Homeless
Chapter Sixteen
A week and a half later, Tiger’s quarantine ends. He never developed rabies symptoms, and Sunita’s relieved; she didn’t want any more shots.
Brenna’s parents agree to let Tiger and a few other ferals be released into their woods. When Gary releases Tiger, the cat dashes into the woods like he was born there. Half the colony heads for the woods, the other half back to the railroad tracks, the compromise Gary and Dr. Mac worked out with the neighborhood once everyone understood the TVSR program would prevent rabies.
Dr. Mac and the volunteers gather around the table, finishing the vaccination reminder list, Socrates purring in Sunita’s lap. That evening, they’re all heading to Sunita’s house for Indian food.
Sunita was surprised when Mother agreed to a full Indian menu for her friends, something Mother usually reserves for important people or holidays. Lately, Mother’s grown more interested in Sunita’s clinic stories and has started checking on how the patients are doing. Sunita never expected this, but she isn’t complaining.
When Mother comes to pick up the kids, she asks to see Mittens and her family. The kittens are resting in a roomy recovery-room cage, just starting to open their eyes: three white, two tuxedos. Mittens purrs like a queen receiving visitors as Sunita scratches behind her ears. When Mittens stretches her neck toward Mother’s hand, Mother nervously extends her fingers, and Mittens bumps her head against them. Mother smiles.
Sunita reminds Mother that cats aren’t scary; she was bit only because she made a mistake. Cats raised around people make the best, smartest, most loving pets.
Dr. Mac comes in and explains that tomorrow, she’ll contact regular clients to find someone to foster Mittens and her kittens until they’re old enough to leave her; they’ll socialize better in a home than in recovery. Suddenly, Mother declares there’s no need for that. They’ll take the cats home themselves.
Sunita is speechless. Mother clarifies it’s not permanent, but Sunita’s family can foster Mittens for a while; she recently read about what good pets cats make, and winks that between Sunita and the twins, the cats won’t lack for human contact.
Sunita grins, thrilled, certain Mittens and her kittens will be happy, too.