Mike phoned Tracy as she was heading into work. Tracy didn't hear the phone to begin with, because there was too much background noise. She arrived at work ten minutes later.
"I tried phoning you" Mike informed her. "I've come to a decision"
"What sort of decision?" asked Tracy.
"The kids here need a pet, so they learn responsibility" Mike answered. "We're going to the local rescue centre"
"Gina you're in charge while me and Tracy are out" he told her, just before he and Tracy left in the van.
************************************** half an hour later*********************************************
They pulled up outside the local rescue and were met by one of the volunteers.
"Hello and welcome" the volunteer said. "Are you looking to adopt a cat or a dog?"
"I think a cat would be better" Mike told the volunteer.
"Okay, follow me" the volunteer responded, smiling. He took Mike and Tracy into the area where the cats were all kept in cages and started introducing them to the cats. A black female cat with a white mark over her nose got their attention and let out a desperate sounding meow.
"Oh that's Poppet, she's been here for nearly a year and no one wants her because of her colour" the volunteer said. "She's only two"
"How is she with children?" Mike asked.
"In her foster home there was children and she was great with them" the volunteer responded, before letting her out into the room. She immediately rubbed round both Tracy and Mike's legs and tried to get them both to sit down so she could sit on their lap.
Tracy felt the tears prick her eyes as she realised how lucky she was to have had a warm place to sleep at night when she's been a child.
"Poppet was born in a breeder's house and was dumped on the streets when they couldn't sell her at only 8 weeks old" the volunteer told them. "She was picked up terrified and trying to seek help for herself and her own litter of kittens last year"
"We'd like to offer her a home" Mike said, after Poppet let Tracy lick her up and gently hold her. Tracy was as much in love with Poppet as Mike was and they both agreed they couldn't leave Poppet there, considering how long she'd been there already.