Tom decides to go on holiday. So he asks Dave to house-sit for him, look after his elderly mother, and his cat. After a week, Tom rings Dave.
Tom: Hi Dave, how are things going?
Dave: Good.
Tom: How's my cat?
Dave: Cat's dead.
Tom: What!! How could you say that!!!
Dave: What do you mean? Your cat is dead.
Tom: No, no … it's too harsh. Try to soften it a bit.
Dave: How?
Tom: You could say she climbed up the roof. But the roof was slippery, so she fell and hit her head. When you found her, she had peacefully passed away.
Dave: OK.
Tom: Anyway, how is my mum?
Dave: Umm … she's on the roof …