“Why not get him one of each?” Klora suggested, looking mischievous.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “One pet at a time. Maybe we’ll get a second one when he’s older.”
Our server stopped to ask if we wanted a drink refill and we accepted. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear that y’all were thinking about adopting a pet. The shelter is having an “empty the Shelter’ drive and is open until nine p.m. all week to accommodate anyone who might be interested in adopting.”
Sachuu gave me a look I couldn’t interpret. “I am fine with stopping there for us to choose animal companions if you wish to go.”
I grinned, realizing that he wanted to get a pet too.
“I’m in! Sounds like fate,” Klora spoke up.
I licked my lips, hoping Mitchell would forgive me for simply showing up with our much discussed pet. “After we finish, sure.”
“Cool!” our server said. “It’s signposted as the Humane Society. It’s over on Twenty-Third, between Oak and Palm Avenues. I can call my aunt and let her know you’re coming. She works there, approving adoptions.”
We thanked her, promising to ask for her Aunt Joan when we got there. Less than an hour later, we were pulling up outside.
“Fifteen minutes until they close,” Klora said sadly. “Think they’ll let us in?”
A small, wiry, gray haired woman flew out of the building, hurrying to our car. “Hi! I saw there were three of you and it was a rental and thought to myself, Joan, this must be the Mylos Eileen said were coming! Don’t you worry, loves, we’ll stay open until you find your furever friends!”
Well, that certainly answered Klora’s question. I took an immediate liking to this woman and got out, following her inside, the L.T.C. and Klora behind me.
“We have to walk through the cat area first to get to the kennels,” she explained, walking us past someone standing for a photo with a small, shaggy dog.
“That’s cool, I’m wanting a cat,” Klora told her.
“As am I,” Sachuu said. “Perhaps two. I understand they keep each other company.”
She glanced at him sharply. “Are you away from home often?”
“I sometimes work long hours,” he admitted. “But Xero will be able to keep an eye on them.”
“You might also consider one of the treat dispensers we have for sale. We have one that comes with a camera so you can see them and they can see and hear you. You can talk to them while you’re away and dispense a treat when they come up to the dispenser in response.”
Sachuu nodded and Klora vowed he would be purchasing one.
“But as to what you said earlier,” she continued, pushing open the door to a room filled with cats on perches and in blanket lined boxes,” if you have two or more and they get along well, they will keep each other company. And a few are bonded pairs as well and we’d prefer if they went together.”
I sighed. If I chose a cat, it sounded as if I should get two.
A gray striped cat came over to the L.T.C., chirping and rubbing its head against his boots.
“Oh, wow. That’s Merlin. He is usually very shy. We’re a no kill and he is the reason we’ve never managed to completely empty the shelter. He’s been here for five years already, poor fellow, since he was about six weeks old.”
Sachuu knelt down and let Merlin sniff his fingers. Merlin gave them a delicate sniff, then promptly gently nibbled his fingers, loudly purring. The L.T.C. let him do as he wished until he left his fingers alone and simply kept rubbing his face all over his knees and shoes, purring all the while.
“Let’s see if he’ll let you pick him up. Usually, I’m the only one he’ll tolerate.”
He gently scooped Merlin up, bringing him towards his chest as the cat failed to protest. Instead, the purrs grew almost impossibly louder, and he began rubbing his face on the L.T.C.’s cheeks, his paws kneading his shirt.
“It’s a love match,” Joan whispered. “Oh, I do hope you’ll take him.”
“But of course,” Sachuu informed her. “I have been chosen. I already know from my human friends that cats choose you, not the other way around.”
“He gets along well with Mimi, the little tuxedo cat watching you so intently from others there,” Joan said, gesturing. Sachuu walked over to where the small cat sat on a perch and extended his fingers. She sniffed and began rubbing her head against his hand.
“These two have honored me,” he said.
