I write this on Christmas Eve, as Kell has just returned with an amazing story of being stuck in a tree with Aby.
After dinner she'd left for last-minute shopping, and on her way home the van's transmission began to shift gears at random. She was able to make it limp to Aby's Auto Repair, where Ms. Eyeshine was closing up the shop.
She'll look at the van after the holiday, and in the meantime she offered to drive Kell home after a stop at the bakery. Kell offered to go inside and retrieve her order, and that's when things got interesting.
Thanks to the mouse-scented air freshener in Aby's car, a large canine leapt out of an alley. While Kell was initially surprised, she normally would've pulverized him in quick order. Aby, however, had never seen Kell "in action" and assumed she was in danger.
Aby dove out of the car, grabbed Kell by the paw and hauled her up a nearby pine. The canine got Kell's purse (with her cell phone), while Aby's cell was back in the car.
Stranded in the tree, Aby recalled that Kell had done a similar thing to her 25 years ago. Kell was stunned, and suddenly realized how it felt to be humiliated in this fashion. What seemed innocent fun on the ground had a very different perspective from twenty feet up.
Anyway, they were rescued by a traffic helicopter, and since the air freshener aroma had faded they were able to retrieve Aby's car and drive home. Kell has resolved never again to chase a feline up a tree, so it's a heartwarming conclusion for everyone involved.
...Except for Dad, who's worrying how much that transmission will cost!
