Catboy - Eric Walters [44]
“We’re going to have to call it a day soon,” Dr. Reynolds said.
“But there are still fifteen cats to catch,” I said.
“We still have tomorrow morning. But to be honest, we’ve done a lot better than I thought we would.”
“But not as good as we’re going to do,” I added.
As we approached the van, I heard the cats. Some of them were wailing loudly. Dr. Reynolds opened the back door and the cats got even louder. Some of them sat in the corner of their cage, but others were bouncing around, desperately trying to get out.
“What happens to them all tonight?” I asked.
He closed the van door. “I’m going to give them all an examination, as best I can, give them their shots, make sure they have food and water, and possibly tranquilize some of the more agitated ones so they don’t harm themselves.”
“That’s a lot of work.”
“With any luck I’ll be finished by midnight.”
“And then you’ll come back here tomorrow morning?”
“Bright and early, but you know, this is why I became a vet. I really have to thank you,” Dr. Reynolds said.
“Thank me?” I questioned. “I have to thank you!”
“Doing this is my thanks. I never would have tried to move the cats if you hadn’t been so insistent.”
“What choice did we have?” I asked.
“We could have assumed we couldn’t do anything and just let the cats survive or not survive. Sometimes it’s easier to turn away than act. Thanks for not letting me turn away.”
“None of this would have been possible without you, and your friends,” I said.
“And your friends,” he said. “It was great to have all that help.”
“They’re all willing to come help tomorrow too.”
“That’s great, but I think the best way they could help would be if they don’t come tomorrow.”
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“The noise and commotion of extra people is starting to work against us. Think about Hunter. The cats we haven’t caught are the most reclusive or timid or careful ones. The fewer of us here tomorrow, the more likely we’ll be able to catch the remaining cats.”
“That makes sense.”
“I’ll ask Doris to come. The two of us, plus you and your mother, would probably be enough.”
“Could Simon come as well? He’s been here from the beginning.”
“Okay, Simon too,” he agreed. “We probably couldn’t keep him away anyway, could we?”
“Probably not,” I agreed. “I think my other friends are going to be disappointed though.”
“Tell them they can be there when we release the cats,” he suggested. “That’s a lot more fun anyway.”
“They’d like that,” I said. “I’ll call them when I get home.”
“And that should happen right now. I have a lot of things to do with the cats before I can call it a night.”
“Great. We’ll be here bright and early tomorrow, right?” I said.
“How bright and early?” he asked.
“How about six?”
“How about eight?”
“Seven is in the middle,” I countered.
“And seven thirty is when it’s light enough to see.”
“Okay, seven thirty. Deal.”
Twenty-Six
It hadn’t just gotten colder overnight. It had snowed. It was more a dusting than a full snowfall, but it covered the ground with a fine layer. It actually made the alley and junkyard look fresh and pretty. If the junkyard was going to send a Christmas card, this would have been the picture on the front of it. Of course the junkyard didn’t send Christmas cards, and by the time Christmas did arrive in three weeks, there wouldn’t be a junkyard. I was willing to bet the condo development wouldn’t send a Christmas card either.
I stomped my feet to drive the cold out of them. We’d agreed not to enter the yard until we were all here. So we were waiting for Dr. Reynolds. In fairness, we were early, so it wasn’t like he was late. I wondered how late it had been when he finally finished with the cats the night before. I wished I could have been there to help.
Mr. Spence had mentioned to us more than once that you start preparing for your career when you’re in grade school. I was thinking more and more that I wanted to be a vet, so I guess I was preparing.
“I hope he gets here soon,” I said, breaking the silence.
“I hope it gets warmer,” my mother added.