Hi Bobwhat do you want to do today?

Bob just stared at Liz blankly as he paced back and forth in his cage grumpily. Ever since Bette had bought that cage with a child proof lock Liz had only been able to take Bob out under direct supervision and he wasnt too happy about that. He loved being able to run free and play with Liz whenever she wanted. But that was in the past and now he felt like a prisoner only being allowed to see his friend under tight watch. Liz hadnt been all too happy either when Bette first got that cage, but being the troublemaker she was turning out to be, Liz had been paying close attention every time either Bette or Tina opened the cage. She couldnt quite figure it out, but she noticed that they had to use both hands and pull something while pushing something else in order to get the cage door opened. Liz walked over to the cage and studied the lock closely. She couldnt see how to get it open and at first she just tried forcing it open, but Bette had been wise in her choice and even when Liz used all her might she couldnt get it open.

MOMMY?

Tina came walking in to Lizs room holding a book she had been reading. Nearing her seventh month of pregnancy, Tina was ready to pop out that kid already and Liz was nearly dying to see what her little brother looked like. Bette had gotten around to explaining how Liz got in there.she was going to go the scientific route at first, but after much consideration and a brief scolding from Tina who didnt want their three year old with a big mouth knowing the specifics of conception, Bette had chosen to go with a more child friendly version. Tina smiled at Liz who was smiling up at her with an angelic look on her face.

Mommy can I play with Bob?

Okay honeybut you have to play with him in here okay? And close your closet door and keep this door closed okay?

Okay mommy

Tina smiled as she opened the cage for her daughter and let her get Bob out. Tina sat with Liz for a while keeping an eye on her daughter and making sure that Bob didnt try any funny business, but when the phone rang Tina left Bob alone with Liz, at last. Liz beamed at Bob and they continued their game of catch the hamster before he got lost somewhere and then thats when it happened. Liz had an idea. Her idea consisted of two parts and consisted of a very precise plan of action.

Liz was going to give Bob a makeover.

Liz managed to trap Bob and she put him in the deep plastic bucket she had that usually held her Lego set that Alice had bought her. Next Liz went over to her table and fished out a gift from Shane that might not have been the wisest thing to give a little kid. Shane thought it would be funny for Halloween to give Liz a hair dye set, it was one of those types of dye that washes out in one wash, but Bette nearly keeled over when she saw Liz playing with it. Liz looked at it and decided that Bob should go from a blonde to a red head. She picked up the tube of dye and returned to Bob smiling and laughing to herself.

Okay Bobits time to make you all pretty

She opened the tube and after squirting way too much into her hands she grabbed Bob and started rubbing the gunk all over him. Bob squealed in protest but since he was in the deep bucket he wasnt really going anywhere. Liz kept applying the stuff to him until she was satisfied that he was going to be nice and red, and she left the stuff on to let the color set. She was only supposed to leave it in for about ten minutes, but not knowing what to do she left it in until it started to harden and then she finally realized that it was time to rinse him off. She picked up the bucket and snuck into the bathroom after making sure that Tina was still on the phone.

Tina had seen her daughter poke her head around the corner then disappear laughing but she thought nothing of it. Big mistake.

Inside the bathroom Liz didnt know if she should take Bob out of the bucket before rinsing him off and she couldnt quite reach the sink so she looked at the tub and decided rinsing him off in there would be okay. She turned the cold water on and let the tub fill a little before picking up the bucket and dumping him into the water.

LIZ!!!

The instant Tina had heard the water turn on she quickly got off the phone and ran into the bathroom to find her daughter trying to drown her apparently now red hamster.

LIZ WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Tina was furious at Liz for number one coloring Bob red, number two scaring the ***** out of her by trying to bathe him on her own, and number three for dying the entire bathtub red. The dye would come out of hair quickly, but as anyone who has ever dyed their hair knows, that ***** stains shower and bathtub like nothing else.

Elizabeth Kentor you are in big trouble!!!

Liz looked around in confusion as Tina fished Bob out, saving him only moments away from his fateful death, and put him momentarily back in the bucket. Next Tina quickly drained the tub and fished out some cleaning supplies as she tried to clean the inside of the tub hoping that since the stain was so fresh she could get most of it out. As she let the bleach set she dragged Liz outside and scolded her while she rinsed Bob off with the garden hose.

Liz why is Bob red? What did you do to him?

I just wanted to make him pretty mommy

Tina shook her head as she carefully scrubbed Bob with baby shampoo hoping to take most of the color off. Thankfully the majority of the color came off and he had begun to look more like his old self. She dried him off with the towel she had in her hand and she walked back into the house to put Bob back in his cage with Liz right on her heels.

Mommy what are you doing?

You are grounded young ladyyou cannot color Bob like that okay? He is fine the way he is. And mommy is going to be upset when she comes home and sees what youve done to him and the bathroom.

Tina put Bob back in his cage and Liz looked at her sadly.

Im sorry mommy

I know you are sweetie, but you are still in trouble. You cannot do that okay? No more coloring anything. No more makeovers.

Tina grabbed the rest of the dye stuff that Shane had given Liz and in her head she was already cursing Shane for even giving her such a toy. Liz sat on her bed and sulked while Tina continued to explain why it wasnt good to dye Bob like that and how much trouble she was going to be in especially when Bette found out what happened. Tina told Liz to play in her room until dinner and then left her to think about what she had done. Liz pouted for a few minutes then she got up and walked over to Bob.

Im sorry BobI just wanted to make you pretty

Bob looked at Liz with forgiveness in his eyes but a slight terror in his heart. He knew Liz was a good kid but she almost killed him and he was a little bit weary of her now. Liz stuck her little finger into the cage and Bob went over to nibble on her fingertip.

No more coloring Bobsorry

Bob nibbled on her and just smiled to himself. Thank goodnessI dont know if I could have survived another one of those color jobs he thought as Liz continued to talk to him and do her best to play with him.

Bette came home a few minutes later and Tina intercepted her before she headed into Lizs room to see why she was being so quiet.

Your daughter was being naughty today.

Why what did she do?

She tried to play Shane on Bob

Huh?

Bette was truly confused as to what Tina was talking about. She sniffed the air.

Why do I smell bleach?

Liz managed to color Bob with those dye things Shane had given herthen she proceeded to rinse him off in the bath

WHAT?

I knowI already talked to her about not doing it again

Tina

Bette headed into the bathroom to survey the damage. She saw the faint red ring around the bathtub from Lizs rinse job but other than that it wasnt too bad. Tina just shook her head and Bette didnt know what to say. Tina went to go sit down on the couch and Bette just followed her into the living room. She couldnt believe the antics that kid could get into and she had no idea where this mischievous streak came from. She patted Tinas tummy lightly as she put her head in Tinas lap.

Sometimes I just dont know what were going to do with her Bette

Bette just looked up at Tina with a sad smile. She hoped that Liz would outgrow this phase soon but her gut instinct told her that they hadnt seen the last of it. Bette kissed Tinas stomach before heading into Lizs room to do damage control.

KNOCK KNOCK

Liz?

Bette opened the door slowly and smiled at what she saw. Apparently Liz had managed to pull the cage down on the ground and had been lying next to it. She had a pillow under her head and a blanket over her and she was fast asleep with her hand still poking into the cage. Bette laughed as Bob stared at her with a help me look and Bette noticed the strange shade of red that he had become. She shook her head and shut the door quietly and walked back into the living room smiling. Tina looked up and gave her a questioning look.

Whats so funny?

Lizwell at least she will be able to find Bob in a crowd now

Tina and Bette laughed at Bettes joke and they decided to just let Liz sleep tonight instead of waking her for dinner. Later that night Bette went in and picked Liz up and put her in bed and kissed her goodnight. As she was walking out the door she turned and put Bobs cage back up on the table and smirked at him.

See what you get you little bugger

She whispered to Bob who glared at her with a menacing look. Bette smiled at Bob who held his evil stare until she shut the door behind her then he let his evil glare turn into a evil smile. Oh dont you worry Bettepayback is a *****