Mavis arrived at the Sanctuary and was feeling a bit foolish that she hadn't checked to see if they were open Christmas Eve, before taking the cab ride over. It certainly looked deserted, but she tried the door and it swung freely on the hinges.
"Hello," a woman in a nearby office said.
"I ... I'm here to look at the cats," replied Mavis.
"Well, we're not actually open, I'm just here finishing some paperwork, I should have locked the door." She looked at the elderly lady walking toward her and continued "Still, we never turn away a good home." She explained to Mavis their adoption policy and gave her the paperwork to fill out, which Mavis went through diligently and handed back in order.
"Might I look at the cats, now?", Mavis enquired.
"We have to check your references, first," and the woman dialed the phone number of Mavis's veterinarian. "No, answer, she's probably closed over Christmas."
Mavis hadn't considered that there would be a need for references.
"Do you have anyone else who is a professional and can vouch for your ability to care for a cat." asked the woman.
"No," replied Mavis "I guess I'll have to come back another time." And as she turned to go to the door she remembered something, "Will this do?" she asked tentatively, as she handed the woman the note the vet tech had written her - it was on her vets stationery, "But, I'd like to have it back, please."
The woman read the note and a smile crept over her face, "Of course, I'll photocopy it . Would you like to look at the kittens, Mrs. Johns?"
"No," said Mavis, "I would like to get an adult cat... I know what it's like when you get older and you feel alone."
"They're through the door on your left, I'll be in my office, take your time."
Mavis walked through the door and before her were rows of clean stainless steel cages, each holding it's precious charge confined, until he or she were chosen. The descriptions on the cards above the door were telling. "Marcus. Sheds too much.", "Sadie. Clawed the furniture.", "Devon. Doesn't use litterbox" or more often "Unknown. Stray". Mavis's heart was heavy, it seemed an impossible task to choose one and leave the rest. She wondered why she had come, it was just too sad and she had had enough sadness for one life. She was standing in front of the cages, reconsidering, when she felt the touch of a soft paw on her bare arm. "Oh, you sweet thing," she said, the paw-touch reminded her of Samantha. She couldn't read the card through her tear-filled eyes but she could see that this cat looked nothing like the colourful girl she'd had before.
Fluffy didn't like being alone, nearly seventy cats around her and still she felt all alone. She waited patiently for her big sister to come and get her, but she didn't come. It was never quiet, here, but the women who cared for her really did care, she could tell from their soft voices and gentle touch. She saw the elderly lady standing in front of her cage and thought she was going to feed her or clean her litterbox. But then she looked at the lady's face and saw her sadness. She could feel that this woman needed her, that she had a deep emotional wound that only she could heal. Very carefully she reached out and touched the woman's arm. When the woman looked down at her she looked straight into the woman's eyes and thought "I can help you calm your sorrowful heart." The woman stood and looked at her for a long time, the calm white cat could see that the tears in her eyes were slowly disappearing. And then the lady walked away.
Mavis walked away from the cages and back to the front office, "Do you want to look at the kittens, now?," asked the woman. "No," replied Mavis with a lump in her throat, "I've found the perfect cat, can I take her home?"
One of the friendly women Fluffy knew opened the door to the cage and let Mavis pet her new cat. "Hello kitty, I"m Mavis, I'm going to be your new mom.", and she glided her hand down Fluffy's back "What happened to her tail?"
"She was born with a kink, she can't lift her tail up above her back".
"Well, she's perfect to me" Mavis replied as she placed Fluffy into the carrier, "Could you call me a cab?"
Soon they were home and Fluffy was purring contentedly on Mavis's lap, while Mavis contemplated what to name her. Fluffy was too common, this unique cat needed a unique name, and then it came to her - it's Christmas Eve, I'll call her Evie - that was just right.
Years went by and Evie and Mavis had a wonderful life together. Once a week they shared tuna for lunch, Mavis's in a sandwich and Evie's just plain. There was always a dish of dry food and she also got a variety of canned. One year Mavis bought an electric