This morning started off as any other has (at least, any other for the past week).
Kids were assembled by a war-weary dad while I snoozed until the last possible minute before needing to sign into my computer.
Kids went to school with pink snowballs and chocolate donut treats for their big Easter party.
Chris came home and dozed in front of the tube while I battled with my work phone. Domingo did his usual round of "chase the cursor" on my computer screen until I shoo him away, fall asleep on my desk with his head next to the warm coffee cup and then jumping to the floor after being shuffled around with papers for the fiftieth time to snooze pleasingly at my feet. Meanwhile, the resident Kitty Queen Kelly lounged on Chris' tummy, happy to have her place in the house still as top cat.
It was, for all intents and purposes, a rather "normal" morning.
And then I emerged from my office for a break and heard Chris say "Well, we got the call we've been dreading. Domingo's owners called this morning."
Just when I thought Domingo's family had given up on him (we've called twice to tell them where he was and invited them to come get him, not forgetting to include the details of his harrowing escape from the two feral cats), they now wanted him back in their lives. I had that sinking pit feeling in my stomach. Sadness that I was losing my office buddy (he really is such an awesome, awesome cat) mixed with that sinking feeling that I would again be disappointing my children, even though they had been prepped for this potentiality multiple times.
After thinking on what to do, Chris called the owner back. She said she had to run into a store to grab something and that she'd be "right over".
Two-and-a-half hours later....no sign of her. Chris called her again and informed her that his wife is working and that he himself would be leaving for work soon. Perhaps we should try again in the morning.
To my knowledge, she has not called him back. She certainly hasn't swung by the house.
My heart breaks for Domingo (aka Church) because his family really seems indifferent to his future.
Anyhow, with the departure of Domingo looming and terrified of upsetting my children right before Easter, I used my lunch hour to desperately peruse the classifieds to see if there were any "free to good home" ads. I called the county shelter and the local Humane Society (my darling Kelly is a Humane Society success story, two countries and 13 years later).
I also texted and/or emailed everyone I knew to see if there was a kitty available anywhere in the State of Illinois. I'd drive all night, if I had to.
My last desperate attempt was to post a pleading status on Facebook - that did not go over so well, though, as my hurried phrasing made it sound as though I was looking to get rid of a bunch of kittens "to good homes" rather than to acquire a kitten "to a good home".
Nearly having given up, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and check the classifieds in the Quad Cities. Clearly much closer than the Aurora and Joliet area that I know so well but not an area that had even crossed my mind.
Sure enough - there were two ads for kittens "free to good homes".
The first one turned out to be a bust. The number was misprinted and took me to the Wal-Mart Vision Center. The poor guy on the receiving end said he'd been fielding calls all day....
By the time I called the second one, I was literally shaking like a leaf.
Jackpot!!!!!
A woman named Bobbi answered and said that yes, they had two kittens left. Both females. However, a man was coming by to pick one up around 4ish. It was now 3:30. I asked her if he was considering taking them both, and she said she didn't know for certain. I begged and pleaded with her to hold on to the remaining kitten, which she very kindly agreed to do.
So I quickly finished up work, grabbed a large tote box and a blanket, my purse and wallet, the car keys, a Diet Coke, cereal bars for the kids and made a mad dash out into the (still) pouring rain to drive to Woodhull, Illinois.
I grabbed the kids from daycare (which is ALWAYS a labor-intensive and time-consuming task as they meander about gathering their things and hugging this child and that ending with the inevitable tussle at the bottom of the stairs over who gets to open which door). I kept informing them that I had a huge surprise....no wonder they took their sweet time. Last time I said that, their "surprise" ended up being someone else's.
We drove thru the brown and wet countryside for 25 miles singing "Shoo Lie Lu" and "Little Bird" over and over again. Lulu droned on in the backseat about "I wonder why we are never going to get to the surprise", "I wonder why we can't eat all the candy", "I wonder if we're ever going home". She's such a boost to the spirit.
When finally we arrived at Bobbi's house, the kids were excited (about what, they didn't know) and confused. They introduced themselves while hastily tromping thru mud to get up Bobbi's steps. We opened the door, and there they were...two precious angel kitten babies. And Bobbi handed over the one she had chosen just for us. She said that they were both girls, but this one was especially good with children. I scoped out the scene behind me and saw her three boys, aged nine down to infant, all appearing to be quite healthy and happy. Additionally, her house was pristine and smelled heavenly. One would scarce have known that she had a litter of kittens there at some point.
The eldest boy, Draven, was there giving care instructions and that she likes baths. I didn't really even glance at the other kitty. Lucy was enthralled while Henry attempted to befriend Bobbi's children.
As we were getting ready to leave, a group of boys came and took the other kitten. We thanked Bobbi and her family profusely and shook Draven's hand like the little man that he was. The man of the house stood and told us he was glad that the kittens would be going to good homes. Bobbi seemed near tears.
After additional thanks and hugs to the kitten from Draven, we sprinted thru the rain back to the van. We placed the unnamed kitten in a large tote on a soft blanket, where she contentedly curled up and went to sleep.
On the drive home, we discussed names. Daffodil, June, Buster, Kitty-Cat, Meadow, Easter, Esther, Raindrop, Flower and Pearl. After a group handshake and Henry more or less stating that he didn't care, Lucy and I settled on Pearl, due to her charming irridescent features.
So Pearl it is.
I'm wiped out. Kitty picking, two anxious preschoolers and an Easter egg coloring marathon later, I'm just glad that we have our feline family intact.
Tomorrow, Domingo might not be with us. And Chris and I are the only two who will be sad. The kids have moved on the Pearl. She's the latest and greatest, so it goes in Kid-dom. I'm ok with them not caring about Domingo anymore - that was the whole point. If they were still mourning the loss of our friend, then it would have been fruitless to go thru the pain of finding them a kitten of their very own.
I will miss Domingo, so, as we were coloring our eggs tonight, I secretly wrote with white crayon on one of the undyed eggs Domingo's name.
He may only have been with us as a visitor, but he was a good friend. And I will miss him very, very much. For he is a very special cat, indeed.
And, Domingo....the door is always open to you, my furry friend.
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