Paloma

by Cynthia Lord

  Levi picked the brown-and-white boy mouse and named him Chester.

  “This one is Hershey!” Matt said, pointing. “He’s the color of milk chocolate.”

  I didn’t know which mouse to choose. They were all so cute.

  “Let’s call the white mouse Blizzard,” Allie said.

  Jada chose the black-and-white mouse on top of the water bottle. “She likes to explore. So I’ll name her Dora!”

  There was one mouse left. I looked at the little, black girl mouse. Her ears looked like teeny cups, so thin you could almost see through them. She was trying to climb up the side of the tank, running her paws over the glass. Her long nose was pointed straight up, twitching. There was only one name for a mouse whose nose led her into adventures. “Mine’s Whiskers!” I said.

  “Today’s project is for our new mice,” Ms. Kim said. “Let’s bring them with us so they can watch.”

  Ms. Kim and Matt carried the tanks down the hall to the workroom. On the table were pumpkin and sunflower seeds, a bag of mouse food, carrot and apple bits, sandpaper, a big bag full of shredded paper, and some plastic balls that were full of holes.

  “Wiffle balls?” Matt asked. “Are the mice going to play baseball?”

  “No,” Ms. Kim said. “We’re going to stuff the balls with shredded paper and treats. The mice will have fun rolling the balls around, discovering the food inside, and making nests out of the shredded paper. So it’s a toy full of fun things.”

  “Like a piñata!” I said.

  We each chose a ball and touched the edges of every hole. If any of the edges felt sharp, Ms. Kim had sandpaper for us to sand them down smooth. “We don’t want the mice to get scratched,” she explained.

  Then we pushed bits of shredded paper and treats into the holes to fill up the balls. My ball looked messy when I was done, but I was sure the mice would like it.

  “Matt and Suzannah, let’s give yours to the mice for now,” Ms. Kim said. “I’ll save the others for later this week.”

  Ms. Kim lifted up the screen top, and I cupped my treat ball in my hand so I could lower it gently into the tank. I didn’t want to risk dropping it on one of the mice. Whiskers was so excited that she came right over to check it out.

  She climbed onto my wrist to sniff the ball!

  I froze. I’d never had a real mouse on me before. Whiskers’s little paws pattered across my skin. Then her tail dragged over me. It felt so slight, just a tiny touch. A giggle burst inside me. “It tickles!”

  Blizzard pulled shredded paper out of the ball. Dora tried to climb on it, making it roll. Whiskers picked up a seed and began nibbling.

  Just then, the door opened. “Ms. Kim, there is a line of people in the waiting room who want to meet the puppies!” Ms. Flores said. “Are we ready?”

  “A line?” Ms. Kim said. “Quick! Levi and Matt, would you take the mice back to the small-animal room? The rest of us will go to the kennel and get ready to greet the visitors.”

  “Let’s each make a wish all the puppies get adopted right away!” Jada said, crossing her fingers.

  Allie closed her eyes to wish.

  I wanted Paloma to be adopted. She needed someone who would love her and take good care of her.

  But I didn’t want her to leave.

  I closed my eyes. Please let Paloma get adopted, but not first. A few minutes wouldn’t hurt anything. She’d still get a home, and I could have a little more time with her.

  Only half of that wish came true, though.

  “Shelter Pet Squad, you can tell people all about the puppies,” Ms. Kim said. “But if you can’t answer a question, send people over to me. Okay? I’m going to open the kennel door now.”

  It was exciting to be there on adoption day. Paloma jumped up against the pen door, looking at me, wagging her tail. She looked like she didn’t understand why I wasn’t coming into her pen to play. I really wanted to.

  It’d be okay for a minute.

  I opened the pen door and slipped inside. Paloma ran to me. She jumped up on her hind legs and tried to lick my hands. Then she rolled onto her back and pawed the air at me. “You want me to pat you?” I grinned and sat down so I could rub her tummy. “Who’s a good puppy?”

  Gigi walked by and Paloma flipped onto her feet and grabbed Gigi’s tail in her teeth.

  “Hey, that’s not nice!” I said.

  But then Gigi had her mouth on Paloma’s ear. She yipped and jumped into my lap to get away from Gigi.

  “See, you don’t like it either,” I told her. Paloma lay down in my lap with her head on my leg.

  I watched people walk by: families with children, older people, even a police officer in uniform.

  It only took a few minutes for someone to adopt Isabella.

  Ms. Kim said, “Jada will walk out to the waiting room with you and introduce you to Ms. Flores. She will talk about what a puppy needs and she’ll go through the adoption paperwork with you.”

  As I patted Paloma in my lap, the police officer walked by, holding Isabella. “She’s such a dear little girl,” he said, patting Isabella. “My children have all grown up, and my house feels too empty.”

  “A puppy will fill your house right up!” said Jada. “You can have her bed, too. That’ll give her something familiar for her first night. Isabella is a wonderful puppy. She really likes to chase the ball. She hasn’t learned to bring it back yet, though.”

  “I can teach her that,” the man said. “She sounds perfect for me.”

  One puppy adopted. Five to go.

  “I like your puppy,” a little voice said. “She’s really cute.”

  I looked up to see a small boy in a red T-shirt watching me through the pen door. “Thanks,” I said. “Her name is Paloma.”

  “You’re lucky,” he said.

  I opened my mouth to tell him that Paloma wasn’t mine, but he was already walking toward the next pen.

  Should I call him back? Paloma was resting in my lap. Part of me didn’t want to disturb her. Mostly, I wasn’t ready to give her up, though. Not yet. When the boy came past again, I would tell him.

  An older lady stopped in front of the pen. She looked like a grandmother, with gray hair, a nice smile, and a big purse. “Oh, these two are so sweet! Which doggie is the little tan sleepy one? He looks like he’s wearing tiny white shoes!”

  “It’s a she. Her name is Paloma,” I said. “And this is Gigi with the longer hair. Gigi is really funny and sweet. She likes stuffed animals — especially cats. She’s a great puppy!”

  I felt a little guilty because I knew I was making Gigi sound more interesting on purpose.

  Ms. Kim came by. “Would you like to go into the pen with them?” she asked the lady. “You can get to know the puppies better that way. Suzannah will introduce you.”

  When the lady came inside the pen, she woke Paloma, who stretched and climbed out of my lap.

  But Gigi was ahead of her. She went right over to the lady, wagging her tail. “Hello!” the lady said happily as Gigi jumped up against her legs and licked her fingers.

  As soon as the lady put her purse on the floor of the pen, Paloma sniffed it. Then she grabbed the handle in her teeth and tipped it over.

  Lipstick, tissues, and a cell phone fell out. The lady patted Gigi with one hand and tried to repack her purse with her other hand.

  Paloma squatted down.

  “Watch out!” I said, but it was too late. Paloma peed right next to the lady’s purse.

  “Oh!” she said. I was sure the lady would never adopt her now.

  When Ms. Kim opened the pen door, I noticed something. The lady’s arms were full. She was carrying her purse and the things that had fallen out. Plus, she was carrying Gigi!

  “I’m sorry about that,” said Ms. Kim. “The puppies aren’t housebroken yet.”

  “No problem. All puppies need to learn,” the lady said. “Gigi is just precious. I’d like to take her home.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Ms. Kim said, smiling. “
Suzannah, would you carry Gigi’s bed and walk this lady out to the waiting room? Ms. Flores will take it from there.”

  The lady had picked Gigi. It had happened just the way I wanted it to. So why did I feel bad? “Can someone else do it?” I asked quietly.

  Ms. Kim looked surprised. “Um, okay. Levi, would you walk this lady out to the waiting room?”

  “Sure!” Levi said, grabbing Gigi’s bed. “Come with me.”

  After the lady had gone, Ms. Kim turned to me. “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  “I want to see who gets Paloma,” I said. “I need to know for my story. I don’t want her to get adopted while I’m gone.”

  Ms. Kim nodded. “I see,” she said. “Okay. Would you get me a towel so I can clean this pen?”

  As I walked slowly to the towels, I felt relieved. As long as Paloma was here, she was partly mine. It would be all over when she got adopted. I was glad that Gigi would be getting a good home and that Paloma would stay at the shelter just a little longer.

  I held Paloma while Ms. Kim cleaned up her pen, but she was wiggly and wanted to get off my lap. When Ms. Kim was done, I gave Paloma her stuffed puppy toy. I wanted to play, but she sat down and yawned.

  “She’s had enough excitement for now,” Ms. Kim said. “Come out of the pen, Suzannah. Paloma needs a rest.”

  I sighed as I stepped out of the pen. I didn’t want to leave Paloma, but Ms. Kim was right. She looked tired.

  Paz was adopted by a family, including the boy with the red T-shirt who had asked about Paloma. He and his brother both wanted to carry Paz to the waiting room. “I’ll hold him for now,” the dad said. “But he can sit between you in the car on the way home.

  “We have a puppy! We have a puppy!” the kids kept singing.

  Next it was Osito’s turn. “I had two dogs and one died a few months ago,” said a man with a beard, scratching Osito behind the ears. “My dog at home needs a new friend to play with. Would you like to come home with me, Osito?”

  Osito licked his beard.

  “I think that means yes!” said Matt.

  When Dad came to pick me up at the shelter, several dogs and cats, the two blue parakeets, and four of the puppies had been adopted. Paloma and Maya were the only ones left.

  “Let’s put Maya and Paloma together,” said Ms. Kim. “So they’ll have each other.”

  “I wish they all had been adopted,” said Jada as Ms. Kim put Maya into the pen with Paloma. “Do you think they’re sad that no one wanted them?”

  Paloma was asleep, so Ms. Kim set Maya next to her. Maya plopped her head down on Paloma’s back.

  “They don’t look sad,” Levi said. “They look tired out.”

  “It’s been a busy morning for them,” Ms. Kim said. “Maybe Paloma and Maya will be adopted before we close today. Or maybe tomorrow. Until then, let’s be happy for the animals that did find homes this morning — even Buddy went home! He’s been with us a long time.”

  I was really happy for Buddy and the other animals, but I was worried that I’d made a mistake keeping Paloma to myself. She needed a home, too.

  And it was my fault she didn’t have one.

  The day before Pet Day, I sat on my bed, surrounded by my stuffed animals. I opened my notebook and looked at the ending for my story about Paloma.

  On the day she was ready to be adopted …

  (To be continued)

  I was still thinking about last Saturday. I’d wished for Paloma not to be adopted first, but I didn’t mean I wanted her to never get adopted. I just wanted to spend as much time with her as I could.

  Maybe Paloma was adopted after I left? Or maybe she was adopted on Sunday? Or on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or today? She was so sweet and cute. Someone must’ve adopted her by now. It would make a better story if I had seen the person or family that adopted her, but at least my story would still have a happy ending.

  “Can you take me to the shelter?” I asked Mom.

  She looked up from paying bills. “Today?”

  I nodded. “It’s for school. I need an ending for my story. I need to know who adopted Paloma. When an animal gets adopted, Ms. Flores usually takes a photo of the family. That photo will help me describe them. Please?”

  “Well, I do have to go to the grocery store,” Mom said. “Maybe we can stop at the shelter on the way?”

  “Great!” I rushed back to my room to grab my story. I could write the ending at the shelter. That way I wouldn’t need to remember everything that Ms. Flores and Ms. Kim told me about the person who adopted Paloma. I could write the end right there on the spot!

  But when I rushed through the front door of the Maplewood Animal Shelter with my story and pencil, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Paloma was in a circular portable pen in the waiting room. Shadow and Hattie, the waiting-room cats, were lying in chairs on the other side of the room, keeping their distance. Up on the bookcase, Hope, the goldfish, was swimming in her tank.

  “Suzannah!” Ms. Flores said, coming from behind the counter. “What a nice surprise!”

  Paloma jumped up against the side of the pen when she saw me, her tail wagging.

  “I came to ask who adopted Paloma, but she’s still here,” I said, letting her lick my fingers. “How come she didn’t get adopted?”

  Ms. Flores shrugged. “Not everyone who comes in to adopt an animal is looking for a puppy. Maya was adopted this morning, though! And the two boy mice, Hershey and Chester, were adopted yesterday. ”

  I was happy for Hershey, Chester, and Maya, but I felt awful for Paloma. “She’s never been alone before.”

  “I know, but don’t worry,” Ms. Flores said. “We brought her out here to the waiting room so she wouldn’t be by herself. I can keep my eye on her, and everyone who comes in stops to play with her.”

  Mom put her arm around me. “I’m sure Paloma will find a home soon.”

  “Hi, Suzannah!” Ms. Kim said, coming out of the small-animal room. “Did Ms. Flores tell you that Chester and Hershey were adopted?”

  I nodded. “And Maya.”

  “Yes, Maya has a wonderful new family.” Ms. Kim smiled kindly at me. “And Paloma’s turn will come, too. Most people who want a puppy come in on the weekends so they can bring their whole family with them.” She reached into the pen and picked up Paloma. “Have a seat in one of the chairs, and I’ll put Paloma in your lap. I’m sure she’d like to cuddle with you.”

  As Ms. Kim brought Paloma toward the chairs, we didn’t even have to ask Hattie and Shadow to move. They jumped down and away.

  Ms. Kim smiled. “Paloma tried to play with the cats this morning,” she said. “But I don’t think Hattie and Shadow knew what to do with a puppy!”

  I sat down and Ms. Kim placed Paloma in my arms. I felt her heart beating under my hand. I laid my cheek on Paloma’s head.

  Holding her, I knew I’d feel a little sad not to see her again. But more than that, I wanted Paloma to be happy and have a home of her own. I was ready to do everything I could to make that happen.

  “Pet Day is tomorrow,” I told Ms. Kim. “And I have an idea! I’m going to tell everyone in my class about Paloma needing a home. Maybe someone they know is looking for a puppy. And I’m going to ask our principal if I can make a poster about her to put on the front door of the school. Everyone who comes into school will see it.”

  Ms. Kim smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

  “If Paloma gets adopted before my turn at Pet Day tomorrow, would you call my school and leave a message for my teacher, Ms. Cole? It will change the end of my story. I want to get it right.”

  “What time is your turn?” Ms. Kim asked.

  “I’m the last one before lunch,” I said. “Eleven thirty.”

  Mom wrote down the school name and phone number for her. “I promise,” Ms. Kim said.

  That night, I made a poster. I titled it Paloma Needs a Home. I glued the photo of me with Paloma onto it. At the bottom, I wrote, If you’re looking for a funny, amazing, a
dorable, sweet, lovable puppy, Paloma is available at the Maplewood Animal Shelter. She’s waiting for YOU.

  On my story, I erased the words to be continued. Ms. Cole always says the ending to a story is important. I had to write one, even if it might change.

  On the day she was ready to be adopted, lots of people came to the shelter. Isabella went home with a police officer. A lady adopted Gigi. Paz went to a family with kids. A man took Osito.

  Only Maya and Paloma were left. Then Maya found a home.

  Paloma is still waiting for hers.

  On Pet Day, I waited while Brayden showed everyone his lizard, Rodney. “He’s a leopard gecko,” Brayden explained as he took Rodney out of his carrier. “Leopard geckos are nocturnal, so he’s usually asleep in the daytime and awake at night.” He put Rodney on his arm and brought him around so we could all see.

  Rodney was cute. He was yellowish green with black spots. He did a funny little waddle walk up Brayden’s arm. “Rodney is quiet and usually calm, but if I put him down, he can run really, really fast!” Brayden said.

  “Please don’t put him down,” Ms. Cole said.

  I thought a leopard gecko would be a fun pet, until Brayden said, “Rodney’s favorite foods are crickets and mealworms. They have to be alive, though. Rodney won’t eat them if they’re dead.”

  I made a face. Even if Rodney was cute, I didn’t want a pet that ate live things.

  Three kids brought in their cats. We got to pat two of them, but Estrella’s cat, Midnight, didn’t want to come out of her pet carrier. So we just looked at her through the carrier door.

  Wesley’s beagle, Peaches, knew some tricks. I loved watching her dance on her back feet, roll over, and give “high fives.” Colin’s chocolate Lab barely let anyone pat her. She was so excited she just raced from person to person. Then she tried to steal Tony’s lunch box!

  As the morning continued, I felt better about not having an animal to bring. Some kids who had animals at home couldn’t bring them in. I sat quietly while Ava showed a video she made about her backyard chickens. Nora had a big fish tank at home — way too big to bring to school — and she showed us lots of pictures she’d drawn of the different fish.