Peter

  Peter had always hated pets. Quite the opposite was his mom. She really loved them but couldn’t get any because she knew how much he hated them. He once broke her favorite vase coupled with a few plates and tore some bedsheets and blamed it on the dog she brought home just to make her return the dog. He once faked being allergic to cat fur the last time she adopted a cat and had to return it. It was the last time she tried to get any pets.

  He found some paintings of cats and poetry about mockingbirds in her room this morning. He realized how much he’d denied her what she so much wanted.

  When Priscilla sked if he was ready to take care of one, an idea struck. He would adopt one, care for it, and take care of it to more or less punish himself.

  Peter drove in silence, contemplating what he had just done. He lied to Priscilla. He didn’t understand why he was feeling guilty from lying. It was such an unfamiliar feeling. He had always lied his whole life to suit his comfort. Not a lie to harm anyone, but just to get himself out of trouble. So what changed? Why was he feeling so much guilt for lying? For a moment he didn’t want her to judge or think less of him.

  He brought the car to a halt in front of the animal shelter. It was at the outskirts of the town. It was quite bigger than he totally expected. He looked over to Priscilla. He found it strange she wasn’t her usual chatty self, but she wasn’t gloomy. She had been mute the whole journey. He decided not to comment about it since she wasn’t gloomy.

  He alighted the car and walked into the building with Priscilla trailing behind him. He could see different types of animals as he walked into the building. Some looking gloomy and sickly. Most looking quite active and healthy.

  They walked towards the lady behind the counter.

  “Good afternoon.”

  “Afternoon,” she replied with a radiant smile.

  “We would love to adopt an animal.”

  “Of course you do.”

  “My name is Mrs. Cartman. I will be in charge of the adoption process.”

  “Why don’t you look around for your choice and we can deal with the paperwork and registration right after?”

  He went to the cat section and scanned around.

  “Hey, Peter,” Priscilla called. “Come and take a look at this.”

  He walked to her and there he saw the most beautiful cat he had ever seen. White soft silky fur, large round jewel green eyes that shone like peridot, triangular ears, long slender tail. It looked so delicate and cuddly.

  “How can anybody ever abandon such a beautiful creature?” she said.

  “This is really beautiful,” he blurted out.

  “I know,” she replied.

  “Who could have abandoned it?”

  “I was thinking the same thing.”

  “I would take it.”

  “You should,” Priscilla nodded.

  He walked back to the counter while she stroked the cat lovingly.

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  “I’ve found the one I will adopt,” he said to Mrs. Cartman.

  “Okay,” she replied with her wide addictive smile. She was incredibly pretty for a middle-aged woman.

  “Let’s go check it out.”

  They walked back to the cat section.

  “You have a good eye for beauty.”

  “She picked it.”

  “Oh.”

  “I still stand on my words either way.”

  “You have a good eye for beauty,” she said, staring at Priscilla.

  He knew what she meant. Priscilla did too. He could see her face turning pink.

  “You are taking Lucy.”

  “Lucy?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It had a name tag around its neck when she was found.”

  “I wouldn’t call her the name the people who abandoned her did,” he shrugged.

  “Oh, no, they didn’t.”

  “It wasn’t abandoned. She was found as the sole survivor of a ghastly auto accident that led to the death of her owner’s entire family. No other close relation showed to take care of it, so it was sent to the animal shelter.”

  “Oh, that’s really sad.”

  “Indeed it is.”

  “She’s been through a lot.”

  “Make sure you take care of it.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  He meant it.

  “Is your girlfriend isn’t getting any?” Mrs. Cartman asked.

  “No, she isn’t getting any. She has an emotional history with cats,” he answered for her.

  “Erm… actually, I would like to get one too,” Priscilla stammered.

  He looked at her. She was quite serious.

  “I have the perfect one,” Mrs. Cartman replied.

  She walked into the deeper sections of the building while they followed her closely.

  “Here is Max,” she said, pointing to an equally adorable cat.

  It had beautiful eyes, small nose, short snout, and was a bit puffed on the sides. Covered in fur, long tail, pointy teeth, and sharp claws. It looked sickly though.

  “Did it have a name tag too?” he asked.

  “No. Owner left a note knowing someone would find it. He begged that Max should be well taken care of.

  “His owner committed suicide due to an unknown reason. Again, nobody showed up to pick it up nor take care of it. It was sent to the animal shelter.

  “It’s sad how most of these animals have been through unfortunate circumstances. And more sad, nobody quite cares for their feelings too, like they don’t have any.”

  “Please adopt it,” she said with a big doe-eyed expression.

  “I will adopt it,” Priscilla replied.

  “That is really great. Thank you very much.”

  She brought him out carefully from the cage.

  “Let’s get to the paperwork then.”

  They all walked back to the counter with both cats and their cages. She brought out some papers and went over them. She handed them to Peter to read over before signing. It mainly depicted they would be sued and fined heavily if they ever harmed them.

  He signed It and handed it to Priscilla, who handed it to Mrs. Cartman after her own signature for her to sign too. She kept a copy and handed them another.

  “One last thing,” she said. “A photograph.”

  “A photograph?” Priscilla asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Company policy. To show you adopted them without any physical injury. You would be surprised at the number of psychos walking free who would adopt a pet just to torture it.

  “So, we do some follow-up and check up on our adopted pets every three months to make sure they are not abused.”

  “You both look so nice and innocent, but it’s the company policy we strictly adhere to.”

  “It's fine.” Peter shrugged.

  “We would get a copy too, right?” Priscilla asked.

  “Of course. And I take really good photographs, I promise you.”

  They posed together for the photograph as she took a couple of shots.

  Mrs. Cartman handed them each a copy.

  “This is the best picture I have ever taken,” Mrs. Cartman said, staring at her copy.

  “You both look so cute together. I can literally feel the tears forming in my eyes,” she said, dabbing her eyes with an imaginary handkerchief.

  Peter knew without looking Priscilla would be flushing red again.

  “Thanks for the picture,” he said. “You really do take amazing photos.”

  “I will surely frame this.”

  He rarely took pictures, so he didn’t have quite many of himself. It wouldn’t be an overstatement if he said this had to be one of the best photographs of himself he’d ever seen. He could see what the lady was talking about. They did fit like a puzzle with one arm over her shoulder and holding Lucy with the other.

  They were soon on their way back. They stopped at a pet store to get some cat food and some other stuff she suggested. He looked towards Priscilla on the way home. She was stroking Lucy and Max quietly.

  He could see she was surprised.

  “For what?” she said quietly.

  “For accompanying me and suggesting we came here. I will remember today for quite a long time.”

  “You are welcome,” she said, trying to hide her red cheeks.

  He brought the car to a halt in front of her house. She carried Max and his cage while he helped lift her other stuff into the house and set everything down.

  “Wanna stay for a cup of coffee?”

  “No. Maybe some other time. I have Lucy waiting for me in the car.”

  “True.”

  “I guess we will see each other in school tomorrow.”

  “Yeah.”

  She watched him walk back to his car and waved him goodbye as he entered. She turned back into the house as he zoomed off.