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was actually looking at me!

"Hello there," he said. "You're an ugly little sucker, aren't you?"

Well I never!

"Interested?" Paul asked.

The man pulled a face. "Yeah, but not in this one; she's not pretty."

Jeez, thanks pal, I thought, you're no picture yourself.

The nerve of some people; I knew that I wasn't pretty, but to actually come out and say it!

After that I was so depressed I decided to take a nap.

When I woke up the clock on the wall showed 11:00 a.m.

I saw lots of empty cages, so a lot of my friends were adopted. There were still plenty of occupied cages though, some with two or even three cats in them.

The day was young and chances were that a lot more cats would go to a new home before the day was over. Or shall I say before the week was over, because remember, it was National Pet Adoption Week.

Then there was this couple. It sounded like they were arguing. Not a good sign. You do not want to be with people who do not get along.

"I want a kitten," she said.

"I want a cat," he said.

"Perhaps one of each," Paul suggested, joining them. "It so happens that we have a cat that had a litter. All her babies have been adopted. All except one."

The man and the woman looked at each other and then they went to look at Clara and her baby Mitsy.

It was love at first sight, I could see it. The man looked at Clara and stroked her head.

The woman purred over Mitsy.

Yep, they were adopted; both of them.

I was happy for them. I knew that Clara was afraid of what was to happen to Mitsy. Her other kittens were rather independent, but Mitsy always stayed close to Clara, afraid to leave her mother. Now she will never have to leave her mama. They will always be together.
Then the couple left with the man holding Clara; the woman holding Mitsy.

They were smiling. Oh, I love happy endings. It brought tears to my eyes. Can you believe it?

Just as I was wiping my eyes with my paw, something strange was happening just outside the door. There was woman and a young man; the woman was hesitant to come in.

"You go," she said to the young man. "I'd rather not."

"No mom," the young man said, "we came all this way to choose a kitten and that is what we are going to do."

"Yes, fine," I heard her say, "but you go. There will be so many cats and kittens there; I won't be able to choose. And it will be so hard to walk away from them."

"Mom, come on," the young man said. "I don't want to do this on my own. You might not like the kitten I choose. Besides, I heard once that it is not the human who chooses the kitten, but the kitten that chooses the human."

Hello, I thought. My interest peaked at his statement. If that was true , I choose the woman. No argument from me.

"They are all going to look so cute and adorable," the woman argued. "How am I going to choose?"

"You have never gone for cute and adorable," the young man said. "You go for character, style and individuality. So look for one who is different."

"You are right," I heard the woman say. "I will not look for a cute and adorable kitten; I will look for an ugly one. Well, there are no ugly kittens, but one who has the least chance of being adopted."

Hello, bingo; that was me. That had to be me!

And it was me.

Learn more about this author, Conny Manero.
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