Never Leave Them Behind
A Short Story
“You just won’t know when to quit, do you?”
asked Bianca’s father, gazing at his 12-year-old daughter
with big eyes that showed mostly surprise.
Bianca smiled sheepishly,
holding the tiny orange tabby kitty in her hands —
hands that half extended the “trophy” to her dad.
“Sorry, Dad, but I couldn’t leave him behind.”
He opened the door reluctantly to his daughter and the creature,
knowing that this was a point of no return.
He took a deep breath as he watched her care for the tiny animal.
“There was this tiny little bird that fell from his nest,
that you also couldn’t leave behind,” Bianca’s dad said, pointing to a cage.
“There was the three-legged puppy who won your heart,
that you also couldn’t leave behind, ” he said, winking at Toby.
“There was the momma cat with four kittens,
who you started feeding right away
and also couldn’t leave behind,” he looked around,
looking for Missy and her crew — God only knows where she was.
