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Interesting.
A pet might be just the thing Bo needed to let her feel important and helpful. A feeling of control was supposed to be soothing to children inclined toward tantrums.
“We can look in the window,” April said. “But we can’t buy a pet without talking to your dad first. That’s a parent decision.”
Bo nodded, looking a little crestfallen.
“When you grow up, will you have a pet?” April asked her, hoping to cheer her up.
“When I grow up, I’ll have all the pets,” Bo crowed.
“What kind of pet will you get first?” April asked.
They had reached the window. They stepped off the moving walkway, and Bo pressed her little face to the glass.
“That one,” she said with utter certainty.
Behind the glass stood cages with adorable puppies and kittens cavorting and napping, colorful birds, and even tanks with reptiles and fish.
But Bo was pointing at a full-grown cat sitting alone in a crate by the window. Half of its left ear was missing and the expression on its furry face was decidedly unfriendly. Its long, tangled fur was a dull black, except for one white paw.
April glanced down at Bo, who was eyeing the cat rapturously.
“Why that one?” she asked.
“I like her,” Bo said, explaining exactly nothing.
April looked at the cat again. It was blinking its jade green eyes at Bo appraisingly.
Though whether it wanted to jump into her lap, or hunt her down and eat her was up for debate.
There was a sign on the crate indicating that the cat was visiting from a local veterinary clinic and available for adoption with a small donation to the veterinarian’s no-kill shelter program.
They stood there for another minute or two, and then another family stepped off the walkway to visit the store.
“We should go, Bo,” April told her, realizing they were in the way of the other customers.
Bo nodded glumly.
“Bye, Rocket Woman,” she said to the cat.
“Wow, Rocket Woman,” April said, as they stepped back onto the walkway.
“That’s from my favorite comic,” Bo said.
“I like that one, too,” April told her. “And Rocket Woman doesn’t take any crap. That’s actually a really good name for that cat.”
“Doesn’t take any crap,” Bo echoed in delight.
“Maybe that’s not a kid word,” April said quickly.
Bo laughed at that, sounding very pleased.
“Here’s the store,” April said, helping Bo off the moving walkway.
To her chagrin, it really was a small shop. She let herself hope that it was mostly condiments as they stepped inside.
It smelled delicious. As April’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, she looked around for the source of the delicious smell.
