When she reached the wire bars separating them she reached a finger in tentatively, her hazel eyes never leaving his face as she called out to him in a sweet half-whispered croon, words of comfort.
Her voice was like sugary molasses, sweet and smooth. The little kitten came closer, eyeing her wiggling fingers in front of him that smelled of something fruity like strawberries or raspberries. He decided that she was no threat and poked his runny nose against her curiously.
She giggled softly and wiggled her fingers even more. Unable to resist, the kitten raised a paw and batted at them weakly.
"Cali?! Cali?! Where are you?", the mother's voice grew louder and a moment later she discovered the little girl and marched over to her side. The little kitten stayed where he was and this time licked the little girl's finger causing her to jump slightly and laugh aloud.
She turned to her mother with a pleading look in her eyes.
Her mother shook her head adamantly and tried to drag her daughter away.
The little kitten felt himself slowly begin to give up hope again but the little girl would not leave his side.
"Cali, that kitten is very sick, we can't take him! We have to leave, right now!"
"Mommy he's all alone, he hasn't got any friends. He's sad Mommy", Cali pleaded as tears sprang to her eyes.
"Cali, we'll find you a better kitten, one that's not sick. That kitten won't even be able to play with you and you wouldn't like that would you? You'd rather have someone who will play with you right?"
The little girl seemed to be pondering that thought but then she shook her head decidedly.
"Mommy I don't want another kitten, this one needs me. I will take care of him and make him better ok?"
The mother shook her head again but this time didn't seem quite as resolved. Cali took her by the hand and pulled her closer to the cage.
"Mommy put your fingers in there, see he plays?"
The little kitten knew that this might be his last chance and using every bit of strength he had, tried to appear as healthy and lively as he could. He licked the mother's fingers and played with her rings. He mewed and purred and anything else he could think of.
All the while he watched her face for any signs of a change. And slowly bit by bit he did. She saw the filth he was living in and how cramped he was and her expression began to soften. She began to speak to him and he responded as well as he could muster.
"Mommy can we take him home?", the litle girl asked again quietly.
This time the mother didn't say a word. She gave one last look at the kitten and turned to look at her daughter.
"You're sure this is the one you want Cali? You wouldn't like to visit any place else?", she asked wistfully.
But the little girl shook her head sending her blonde locks swaying back and forth with each turn of her face.
The mother shot a glance up towards the front, eyeing the man who had turned his attention back to assembling cages. She mumbled under her breath something about how she refused to pay him a single cent for the kitten and took a long look at the large canvas shoulderbag she carried.
Turning quickly to her daughter she explained her plan. The little girl's eyes widened and then she nodded slowly.
"Mommy isn't that stealing?"
"Yes it is Cali and I know what I've always told you, she started slowly,.....but in certain special cases like this one....well here listen. If I were to pay that man money for your kitten, that would just give him the chance to get another kitten and make that kitten sick too. Do you understand?"
The little girl's face contorted in deep thought and after a moment it relaxed and she nodded.
The mother took another look up at the man and when she was satisfied that the coast was clear she undid the latch on the kitten's cage and slid it open, placing her hand inside. The kitten shrank back slightly, not having been touched or handled in so very long. After a moment of letting him adjust to her nearness, the mother reached her hand around his tiny waist and pulled him out into the light for the first time in five months.
She gave a little gasp of shock when she saw how horrendous his condition actually was. Pursing her lips together, she opened her bag, slipping him inside, making sure there was enough room for him to breath. That done she closed his cage and took her daughter's hand.
Past the rows of filth and hopelessness they went, leaving a trail of outstretched paws in their wake as they bore their little stowaway to freedom. The man hardly even glanced up as they went out the front door and into the fresh air.
Inside the bag the little kitten caught his first whiff, no longer permeated with the smell of death and urine. It didn't smell of anything and the little kitten breathed in deeply. Through a good-sized crack in the zipper he could see a puffy cloud floating by in the clear blue sky above.
He felt an unrestrained feeling of excitement rush over his little body and he began to cry out, begging for attention from his rescuers. He could hear the little girl's voice call to him in the distance but it was faint and seemed so very far away. He began to feel so very tired and his eyes drooped with exhaustion. The warmth of the sun shining down on the bag soothed his weary body. He could hear a door slamming and a strange rumbling sound come to life.
Seconds later the little girl's fingers reached through the crack, settling on his tiny head and it was only then that he felt truly safe and secure. He had done it, he had escaped. How long had he wished for this moment? He slowly let his eyes close and he breathed in deep that now familiar fruity scent that smelled so good. He was free.
*Note: I got the idea for this story from a personal experience of mine and also from all of the ASPCA commercials that are always on TV. Stories like this break my heart and it's because of stories like these that I'm proud to do what I do. ~day
