9
I woke up in the middle of the night, thirsty. When I came back from the kitchen, I found a little stowaway in my bed.
He was wearing the new dinosaur pajamas I’d bought him, fast asleep on top of the covers. Buddy was curl. ed up at his feet, using his own warm belly as a hot water bottle for the boy.
My eyelid twitched. I carefully lifted Patrick and tucked him under the covers. He grumbled in his sleep, snu ggling deeper into my side and letting out a soft murmur.
The next morning, sure enough, the little rascal had a fever.
And it wasn’t just him. Buddy, his loyal foot-warmer, was sick too.
called the school to let them know Patrick would be out, then rushed them both-one boy, one dog-to thei espective doctors.
Buddy had to stay at the vet clinic for a couple of days. I drove Patrick home.
On the way, he suddenly yelled for me to stop the car. He struggled out of his booster seat and hopped out.
He crouched by a dumpster, then looked up at me.
I think she’s pregnant. Can we take her home with us?”
stroked his little nose and flushed cheeks, both red from the cold. A smile spread across my face. “Of cou
se, we can.”
took off my jacket, and together we wrapped up the pregnant stray cat and took her to the vet clinic.
Why can’t we take her home now?” Patrick asked. “She won’t fight with Buddy.”
The doctor needs to check if she and her babies are healthy. How about this Saturday, we come and pick her and Buddy up together?”
He nodded enthusiastically.
For the next two days, he was a bundle of nerves. On Saturday morning, he was wiggling around in my bed so much he woke me up at the crack of dawn.
I had no choice but to brave the cold morning air and drive him to the clinic to retrieve our one dog and one
cat.
Buddy was overjoyed to see me, nudging me affectionately.
Patrick, however, only had eyes for the cat. He offered her treats, gently stroking her swollen belly.
Buddy, feeling neglected, started whining and pacing around the room.
