Homeless

Chapter Twelve

The colony of cats is quiet and peaceful when they arrive. The volunteers follow Gary and Dr. Mac to the clearing. When Gary opens the doors of the first two cages, the cats race out and disappear into the weeds. Gary watches where the cats disappeared into the underbrush, and explains that when he became an Animal Control officer, it was because he wanted to help animals. He likes the way the TVSR is working out.

Maggie says that someone is coming. They turn around to see Jamie’s mom heading toward them, punching numbers on a cell phone. She looks even angrier than the first time they met. She asks what they’re doing. They’re supposed to be taking the cats out, not bringing more in. Why is this taking so long?

Gary asks for an opportunity to explain. He says the cats that were just released are vaccinated and spayed. They present no danger to anyone. Jamie’s mom reaches someone on her phone. Apparently, she’s calling Animal Control and wants to talk to the supervisors.

She yells into the phone that she will not have her kids put in danger in their own backyard. She’s going to have this place crawling with people. She already called the police and TV stations.

Gary’s face turns red. He forgot to have the meeting with the residents to explain the TVSR program. Gary may be a great Animal Control officer, but he’s unfortunately an absent-minded one.

Gary says the only thing to do is to do what they came to do. The cats are safe, so they should release the cats, trap the next batch, and go home. He’ll schedule an emergency meeting with the neighbors tonight. Dr. Mac says that they can’t ignore Jamie’s mother. She’s furious. They should take the cats back to the clinic and keep them there a few more days. They’ll release them after the meeting. The four caged cats still in the back of the pickup truck start to yowl. Sunita can tell they know they’re close to home.

Gary says it’s not fair. The cats have been through a lot of stress by being captured and treated. They should be released now. Dr. Mac looks back at the truck, and then nods. As Gary goes back to the truck to get more cages, Sunita points down the road. Dr. Mac might need to have that emergency meeting now.

A crowd has gathered around Gary’s truck. It’s not a welcoming committee. Angry men and women tell him that he should get rid of the cats. A man says he’ll do it himself. A woman asks who’s protecting the children and who’s protecting them. Gary ignores all of their questions and carries the cages down to the clearing.

Dr. Mac walks into the middle of the crowd and asks them all to listen to her. Then, a police car pulls up, followed by a TV news van and another Animal Control truck. This is all getting very out of hand.

Gary’s boss waves him over. Sunita can’t hear what they’re saying, but it looks like a tense conversation. Gary might be in trouble.

Dr. Mac tries to answer everybody’s questions and ease their concerns. She assures them that nobody understands the risks of unvaccinated animals better than she does. Dr. Mac explains that the cats are being treated until they’re certain that there are no diseases that could be passed on to people.

Gary turns away from his boss and starts to load the empty traps into the truck. He won’t look at them or say anything. Sunita hears a whisper coming from a bush. The bush rattles, and the face of Jamie briefly appears with Katie next to him. Sunita glances at the crowd, and sees all the grown-ups are busy yelling at each other. Nobody else heard Jamie’s whisper.

Sunita scurries over to Jamie and asks what he’s doing. Jamie says he needs help. The black cat that they were looking for, Mittens, is having her babies. Jamie said she started having the kittens yesterday, but he thinks it’s taking too long. She doesn’t look good.

The police officers are talking to Dr. Mac. The crowd seems a little calmer, but people are still frowning. The other volunteers are watching the crowd. The television crew is pointing its cameras at the crowd. Sunita asks to be taken to Mittens first. Keeping one eye on the crowd, they quickly cross the railroad tracks and dash across the clearing. Sunita crouches down to see Mittens under the boxcar. There’s one kitten on the ground near her, but it’s dead. Mittens is pushing hard, trying to make the next kitten come out. She meows in pain. Sunita can’t tell what’s wrong, but she knows they have to get her to the clinic.

Sunita tells Jamie to take Katie home. Sunita will get Dr. Mac. Sunita turns around to leave, and she sees a raccoon trapping them in the boxcar. The raccoon’s teeth are bared, and saliva is dripping from its mouth. Sunita’s heart starts to pound. Raccoons are nocturnal animals. They rarely come out during the day unless they have rabies.