c6e3324c4f84f7e6ed71c7cdde754b42

“Mum, do you think it’s OK for Ruby to be here?” Abi whispered, watching her little sister trailing a doll along the floor by her hair. The volunteer from the animal shelter was due to arrive any minute and Abi wanted everything to be just right. She had been worrying about the visit ever since Mum had registered with the shelter the previous weekend.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

“What do you mean?” Mum gave her a confused look.

“Just … maybe Chris could take her to the park? Or the shops? What if the people from the shelter think she’s too little to have a cat?” Ruby had been so excited all week but there was a chance that she might come across as really silly…

Mum smiled at her.“It’s OK, Abi. We said we’re interested in rehoming a cat that would be happy around a younger child, so we don’t need to pretend we don’t have Ruby. And we want to get a cat that will actuallylike living here. I think children aged nine and four should be fine for most cats.”

“Yes … we tidied up though,” Abi pointed out. “To make us look like better cat owners. Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No, it isn’t!” Mum looked around at the unusually tidy kitchen. “But I know what you mean. I don’t think cats care about mess. It’s the people from the shelter I was tidying up for.”

“They’re here!” Abi jumped as the bell rang and Ruby rushed to answer it. Luckily Chris got there first, and then Ruby went suddenly shy as she saw a strange woman on the doorstep and hid behind his legs.

“Hi! Come in – would you like some tea?” Mum asked.

But the woman– the name badge on her fleece said Maria – didn’t come any further in, even though Chris was holding the door open for her. She was standing just inside the gate, watching the road and looking rather worried. Then she turned to them and smiled anxiously.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

“Look, I’m really sorry…” she started to say and then glanced down at her feet as though she didn’t know quite how to go on. “It’s our fault. I should have realized before I came out to see you… I didn’t check the address.”

“What is it?” Chris asked, frowning. “Is there a problem?”

Abi slipped her hand into Mum’s. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she could tell it wasn’t good.

“It’s your road,” Maria explained. “It’s so busy, you see. There are a few main roads through town that are a problem and this is one of them. We rehomed a cat near here last year and she was hit by a car. After that we decided we wouldn’t let anyone along this road take one of our cats. It’s just too dangerous.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_5]

“I don’t think our road’s that busy,” Abi said stubbornly to Mum. Chris had taken Ruby out to buy some bread for lunch but it was mostly to give them something to do. Ruby didn’t understand why Maria hadn’t stayed to look around the house or why they weren’t getting a cat now, and shekept asking about it.

“I suppose we’re used to the road.” Mum sighed. “I didn’t think it was busy either, until she said. But she’s right.”

“Cats are clever though – I bet it would be OK. Couldn’t we just go to another shelter and see if the people there don’t mind about the road?”

“Wecould… But remember what Maria said about it being really difficult for cats to judge how fast cars are going, especially in the evening when it’s getting dark. That’s when they’re most likely to get hurt.” Mum turned round and gave Abi a hug.

“I know it doesn’t seem fair, I’m sad about it too. But what if we did get a cat and we all fell in love with her and then she was hurt? Wouldn’t that be worse than not having a cat at all?”

“No,” Abi said crossly. She knew Mum was right, really – but it didn’t mean she had to like it.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_8]

“When are you getting your cat?” Sky asked, grabbing at Abi’s hands. She had dashed over to Abi as soon as she saw her come into the playground, wanting to hear her cat news. Abi had told Sky they were having a visit from the shelter and she was almost as excited about Abi getting a cat as Abi was.

Abi made a face.“We aren’t. The shelter said our road’s too busy – they can’t let us have one.”

Sky stared at her.“No! I didn’t even know they could do that. What did your mum and Chris say?”

“That the shelter is right.” Abi sighed. “And I know they are, really, but I was so happy, thinking we were going to have a cat at last. You’re so lucky to live on a quiet road.”

“I’ve never even thought about it,” Sky said. “Wanda goes out all the time. But there are people on your road who have cats, aren’t there?”

“Yeah. I suppose their cats are just really careful. And they haven’t come from shelters.” Abi slumped down on a bench. “I was so excited…”

“It doesn’t seem fair.” Sky sat down and put her arm round Abi’s shoulders. “You’d be such a good cat owner, Wanda loves it when you come over.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_9]

“Mum suggested we get some fish.” Abi shook her head. “It just isn’t the same thing.”

“You can’t stroke a fish,” Sky agreed. “What about a dog?”