You Can't See What's Right in Front of You

I've been pet sitting for a long time. Pawsitively Pooches has been around since 2010 but I started in high school (around 1999). When I worked for a vet after college, I had a few clients that hired me for when they were out of town and was active in a local animal welfare organization where I got a couple other clients. One of the first clients I had that I didn't actually know (I had swapped a couple of emails with her but that was it) hired me to stay at her house on the recommendation of our mutual friend, the director of the non profit I was involved in. I just had to stay at her house and play with the dog and feed the cats. I could do that. Here's what happened.

I got to the house and the dog was tied up out front sleeping on the stoop. That was very strange. She told me he'd be in the house. Plus they had a fenced yard, why would he be out front? I texted her to let her know I was there and mentioned his odd location. She said that was weird but her boyfriend was the last to leave and maybe he was just forgetful or something. I shrugged and went off to find the cats. The cats loved to hide and two were mother and daughter and looked almost exactly alike. I found one, but couldn't find the other anywhere. I messaged mom that I didn't see her and asked her for any less likely hiding spots than the ones she had already told me about. She gave me a couple. After about 20 minutes, I still hadn't found her. Mom called me and asked me to check the windows. I did, and sure enough, the screen had been torn in a window that was open. The pup had broken through the window and taken off. A neighbor recognized him and brought him home, tying him up out front (Ohhhhh). OK, well this isn't good. This kitty was very small, and not overly healthy or tough. What if she went outside??? Mom really didn't think she would but we were worried. I continued looking and after another 20 minutes or so decided to sit down and be quiet, in the hopes that she would make herself a little more visible if I wasn't banging around with increasing panic. I sat down on the couch and pet the dog, found the remote, and turned on the TV. I looked up to see what to watch... and there she was, sitting quietly on top of the TV wondering what all the fuss was about. I could see both her and her doppelganger so I knew it was her. I breathed a sigh of relief and called mom to tell her she was fine and relay the funny story. We both had a good laugh and the rest of the trip went off without a hitch. Phew.