be sure it wasn't something serious. And I wanted full service for that $51."
Boo Boo: "May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn't turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping." (Irish blessing)
Marla: "So that's how it is Boo Boo?"
Boo Boo: "Well, I did stop limping for those ten minutes. Make of that what you will."
Marla: "The sign stays up Boo Boo, for the duration of the limping."
Boo Boo: "Oh! Look! I'm presenting again! Make of that what you will too."
