For the last three months, every morning I’ve woken up to a sloppy wet kiss from a white haired American Eskimo. I reach for my slippers and find myself in a game of tug of war with a fluffy cotton ball that barks. I repeatedly ask myself why I put up with her naughty behavior. I walk down the hall towards the washroom in the hopes of not waking up my son. But do you think she could be quiet? No, of course not. I splash water on my face as she sits fidgeting beside me, waiting and begging for me to walk out side with her. I lift my head from the sink to the sound of my son, who barrels out of his room yelling “good morning Tilly you’re the best dog ever.”

Prior to Tilly’s arrival we had Jimmy a Gold Fish. My husband promised my son when Walmart close to our home was completed they would go buy a fish. On the grand opening of Walmart they returned home with Jimmy a very orange gold fish. They placed Jimmy in an aquarium they had bought at a garage sale that summer. This seemed like a very simple task of feeding Jimmy once in awhile. Jimmy’s golden fins fluttered in the water every time I came to feed him as if he new who I was. I found myself bonding to this fish. I actually felt silly admitting this. But one day I went to feed Jimmy and he did not come to greet me. Jacob stood at my side and blurted out “why is Jimmy swimming on his side.” I looked down at those big blue eyes of a four year old and I didn’t have the guts to say Jimmy died. I simply explained Jimmy was sleeping. Jacob accepted this simple answer and went on his way. I sat saddened by the fact that Jimmy had died. But reality hit, Jimmy had to wake up at some point. My son was depending on this. I scooped Jimmy out the aquarium and placed him in a zip lock bag. I jumped in our minivan and off to Walmart I went. To my surprise the greeter who welcomed me to Walmart asked what was in the bag. I felt like a child I really didn’t want to show her the fish. She repeated the question. So I held the zip lock bag up, her expression was rather confusing and stunned. She tagged the fish for return. I could not believe this. I was to go to the courtesy desk to return my fish. I approached the counter and the girl jumped back. I tried repeatedly to say I didn’t want my money back just another fish that looks like Jimmy. She directed me to the pet department where I found a fish resembling Jimmy complements of Walmart. I returned home and placed Jimmy number two in the aquarium. Moments later Jacob shouted “Jimmy’s awake.” The whole process was repeated and number two Jimmy fell asleep on his side too. I took my son aside and explained Jimmy was not like us, his life span was shorter and that Jimmy had died. My son was saddened but understood. He didn’t want another fish.

About a month later my son and I returned home from a walk to find a shivering wet cat sitting by our back door. She was rather plump. Her markings were beautiful she was all black with orange blotches. She was so affectionate and my son instantly fell in love. I new we had to take her inside and warm her up. I soon came to realize why she was so plump, she was pregnant. My son and I made a bed for her in the basement out of old towels and boxes. We decided her name would be Mama cat. Late that night I woke up to the a faint sound of crying. I ran to check my son but he was sound asleep. I realized it was Mama cat I ran down stairs. I knelt by her side and she licked my hand, as to say help me. I new she was in labour. I heard the pitter patter of footsteps as my husband and son joined me as we circled Mama. We sat in amazement as I explained to my son that Mama was having babies. Mama seemed to be having problems delivering. We decided to call the emergency Veterinarian clinic. We explained our situation and they guided us through assisting Mama in the birth of her kittens. As the days past the six kittens began to be to hard to handle. My heart broke as I looked into those big blue eyes of my son and explained that we had to find homes for the kittens. He lowered his head in sadness wondering why we could not keep them. We put an add in the paper offering free kittens and with in a few days the phone was ringing. We were sad to see them leave, but the realization in my sons big blue eyes that the kittens were bring happiness to others, was priceless. The last behind was Mama. She loved to run outside free. You could tell she definitively was not a house cat. She was a drifter who happened to touch our lives.