Travis Finds A New Home

TRAVIS FINDS A NEW HOME


Travis and his two sisters were such tiny kittens they had to stretch as far as they could to see over the rim of their basket. And today the three of them were doing just that—standing on their hind paws, their big blue eyes soaking up the scene unfolding before them. Travis’s legs weren’t steady yet. Every once in a while he would tumble over. Not wanting to miss anything, he would immediately pop back up, resuming his position next to Jackie and Jenny.

What had stirred his curiosity was a cat parade. All the prettiest cats were showing how lovely and gracious they were and trying to impress the judges. The winning cat would receive the first place blue ribbon.

His mother, Lady Gray, was prancing back and forth, competing for the “Best of Show.” Oh, how he wanted her to win that blue ribbon! There were many beautiful cats competing for the prize. There were cats of all colors, some with long hair that was beautifully combed and had colored ribbons tied near their ears, some with short hair that was shiny and sleek. They were all beautiful but Travis thought his mother was the most beautiful; she was the only gray cat in the competition.

When it came time for the judge to award the ribbon, Travis couldn’t contain himself. Please, please let it be Mother! He thought, his kitten fur trembling with anticipation. And in his excitement, wouldn’t you know it; Travis stretched a little bit too far, and plop, fell right out of the basket. “Ouch!” he said to himself, rubbing his sore nose with his paw. When he looked back up, the judge had already awarded the winning ribbon.

Travis scrambled to his feet. “Yeah, Mother won!” he cried, leaping with joy as Lady Gray strolled elegantly back to her kittens in the basket, swelling with pride.

It wasn’t the first time Lady Gray had won a prize in cat shows. His mother was exceptionally beautiful with long slender legs and dainty paws. She walked gracefully on her tip toes and carried her tail high and proud. She was a winner.

Travis knew he could never be a winning show cat like his mother. Not only had he been born with big paws, but the front ones had five toes instead of four. Sometimes Travis thought it was just a bad dream. Then he would look down and there they were, staring back up at him: big clumsy pads with an extra toe. No one would want a kitten with feet like his.

His sisters Jackie and Jenny had exquisite paws. When they grew up they would become show cats too. But Travis was different, and because he was different, he would soon be moving to a new home.

“We can’t keep you here, Travis, but I’ll find a good home for you. You’ll be someone’s pet,” said the owner.

Travis didn’t want to be someone’s pet. He wanted to live with his mother forever and keep Jackie and Jenny as playmates.

One day when Travis was old enough to take care of himself, a woman with soft skin and a gentle voice came to see him. She picked him up and cuddled him in her arms. Travis’s heart sank. This was the day he would go to his new home…His body felt cold and he began to shiver. Sharp pains shot through his stomach. What will my new home be like? He wondered. Will my new family love me?

“My name is Wendy Jane,” the woman said, stroking his gray fur. “Do you want to come home with me, Travis?”

No! Travis wanted to shout. He most certainly did not want to go home with this woman, even if she was soft and gentle. He wanted to have perfect feet and he wanted to sleep cuddled up in his own warm bed with his mother and sisters. He did not want to be different, because being different made him miserable.

The woman petted and talked to him as she carried him to her car and drove him away. She said she liked the name Travis because it meant “the wise one.” She was a nice enough lady, but Travis was still shivering and his stomach still ached.

His new home had a garden filled with bright-colored flowers. Butterflies floated among the blossoms. The woman took Travis up the garden path and into the house. She set him down in his new bed and left. The bed was next to a window and the sun shinning through warmed his fur. The sunshine was almost as warm as Lady Gray’s body, but it wasn’t the same. Suddenly a feeling of great loneliness washed over him and he began to cry.

Then Wendy Jane came to him and bent down. She stroked his paws

“They’re beautiful paws,” she said. No one had ever told Travis that before. Wendy Jane had gentle hands and a soothing voice. His tears slowed to a trickle and he sniffed.

“You’re a handsome cat, Travis,” she said, scratching between his ears.

It was bedtime so she covered him with a soft warm blanket and put a clock in bed with him. The ticking sounded like his mother’s heartbeat. That made him lonely again. His stomach began to ache again and he couldn’t sleep.

In the morning Wendy Jane brought him a ball of yarn to play with and she gave him some delicious food and a bowl of warm milk.

“In a few days the children will come home from summer camp,” she said. “They’ll be so surprised and happy to see you, Travis.”

Travis wasn’t so sure. What would they think of his big paws? Would they agree with Wendy Jane, that he was beautiful? He tried to purr but the sound got caught in his throat. He would have to practice his purring.

A few days later Travis woke up early, his stomach-ache was gone. The warm sun was shining through the window, and he could see the butterflies outside flitting from flower to flower. After his sleep he was a bit groggy. As he was waking up he heard a voice that said, “When you learn to like your paws, you will be happier, Travis.” Travis opened his eyes and looked around, expecting to see someone, but the room was empty. He stretched, licked his big paws and decided it must have been a dream.

Travis began to wash his face. While his paws worked over the lovely gray fur on his forehead, it dawned on him: his feet weren’t so bad after all. In fact, they had something that other cat feet didn’t have. With five toes each, they could wash his face and ears faster and better than if they’d had only four. He smiled to himself.

Perhaps it was all right to be different.

I think I’m going to like this new home, thought Travis. He began to purr, and this time the sound came out loud and smooth.