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Thomas didn’t like it here. Too much noise. Only so comfortable. Lots of other cats around, but none to play with. And all these strangers coming in and out. She missed her owner. The owner that gave her a boy’s name. The owner that didn’t mind that she curled up on her lap every evening after supper. The owner that was always considerate enough to heat her food. Oh, sure, Thomas had been mistress of the house – indeed, mistress of her owner –, but at least she liked the old lady.
Now she was here. In a cage. In an animal shelter. And she hated it. She pressed herself to the back of her cage and watched as strangers came and went. Some weren’t quite strangers: they were the ones who washed, fed, and exercised her. Some she hated right from the moment they walked in: they didn’t feel right or their voices were annoying or they smelled of other animals. Others were positively lovely, but after being passed by one too many times, Thomas had just decided she’d stop letting her hopes up. So she hid in the shadows of her cage and watched as other cats were adopted day after day.
There was nothing special about that day. Nothing new or exciting. But suddenly, someone bent down and looked directly into her eyes. Thomas couldn’t remember the last time a stranger noticed she was even there. If she wasn’t mistaken, the woman seemed a little surprised herself, as if she didn’t expect to see Thomas. The woman smiled – no, grinned – and murmured something about Thomas looking toothless. That was a little insulting. But she seemed nice enough.
The woman opened the cage door and slowly reached her hand in. Thomas wanted to at least check her out. But then, maybe she’d better just stay in the shadows. Or she could make a break for the door. Before she could decide though, the woman petted her. It felt nice, she had to admit. Even if the woman called her toothless again. Something about her bright eyes and black coat. Whatever that had to do with being toothless. But she pushed her head into the woman’s hand anyway. Felt her arm with her paws. Even perked up a little to get her to stay longer.
But just like every other time, the cage door closed on Thomas and the stranger left. She curled up and vowed to herself she’d never do that again. She closed her eyes in dejection and figured she might as well take a nap, but no sooner had she done so than the woman returned, opened the door, and gently lifted her out. “Come on, Toothless. I’m taking you home.”
“Toothless”? Again? Whatever. Thomas would put up with it because the operative word was “home”.Statistics: Posted by Ariel.of.Narnia — Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:05 am
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