Two for the price of one买一送一

“I’m not getting a cat.”Mom hadbeen saying that all morning.

Inodded.“Right， we’re justlooking.”

The truth was that my mother neededsomething to fill her empty nest. Ilived in my college town for most of theyear， and my father worked long hours inthe city. I was home this summer to keepher company1， but after graduation I’dmove to wherever my job took me. So， Iinsisted2 we go to the animal shelter3—just to look around.

Mom and I got there early， just asa lady with kind eyes and a wide grin4was unlocking5 the front door. Shegreeted us warmly and thanked us forconsidering adoption6.

Mom quickly stopped her.“We’rejust looking.”

“That’s right.”I winked7 at the lady.

She gave me a knowing nod.“So，what would you two like to look at？”

Mom didn’t hesitate8.“A shorthairedcat， not a kitten. Friendly. No healthissues9...”For someone who didn’t want acat， Mom sure knew what she wanted.

We walked into a small room andwaited. The lady quickly returned with ablack-and-white cat with bright green eyes.

“This one just came in.”

Mom nodded.“What’s her name？”

“Cuddles，”the lady answered.“She’seighteen months.”

She placed Cuddles into my mother’sarms. I could see how she got her name.Cuddles instantly10 rubbed11 her furry12face against my mom’s cheek13 andpurred14. Mom and I petted Cuddles， andthen we tried gently15 setting her downand then picking her back up again. Shewas perfectly happy， especially when held.

My mom looked at me and shrugged16.“I guess I’m getting a cat.”

After paying a fee17 and a trip to thepet store， Mom spent nearly $1，000 on thecat she“wasn’t going to get”.

The day we brought her home，Cuddles took her time exploring18 everycorner of the house. Mom sat patiently onthe sofa， waiting. When Cuddles hadfinished surveying the area， she jumped onMom’s lap19， gave her a kiss， and settledin for a rest. Mom and I gave each other awide-eyed look. Everything was going really，really well.

We spent those first two weeks fuss -ing20 over the cat. We picked her up everytime she meowed.

But， by the third week， somethinghad changed.

I went to pick up Cuddles， and shebellowed21 as if in pain. I let go and stoodstaring. “Okay，”I thought， “she doesn’twant to be held， and she let me know. Nobig deal.”I went back to reading my book.A few hours later， I had forgotten about thewhole thing until Mom tried holding her.Cuddles meowed louder. Then she ran forher cat bed and lay down， not a bitinterested in Mom.

Mom was worried. “We’ll keep aclose eye on her，”I told Mom.

The next morning， I awoke to find mymom staying next to the cat bed. Her eyesfilled with tears. Cuddles was breathinghard and listless22. “Something’s wrong.We need to get her to the vet23.”

Although I was panicking24， I managedto lift Cuddles’cat bed to disturb25her as little as possible. Slowly andcarefully， I put her into the car.

During the car ride， Mom was lettingthe tears flow freely.“What if she doesn’tmake it？”

I just heard myself saying， “She will.We’re almost there.”

The car hadn’t even come to a fullstop when Mom opened the door andrushed out.

The vet rushed in and was liftingCuddles out of the cat bed when my momshrieked26，“Oh， my god， she ate a rat！ ”

Something black was falling out ofCuddles.

The vet reached for it. “Nope. She’shaving kittens.”

I was delighted27—kittens！

Mom went pale—kittens？

Cuddles licked her new arrival28 andsettled down.

Finally， Mom reached for the door.“Ineed some air.”

We waited， mostly in silence， as thevet finished examining them. After bothwere given a clean bill of health， weheaded home.

We spent the next few weeks watchingover Cuddles and her new arrival， who wenamed Tuck. When I was busy givingattention to sweet little Tuck， and Cuddlesknew her baby was well looked after， she’dclimb onto my mom’s lap for a rest.

I was in love with both of them， butwhat did Mom think？ She wasn’t sureabout getting one cat， let alone two.

Just before summer ended， I found mymom in the garden. Cuddles was in herusual place， curled on Mom’s lap， andTuck was right there beside them， playingwith his mother’s tail.

It was time for me to ask the question.“What are you going to do？”

Mom looked up at me and shrugged.“I guess I’m getting two cats.”

“我不会养猫的。”母亲整个上午都在这么说。

我点了点头。“对，我们只是看看。”

事实上，我母亲需要一些东西来填补她的空巢。我一年中的大部分时间都住在我的大学城，而我父亲在城里长时间地工作。今年夏天我在家陪伴她，但毕业后我会搬到工作需要的地方。所以，我坚持我们去动物收容所———只是四处看看。

母亲和我早早就到了那里，正巧一位眼神和善、笑容可掬的女士正在打开前门。她热情地接待了我们，并因我们考虑收养而表示感谢。

母亲很快阻止了她。“我们只是看看。”

“没错。”我向这位女士眨了眨眼睛。

她会意地点了点头。“那么，你们两个想看什么？”

母亲毫不犹豫地说：“一只短毛猫，不是小猫。友好。没有健康问题……”对于一个不想要猫的人来说，母亲肯定知道她想要什么。

我们走进一个小房间等着。这位女士很快带着一只黑白相间的猫回来了。它有着明亮的绿色眼睛。

“这只刚进来。”

母亲点头。“它叫什么名字？”

“抱抱。”女士回答，“它有18 个月大了。”

她把“抱抱”放在我母亲的怀里。我能看出它的名字是怎么来的。

“抱抱”马上用它毛茸茸的脸在我母亲的脸颊上蹭了蹭，并发出咕噜声。

母亲和我抚摸着“抱抱”，然后我们试着轻轻地把它放下，然后再把它抱起来。它非常开心，尤其是被抱着的时候。