Blake Allen

We have an interesting problem at our home now. Our cat rescuer (who I believe I blogged about a few days ago), Blake Allen, has now adopted us as his second family. At least once a day, and often more, he pops in to visit and just belong.

On Monday he stopped by to make sure that we got our cat (our other neighbor, Nancy, informed us that she was sitting on her deck when Blake and his brother stopped by with Misha in their arms. I guess he was not just filling me full of it when he informed me that he had actually seen Misha). I talked with him briefly in the backyard while I was loading up branches and leaves.

I said I would gladly give him a reward. But I wasn’t sure what amount of money I should give him. I figured I’d play it safe and get Kristie’s advice. She was still at work, so I’d have to wait.

So I finished loading things up and went into the house with Blake. I told him that I had to run an errand and that he should stop by another time. He agreed and I left.

When I returned, after an hour or so, I found that KoKo was entertaining him. She let him play with her on the computer. And they even played hide and seek. I told Blake that his parents were probably worried about him and shooed him out the door.

In the meantime, Kristie came home. She took Joker walking while I went running on the treadmill. After a half hour run, I came upstairs to see Kristie talking with Blake. Apparently he was out biking around the neighborhood and saw Kristie out walking and latched on to her much like he latched on to me when I was out searching for Misha.

We figured we would give Blake six dollars for bringing Misha back. He quickly deposited the money into a front pocket. This surprised me. If I were in his shoes, I’d have been out of the house so fast, eager to spend that money, that by the time the screen door shut I’d have been halfway down to the arcade. Blake, however, smiled and plopped down on the couch to chew the old fat with us.

And that he did. For about 15 minutes. Finally we had to shower and leave, so we told Blake to run home for supper and stop by another time.

That lasted until Tuesday.

Again, I had finished running and came up to shower when I saw Blake attempting to eat a jaw breaker that was roughly the size of an apple. Unfortunately, I think I know what he has been spending his reward money on.

His hands were covered in sticky, red goo from the jaw breaker. His face was even worse. He had it smeared all over. I told him that he had to leave because KoKo had to pack for her upcoming class trip and I had to shower. So again he gleefully bounded out the front door.

I showered and KoKo packed. Kristie came home and left the Blazer running since we had to do some last minute shopping to get KoKo all ready for the trip. While we were getting ready, I noticed Blake had returned.

He was even redder than ever, though he did ride his new bike over. So while Kristie was getting ready, I took Blake outside - fearing red smears all over our furniture and walls.

Blake and I had a nice little jaw session. He even let me ride his bike and pop a wheelie.

Blake was asking about us. He knew KoKo from the bus stop. He knew Kristie and me. He was asking about the boy’s voice he heard from upstairs. This, of course, was Casey doing his homework in the office, but I didn’t want him plagued by Blake, so I simply said that it was my stepson who was working and couldn’t be disturbed.

Then Kristie and KoKo came out ready to go shopping. I shooed Blake away again.

After two hours we returned to Casey mowing the lawn - always a nice sight, especially since it saved me from having to do it. When he finished, he came in to see scrounge up some food.

We began visiting and he informed us that Blake had stopped back yet again! Casey heard him knocking at the front door, which would explain the red stains - about mouth level for a kindergartner - on our front screen door. So Casey - ever the polite gentleman - invited Blake in and played computer with him. How many sophomores would do that for a kindergartner? Ha.

Casey even let Blake help him mow the lawn. I kidded Casey that this might prove to be a beneficial arrangement for him - knowing how young boys tend to worship older boys - he could have a slave for the summer. But Casey said that Blake was butchering the lawn, so he took over and set Blake to watching him do the work. Finally, after feeding him some too I believe, Blake’s mother came over to get him.