Take Care of the Cat While I'm Away

Counter-top bottles of things I don't drink
But I keep them around for the guests
Second to last you were over
The silence tipped over your typically subtle reproach
(Seeing the place like this)

I can always find my way around the messes I keep
And you know I'd be off to sort this or that
But it's always the thing that I lost track of last

I've always admired the small social niceties
Of putting in the effort to be a good host
I'm reminded of the tone in your voice
When you said it was the least you could do
That told me you truly believed it

You'd like to do more, if you only knew how

It's fine, I'm fine
(You say that I can still bounce back from this)
This I'm not so sure you believe

I don't have the time to watch the dishes piling up
And I really can't afford to have an argument this time
Everything has its reasons to be
Though it's true that I don't very much keep in touch

With any of my old friends lately
I don't think they know I've no replacements
Well, anyway, take care of the cat while I'm away

(Any day now I could bounce back from this)
You have not truly gone insane if you can come back
It's fine, I'm fine
(You say that I can still bounce back from this)
This I'm not so sure that you truly believe

Treat this just like any old departure
Like we've had by the thousands
Don't you dare leave anything nicer than you found it
The doors are unlocked and there's nothing here for you to fix