*GWENDOLYN*
Faye is chasing through the house with the cat hot on her heels. The vet has been here again, completely stunned that another pet has arrived at my door. So far, no one has reported Tuesday as missing, and the cat seems to have been in the wilderness for quite a long time.
“If it’s too much for you, I could try to find someone who would adopt them,” the vet offers.
“No, I will keep them,” my answer came so promptly I surprised myself. “I just can’t help it,” I admit.
The man smiles. “Honestly, Elsa, I feel relieved. They are safe with you, and it’s obvious you care for them.” He hands me a folder. “I prepared these for you concerning the capybara.”
“I did some research, as well,” I admit. “It seems they need an outside area to stay in and shouldn’t be kept in solitary. For now, I have a makeshift area for the capybara in the garden, but obviously I need something more permanent.”
“Definitely,” he agrees. “However, as much as I hate to admit it, this capybara has been domesticated in a way that definitely wasn’t appropriate to the species. Judging by its fur and its behavior, it’s used to being kept indoors.”
“No way!” I exclaim. “The poor little thing! Is this the reason it shows so little fear?”
“In general, these are not fearful animals,” he says. “But it is telling that it was immediately drawn to the other pets. Ideally, you’d keep another capybara with it, but for now, it looks like it’s happy with the other two pets. It’s a male capybara by the way.”
“And what about the cat?”
“Definitely a strong, male cat,” he says. “Very sturdy, pretty healthy, just his fur needs proper treatment. And he had some ticks which I‘ve removed.”
I wrap a finger around one of my locks, tugging at it thoughtfully. “Seems like I have my own little zoo now.”
Another reason to find a pack fast. Either I can stay there together with my pets, or I will need to find my own place. Either way, it has to be somewhere with a large garden. I wouldn’t even mind living on a farm.
This thought almost startles me. It’s the first time my mind ever went to such a possibility. But why didn’t I think about this earlier? I love animals; I’m good with them. It would mean I’d have a lot of space. Maybe I could even open my very own rescue place for animals. I’ve never had any dreams, but this idea suddenly makes my heart beat faster.
Did I finally find something I’d truly want to do?
The vet leaves me with a new list of things to do, especially concerning Tuesday, and several numbers I can contact for further research, as he is not a wildlife specialist.
“Gwen.“ Faye comes running towards me once we are alone again. “I need to show you something!” She grabs my hand and tugs me to the cat. “Look!” When she pets his head, the cat stretches his neck, revealing a white dot right behind his ear.
“Just like Tulip,” I say quietly. “He had a white dot behind his ear, too.”
“Maybe Tulip sent this kitty to you,” Faye exclaims.
I know she isn’t really aware of what she is saying; it’s her childish innocence talking, but her words still bring tears to my eyes. I have suppressed most of my feelings since we left the pack. My sorrow for losing Tulip, the freshly opened wounds of remembering Dad, my disappointment towards Brandon, the humiliation, everything.
“Are you okay, Gwen?”
I pull Faye into a hug. “You are such a little angel,” I whisper into her neck.
Faye giggles. “You are tickling me.”
I smile, blowing air at her neck, making her giggle more. “Why don’t you play with Tuesday and...“ I hesitate. “We need a name!”
“Mr. Dot,” Faye says promptly.
Well, whatever. It’s not like I won a creativity prize with Tuesday and Tiger. “Alright. Play with Mr. Dot and Tuesday, will you?”
“Yes!” she beams.
“Tuesday needs some entertainment. You can run around with him in the garden and here-“ I hand her a banana, which she immediately peels and stuffs into her own mouth. “Okay,” I laugh, handing her another one. “Share it with Tuesday, okay?”
Still having her mouth full, she nods before opening the door and dashing outside, with Tuesday following her curiously, his eyes pinned on the banana.
Mr. Dot, however, sits and looks at me. “You can play with them,” I offer.
