jem carstairs will be the light at your side (mizpah) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-03-20 19:18:00
Who: Jem Carstairs and Jessie What: Bringing Church in for a Checkup. When: Backdated: Saturday, March 15th. Afternoon Where: Rocket Clinic for Animal Care Rating: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Between school and work and wondering why he hadn’t started dreaming like most of the people on Valarnet, Jem had completely forgotten about setting up an appointment to make sure that all of Church’s vaccines and things were up to date. He’d last brought the cat to the vet before he’d made the move to America and now it was seven months later and he was fairly certain that he should have him checked out and make sure everything was good. He’d made a few phone calls and after finding a vet that would see him, he made an appointment and on the day, managed to get Church into his carrier and headed over with the cat’s records from his previous vet in England.
Jessie had been pretty busy all day but that suited her just fine, she preferred that to being bored. She thrived on keeping going and so far all of her clients had been lovely. Checking her computer she then opened the door, “James and Church Carstairs?” she called looking up. Her mouth dropped open, the man who had stood looked just like James, her James.
Jem tended to only use his full name on forms for school or the doctor or things like that and it included when he brought Church to the vet. Hearing his name called, Jem stood up and picked up the cat carrier then walked to the door where the vet was standing, “That would be us.” When he spoke, his British accent was obvious.
The British accent was different as were the clothes and the hair but it still shook her. Realising he was waiting for her she smiled as she ushered him into the room, “Sorry, come in. Right, so just a check up is that right? First time since you moved?” she said.
Jem nodded as he followed the vet into the exam room and placed the carrier onto the floor then opened the front and reached in for Church. The cat was just as uninterested in the vet’s office as he was in most things and he simply allowed Jem to hold him, “I had him checked just before we moved. That was in September, so I figured I should bring him in just to make sure everything is up to date.”
Jessie smiled as the cat sat happily in Jem’s arms, “Well he seems pretty relaxed” she commented with a smile, “Don’t you Church, not phased at all are you?” She looked up at James, still not used to it not being her James and said, “Would you like to pop him on the table and we’ll give him a check over” she gestured to the table as she spoke.
Church simply looked at the vet for a moment before turning his face away, his tail swishing back and forth while Jem held him, “He ignores me half the time as well. Don’t take it personal.” He smirked then nodded and set Church down on the exam table where he promptly walked around in a bit of a circle then laid down.
Laughing Jessie nodded, “Thanks, I wasn’t sure if it was distaste for vets or something” she smiled, “He really is curiously chilled out” She commented as she examined him and he barely moved, it was rather interesting to see such behaviour.
“He usually comes to me when he wants attention and he does have toys that the plays with, but for the most part, he sleeps quite a lot during the day, but I’ve heard that is normal for cats seeing as they’re supposed to be nocturnal.” Church had been the same since he was a kitten so Jem had never worried too much about the cat’s behavior.
"Oh yes, it's nothing to worry about" she hurried to assure him, "It's only unusual because most people who have had cats since they were kittens have changed an animal's behaviour simply with how they treat them. You, I believe, have just let him be who he is, which is wonderful"
Jem was always happy to hear that he was doing everything right where Church was concerned, “That’s good to hear. I’ve known people who have had cats who are rambunctious and run around constantly, but I’ve never thought there was anything odd about Church’s behavior. Every cat is different, from what I know.”
“You’re absolutely right. Some pet owners are a lot more...involved than others. But, especially where cats are concerned, there’s generally no need to be. He seems extremely happy and he’s certainly sounding fit and healthy” she added as she finished up her exam.
“As I said, I do play with him so that he gets his exercise, but for the most part I let him simply do his thing,” Jem knew that Church would come to him when he wanted the attention so he didn’t try to force it on him or harass the cat like some people he’d known at done with their pets. As he spoke, Church simply laid on the table, his tail moving against the table.
Jessie giggled at the cat, “He’s definitely a character” she said, “So what made you make the move here?” she asked as she moved to the computer to add a few things to Church’s record, “If you don’t mind me asking” she added shooting him a smile.
“I was attending University in England, but I wanted a change. I was getting bored. I have a cousin out here and after looking into a few schools, I was able to transfer to UCI and came out here.” Jem hadn’t really seen much of Orange County or California in general since the move, because he’d been so busy with school and work, but he was looking forward to the end of the semester so he could finally do some sightseeing.
“England?” Jessie said, “Amazing, I’ve always wanted to go there. I can understand wanting a change though, sometimes it just feels right doesn’t it?” Jessie herself had needed a change and that was what had brought her here and she was incredibly happy she had since she’d found her James again.
Jem nodded, “I grew up there. My mother is chinese, but my father is British.” He reached over and scratched Church’s head. Of course Jem missed his parents and friends back home, but he was glad that he’d made the decision to move to America and even though they didn’t speak often, getting to know Jubilee was nice.
“Well you can rest assured that Church is fighting fit and healthy so the move can’t have been a bad thing” Jessie told him brightly, sensing his thoughts had moved to more subdued things and wanted to cheer him. “If you ever want to go see the sights and want company, I know a vet who likes new friends” she added smiling.
Jem smiled, “Would that vet be you?” Growing up Jem had never been very good at making friends, so if an offer came, he wasn’t going to turn it down, “Perhaps we could get together after my finals.” He would have a week off from school then and he planned to do something other than work the entire time.
“You caught me” she told him, “That sounds like a plan to me. We’ll find some fun things to do and new places to explore. You can even meet my pets too” she chuckled, before handing him Church’s paperwork for her check up today.
Jem had put Church back into his carrier and took the papers from Jessie, “I’d like that. Thank you.” He smiled once more then started out of the exam room. So far everyone Jem had met since his move had been exceptionally nice and he was glad that he’d decided to move to California.