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“Chase.” Winnie practically growled and I stepped back to grab a shirt to put on.
I pushed my arms through and lifted the shirt over my head. “I meant animals not humans. Chill out.”
“As long as I’m not adopting anything with a heartbeat, I think I’m okay. A house plant might be better, you’ve seen me with my charges.” We both laugh. I know she loves those dogs she’s pet-sitting even if she’s having a hell of a go at it. Besides, I doubt Winnie has a green thumb.
“There’s a pet adoption day over in Poughkeepsie I like to volunteer at. I give the animals a well check and help them clean up some of the scruffier ones.”
“Oh, so you help the animals find new homes and stuff.”
I see her wavering with intrigue and like where this is going.
“Yes, I make sure they’re healthy and we interview people to foster them from the overcrowded animal shelter or adopt them outright.”
“And we won’t bring any back, right?”
“I promise.” I crossed my fingers behind my back. What I don’t tell Winnie is that I’ve fostered from time to time myself if no one else can but I figure that’s abridge we can cross until later today. I turn into a mush playing with the puppies and petting the fluffy kittens, but that’s partly why I went into veterinary medicine so I can help animals.
I get Winnie to agree and shuffle her out to my car. The selfish part of me values my life and I’d prefer to drive considering the one time I let her drive, I thought I my brief thirty years on this planet flew past me as she navigated small town traffic with her city driving. I’m not even sure she realized she almost clipped a mailbox in her aunt’s car. I tell myself I’m just looking out for the citizens of New Paltz and the random squirrel as I pull out of my driveway and drive to the animal shelter hosting today’s adoption event.
It’s a short drive and when I park the car, I get out and open the door for Win. She slides out looking cute in her cut off jean shorts and I hold her hand walking in. It feels good. Natural. It feels like I should always be holding her hand.
We’re greeted by one of the shelter volunteers.
20
Winnie
I take a good look at the Pitbull named Merc and decided he needs some sprucing up. He’s all black with white socks and a white patch on his chest that sports a long scar. I don’t know his history but he’s sad inside the metal cage with his head down and sad eyes. I’m not normally affected by puppy eyes, well, not usually, but something about him just gets to me.
“Hey buddy, let’s see if we can get you a nice loving home today.” Merc perked his head up looking at me with his nearly black eyes. I picked up the card on his cage and read it aloud.
“Two-year-old male pit. Surrendered by family who moved out of state.” I looked at the dog who seemed to sink further down on his haunches.
“Who does that? Who surrenders a family pet?” I
spin around the space and almost knock into Chase who grabbed me by the shoulders. He looked about as angry as I felt.
“You’d be surprised at the people who surrender animals they have no business adopting in the first place.”
“Is he good with kids and stuff? He’s got that nasty scar on his chest.”
Chase reached inside the cage and pet his head. I move my hand to follow and Merc lays down to roll over on his back for more scratches.
“This guy is a big sweetheart. He needed surgery to remove a small tumor. Thankfully it wasn’t cancer or anything serious. He just needs a good home with people who will love him and not abandon him.”
I’m mad on Merc’s behalf and grab a new card. “Well then, let’s make sure Merc here gets a fighting chance.” I write down on the card that Merc is loyal, sweet, and has a big heart that needs a big family to fill it. I put the card back and Chase puts his hands on my shoulders reading it.
“That’s perfect, Win.” He kissed the top of my head and moved on to check on another dog and my cheeks warmed up. I did a good job and Chase appreciated it. I hadn’t felt those kind of warm and fuzzies before. I wondered what else we could do to get the animals new homes with the right people.
I conjured up doing a photo shoot, and styling the dogs and cats in various scenes showing how sweet and amazing they would be in a family setting. The idea wasn’t solid yet. I didn’t know how to get it rolling but maybe Chase could help me with that. I wasn’t a good photographer, but I could dress anyone. I might have a real shot at using my fashion merchandising degree after all.
21
Chase
Whenever my phones rings and the caller ID has my mother’s number I cringe a little more than usual. It could have been Kristen calling, but I had a hierarchy for my family members. It started with Kristen, my mother the illustrious Judge, and my dad the coach. The only person I dropped everything for to answer the phone was for my grandmother. I loved that woman more than life itself and if she needed me to move heaven and earth I’d find a way to make it happen. Now Winnie hadn’t called me much to change the rules of the hierarchy, but I was slowly thinking that Grammie wouldn’t mind sharing the top tier with this girl.
The phone kept ringing and I picked it up right before it went to voice mail. It let my interfering mother know that I didn’t ask how high when she said jump but that I still respected the fact that she gave birth to me much as she belabored that fact when given a chance.
