And when I went to put them on, I noticed the laces were untied. The nieces had been downstairs for a while, so as we left I said "Listen, girls, don't untie my shoes."

Them: We didn't!
Me: Look, it's not a big deal, I'm not mad, just don't do it again!
Them: We didn't!!!
Me: This is silly. *I* didn't do it, nobody else is home, and anyway neither your mom nor Nanen would've done so. One of you must have done it.
Them: Maybe it was the cats!
Me: Maybe that's ridiculous.

Anyway, what had been a minor matter turned into this whole big "thing", and all over them lying (stupidly!) about untying my laces!

Friday I dropped them off with their dad. Saturday I went to put on my shoes. The laces were untied. And looking closely... oh... I could see they were clawed all over.

I called my sister. "Jenn? When you were down here last night, did you, uh, untie my shoe?"

In my defense, how could I possibly have seen that coming? It was ridiculous! (I've since apologized to the nieces.)