A New Addition to the Family

     Tuesday morning Eler Beth asked if she could ride her bike two streets over, and I said she could.  A few minutes later the front door opened.  From where I was sitting I could just see her upper body.  She paused in the doorway, eyes big and shining, huge grin on her face.

"Guess what I found?"

Now, if you've become at all acquainted with Eler Beth through this journal, you will understand why a chill went down my spine.

"What?!" 

In her arms she held a black kitten about four or five months old.  She was holding it like a baby and the cat wasn't minding at all.

To make a long story short, she "found" it two streets over.  She played with it all day Tuesday, took it back where she found it, then went back yesterday morning, and it was still there.  She went from house to house and no one would admit to owning it.

Today she went back first thing this morning and the cat was right where she left it again.  She brought it home and again played with it all day.  Now, I have to say that she is the perfect cat for Eler Beth and Andrew.  She allows Eler Beth to hold her like a baby, put her in the cat carrier, carry her around everywhere (and the cat's front paws are kneading constantly), and she will lie still and let the kids pet her forever (which is what Andrew likes in a cat).  Here's the ongoing conversation we had today:

"I really love this cat, Mom!"

"Yes, I know.  You know Dad won't let you keep it.  We don't need another cat, especially a female that we'd have to have spayed."

"She's perfect for me, Mom!  And Andrew likes her, too."

"You know Dad won't let you keep her.  Andrew has wanted another cat for a long time, and Dad has said, 'no'."

"I'll share her with Andrew.  I'll save up my money to get her spayed.  If I asked Dad, you'd say it was okay, wouldn't you?"

"I wouldn't mind too much, but I'm not going to try to talk Dad into it.  It's up to Dad."

Which translated into --  "Hey, Andrew!  Mom said she'll talk to Dad about keeping the cat!"

Eler Beth and I asked.  Andrew asserted that he liked the cat, too.  Dad capitulated.  She has to be spayed, like, immediately.

Her name is Jessie.