Random Acts of Kittens

by Yamile Saied Méndez

  “What other choice did I have?” Mami muttered as Gigi rubbed her nose against my mom’s. Mami could pretend all she wanted, but anyone could see she was as much in love with Gigi as anyone else.

  “Oh, that’s wonderful!” the woman exclaimed. “Now I can sleep in peace knowing she’s happy with a kid who’ll love and protect her. She was happy with me and my boyfriend, but she always followed children around like she couldn’t get enough of them. I’m glad she found you.”

  “I named her Queen Georgiana, Gigi. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not! I think Gigi is a perfect name. I have to go now, but thanks for calling me, Natalia. And I hope that because of your kindness you get a lot of blessings.”

  After I hung up, I looked up at Mami and, making jazz hands, said, “Congrats! We have a cat now!”

  Mami shook her head, placing Gigi tenderly on the floor. “Thank you, and now please, I’m going to finish a commission. Miss Cat Protector, make sure you find homes for all the other cats in the laundry room.”

  “Ay, Gina!” Beli said. “She’s just like you when you found Flashy the rooster, remember?”

  Mami sent Beli a look she usually reserved for me. “Mami, whose side are you on?”

  Beli laughed. “I’m on the side of love.”

  Someone knocked on the door, and I ran to get it while saying, “Beli, you have to tell me that story.”

  “Mami!” my mom called, but her voice didn’t sound upset at all. “Don’t make things worse!”

  I opened the door. It was Reuben.

  “You look happier than a cat with a paw in a fish tank!” he said, beelining for the table and, more accurately, Beli’s empanadillas.

  “There’s my funny amigo!” Beli said, ruffling Reuben’s light brown hair.

  “It’s only funny if people laugh,” I said, shaking my head.

  “Ha ha!” He pretended to laugh as he placed a binder on the table. “I have one hour before my basketball practice, so let’s get to work!”

  With an empanadilla in his mouth and another in his hand, he headed to the laundry room and came back with the silver twins: Johnnycakes and Fifi.

  “I thought you said you only have an hour and to get to work. What are you doing?”

  “Socializing them is work. And no, you can’t be the only person they socialize with.” He held the babies to his face and said, “They opened their eyes! Finally. Look how blue they are! Here.” He pushed the binder in my direction. “These are different versions of the interviews pet shelters use. Choose the best questions and we can post them tonight.”

  Gigi came back to the kitchen, and when she spotted her babies, she jumped on Reuben’s lap, took Fifi by the scruff of her neck, and walked back to the laundry with the baby in her mouth. Not before she sent Reuben a look that meant, I’ll be back for my other baby, human.

  Reuben and I started laughing.

  “That was amazing!” Reuben said. “Let’s go sit by the nest, then.”

  I followed him to the laundry room, and we sprawled all the papers on the ground. While Reuben devoured the empanadillas, he played with the babies, swinging a string over their heads like a mobile.

  Gigi followed our every move, but when Reuben picked up Johnnycakes, she didn’t take him back. In the meantime, I went over the list of questions.

  “Keep the application one page,” Reuben said, petting Gigi’s head. “It’ll be easier for people to answer.”

  “Right,” I said, chewing the top of my pencil. In the end, I came up with the following kitten app:

  1. Personal information (name, phone, address):

  2. Name, age, and species of all members of your household, including yourself and other pets:

  3. Do you have any animals? Have you had any in the past? If they’re no longer with you, share what happened:

  4. If you currently have pets, please describe their personality:

  5. What would a usual day be like for the cat in your home?

  6. Why are you interested in adopting a kitten at this time?

  7. Will you be the primary caregiver for the kitten?

  ¨ Yes, I am applying for myself.

  ¨ No, I am applying for someone else.

  8. Is there a specific kitten/s you are interested in? (Kitten Cupid will take into consideration your preference, but we can’t make any guarantees that you’ll get your first pick.)

  9. The cat will be:

  ¨ Indoor only

  ¨ Outdoor only

  ¨ Indoor/Outdoor

  10. What will you do if you can’t keep the cat?

  11. Extra comments:

  12. Do you agree to the $25 fee?

  13. Optional: AstroSnap username:

  “What do you think?” I asked Reuben, and read him the questions aloud because he was lying on the floor with all the kittens on top of him.

  “I think your application is stricter than the application to move into a new student apartment,” said Julieta peeking into the laundry room.

  “Or join the FBI,” added Hayden.

  “What’s the twenty-five bucks for?” Julieta asked.

  They sat next to Reuben and me and picked up a kitten each. Hayden held Meggie, and Julieta petted Harry, while Fifi and Johnnycakes hugged each other on top of Reuben. I grabbed Max, and she knew how to curl in the crook of my arm. She fit perfectly with me. Gigi took a look at the empty nest and, after drinking some water, darted in the direction of Mami’s room. A swell of emotion roiled over me when I noticed that, like Max, Gigi too was gaining some weight. Her tortoiseshell fur was majestic and shiny. In just a couple weeks, she looked so much better than when I’d first seen her rummaging through the garbage!

  “Sometimes people act more responsibly about an animal when they have to pay,” I said. “But don’t worry, we’ll donate the money to the Andromeda Cat Rescue. It’s the least we can do for them.”

  Hayden nodded approvingly.

  “But why are you so extra with all the questions?” asked Julieta.

  “Because after what the kittens went through the first day of their lives, and how Gigi made sure they were safe with us, as her new human, I have the responsibility and honor to find them perfect placements,” I said, fanning myself with a stack of papers. This room was the perfect temperature for the kittens and Beli, but I was burning up.

  “Her new human?” asked Julieta, chuckling.

  “Yes. Her new human. Owner sounds insensitive. Mami gave me official permission to keep her since her owners up and moved to another country.”

  Briefly, I told them about the ad and the phone call, and my agreement with Mami.

  “Mami said yes?” asked Julieta, awe in her voice.

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “And you didn’t even need to ask for me,” I said.

  Hayden, who was hypnotized by Meggie, asked, “Can people apply even if they’re not on Astro?”

  I thought about it. There was no reason to keep it only school-wide. “People can share the link,” I said. “The main photos and videos are on Astro, but the application is on cloud docs. Why? Are you interested?”

  Julieta shot me a warning look, but I pretended not to notice her.

  Reuben had been listening intently, and when his phone alarm went off, he jumped to his feet. “I have to run now. Keep me updated!”

  He carefully put the kittens back in the nest and left. Julieta and Hayden also put back the babies. Before heading out, Julieta smiled at me and said, “I’m glad you can keep Gigi. And I hope you find the perfect homes for the babies. Let me know if I can help.”

  I shrugged a shoulder. If I asked her for a favor, she’d want to take over. Julieta was nice but she had her own agenda. Hayden had wanted a kitten forever, and although she hadn’t said so, I imagined Julieta thought the kitten would make Hayden think of her, even when she was away at college.

  But I was Gigi’s favorite; I had to be in charge of placing her babies.

  “I’ll let you know,”
I said, and headed to the computer to post the application, along with a picture of each kitten and their names. It was too early to know their personalities when all they did was eat and sleep. But by next week, they should start trying to walk and things would get fun very quickly.

  I posted the questionnaire on my FAstro, and on a whim, I sent Papi the link to see what he thought about it. It seemed Papi was online too because he replied right away, saying that the questions were perfect, that a couple of his companions wanted to apply too, if only they weren’t so far away.

  Which made me think that there had to be a way to keep everyone happy after the kittens were adopted out. There had to be a way for the interest in helping kittens to continue even after my royal litter was gone.

  For now, though, I had to focus on how to select finalists. Reuben and I hadn’t talked about a deadline for applications, but I decided to keep it open until the end of January, when I could go through the entries and pick the best candidates.

  I felt like I had all the power in the world.

  I opened my binder to do my homework, and like a lightning flash, I remembered I’d told Mrs. Thomas that I’d go to school early for language arts, leaving Meera and Bodhi without a ride. How would I tell my mom? What mess had I gotten myself into?

  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.”

  “I don’t want to ride with them; I mean, why can’t they find another ride, Mami? Mrs. Thomas wants me to arrive early and I couldn’t say no.”

  In Mami’s book, a teacher’s or a doctor’s words were commandments. And giving your word was sacred.

  Mami got up from the bed, shaking her head. “Well, I can’t leave those children stranded. It’s not like they—or you—can walk to school in this weather. It’s still dark in the mornings. A neighborhood’s a support group. We must help each other. Why are you being so petty?”

  Petty? My face flamed. I wished I’d resolved this yesterday. After Mami agreed to let me keep Gigi, I hadn’t wanted to ruin the good mood. But I should have known nothing good lasts forever.

  Julieta came into the room, ready to leave for school. She looked at me and gave me a brief head shake—clearly, she had heard it all. In my place, she would’ve done everything so differently. I deserved Julieta’s disappointment for making Mami start the day worried, but I hadn’t known what else to do.

  “Hayden and I can drive her, Mami,” my sister said, kissing Mami on the cheek. “Her school is on the way, and it won’t be trouble at all.”

  The expression on Mami’s face was brighter than a springtime sunrise. “Really, Juli? Gracias, mi amor,” she said. “I’ll pick up the kids and head out with Beli to …” Mami glanced at me and finished her sentence. “… run some errands.” It didn’t sound like that was what she was going to say. She’d changed her words at the last second.

  Her disappointment, I could take. But her lack of trust in me hurt so much.

  “What do you mean you’re leaving with Beli? Who’s going to take care of the babies?” I asked, my voice a lot louder than I expected.

  Mami huffed. “The kittens will be fine. Cats live in the wild even in the wintertime, and they survive.”

  But these were my kittens we were talking about, and the mere thought of them home unsupervised for the first time woke up Natalia, Hulk Edition.

  “But you’ll be in the car with Meera …” I said. “What if you mention something about the kittens? Then my whole plan will be ruined.”

  Mami placed her hands on her waist as she tapped her foot, looking at me with the most infuriating expression. “You and your secrets! They will be fiiiiine.” She stretched that i as if that would make the word seem more important than it really was. “Now get going before you’re late. Mrs. Thomas doesn’t get paid for this extra time. Teachers are saints.”

  I followed Julieta to the front door to wait for Hayden, rolling my eyes at my mom’s ridiculous comments. We spoke different languages, and it didn’t have anything to do with English and Spanish. And what did she mean by me and my secrets?

  Despite what I’d said, I trusted my mom probably wouldn’t let the cat out of the bag. In any case, I had no other choice. It was my fault that Meera would be riding with Beli and Mami without me there to remind them to keep their lips sealed.

  A horn honked outside, and I hurried to get in the back seat of Hayden’s red-and-white old-man car. He’d literally inherited it from his grandpa. The car was comfy and warm, and smelled of cinnamon and vanilla, and a little bit of sweat because of his gym bag on the floor of the back seat.

  I had to make an effort not to groan when Julieta got in the shotgun seat and kissed Hayden on the lips. Fireworks and sparkles were exploding in his eyes.

  “Here,” he said, handing her a cup with the logo of her favorite coffee shop. That explained the cinnamon scent, and the cupcake in the cup holder explained the whiff of vanilla.

  “Gracias!” she said, and the happiness pulsating from her was kind of adorable, even to me.

  “De nada,” Hayden said in a surprisingly good accent, his car slowly inching into the street. “And sorry I didn’t bring you one, Nati. I didn’t see Juli’s text that we were driving you until I was already here.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, shrugging a shoulder and looking out the window.

  “Here,” Julieta said, surprising me when she handed me half of her cupcake.

  “No
, thanks,” I said, putting a hand up. “I already ate.”

  Not that I couldn’t have eaten more, but I felt awkward accepting. They were already driving me to school.

  “Oh, okay,” Juli said with a sad look on her face, which made me want to take the cupcake after all.

  Life was so complicated, and it wasn’t even seven thirty in the morning yet.

  Wanting to break the awkward silence, I asked, “Where are Mami and Beli going?”

  Hayden laughed, but at the warning look Julieta shot in his direction, he sobered up real quick.

  “What?” I asked, my palms prickling. The hunch that my family was hiding something from me made me nervous. Was it a surprise return of Papi from his deployment? He couldn’t show up at school. I would hate crying in front of everyone.

  “Mami wants to find a house for Beli,” Juli said, and the anxiety building inside me deflated at her words. Was that really what Mami was so secretive about? She and Beli went through the same thing every year, and in the end, Beli never agreed to move out here.

  “Beli said yes?” I asked, bursting with the need to know more. But we were already pulling into the school parking lot. “Wouldn’t it be great if she stayed here?”

  Julieta shook her head. “No. She’s only going along so she won’t hurt Mami’s feelings. Beli would be miserable living here. You know that.”

  “Yeah, I know,” I said, collapsing with a resigned sigh. “But why doesn’t Mami know that?”

  Hayden and Julieta shrugged in unison as the car stopped at the curb. I clambered out and got all the way to the door before I turned to see them go. I wished I could tag along with Hayden and my sister, that it wouldn’t be weird if I hung around with them for the next few months until they started college. Anything but being here so early.

  But once inside the classroom, things weren’t as bad as I’d feared. There was a track of nature sounds playing and a plate of poppy-seed mini muffins on a little table. I took one and got to work.

  It seemed like magic, but when Mrs. Thomas explained the parts of a sentence to me one-on-one, I understood right away. Maybe it was the fact that apart from me, there were only three other kids: Lincoln, Thor, and the prettiest sixth grader in the school besides Meera, Solange Olivier.