Random Acts of Kittens by Yamile Saied Méndez

Author:Yamile Saied Méndez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

The next morning, I woke up early to feed Max. The kittens slept with satisfied milk-drunken expressions on their faces, except for Max, who turned her face in my direction when she felt me enter the cattery, as Hayden called the laundry room. Max had used the bottle a few times, instead of the syringe, and she had learned to nurse from her mom like a champ. It was so funny to see her fighting for a spot to nurse, pushing the other bigger kittens out of the way.

In a few days, she wouldn’t need the bottle anymore. Once her teeth came in at three weeks, she’d be ready to try soft foods. She watched me with such love in her eyes and purred in my hand, and I wished these moments with her wouldn’t end.

When the milk was gone, I yawned sleepily as I put Max back in the nest. The cat family lay dreaming under the glow of their nightlight; I’d given them my old rainbow-shaped one. Max crawled in between Meggie and Fifi with so much more coordination than she’d had even yesterday. She’d be walking soon, but for now, they made a kitten hug train as they snuggled with each other. Sister hugs were the best. When I was little, I used to love snuggling with Julieta at night. Until I got too big or we grew too different. I wasn’t sure.

I couldn’t believe how much the kittens changed each and every day. Johnnycakes nursed round the clock, but the chubbiest was Harry. He had the prettiest heart-shaped white marking right on top of his nose. He looked like a Care Bear wearing a furry tuxedo.

How could I let them go when the time came? I wished there was a way I could keep every one of them. After all, I had been the one working nonstop to keep them safe, to help them thrive. I imagined them living with another family, and an ugly, uncomfortable feeling coiled in my stomach.

The feeling got worse when I remembered I had to tell my mom Mrs. Thomas was waiting for me at school. What would she say? Would she be on my side or Meera’s?

Before I was emotionally ready, I found myself knocking at Mami’s door half an hour before her alarm went off. During the holidays, she had to be at the store much earlier, but now she’d lose that extra sleep to drive me.

“Come in,” she said in a sleepy voice. “What’s wrong, Nati?”

I tiptoed to her side of the bed, trying to ignore the ache in my chest seeing Papi’s side empty. If he were here, I wouldn’t even be in this mess. He’d help me with homework; he’d drive me earlier while Mami drove the Rogers kids.

“Ma,” I said, “I forgot to tell you I have to be at school early for a few days. The teacher said. We have to leave now.”

Mami was alert in a millisecond. “Baby, you should’ve told me last night so I could tell Meera and Bodhi to be ready too.

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