THE STORY OF PUMPKIN

It was a Saturday morning in October and my daughter, Sydney, awoke to tell us she'd had a dream. Sydney was almost 4 years old. She went on to explain she had gotten a boy kitten with orange stripes and she had named it Pumpkin. It was her ”match” and best friend. We discussed with her that we had three old cats, a dog and 11 fish and just did not need another pet but maybe someday she could have a kitten. Although sad, she replied “Okay, mama."

Sunday evening I received a message on my veterinary business answering machine from a local pet rescue asking me to examine a kitten for them who was now at a local pet store. They said a kitten had been thrown out of a car window and may be hurt. I have a mobile veterinary clinic and park at this pet store on Monday and Fridays. First thing Monday morning I went in the check the kitten. I could not find it and the staff replied, “Oh, you mean Pumpkin, he is in the back in a cage." I found him… an orange tabby male 9 week old kitten and Sydney 's dream quickly raced into my head. Then I told myself it is October and he is orange and of course the store staff would name him Pumpkin. He was just an average kitten, a little thin, dirty and had a poor hair coat. I nicknamed him Jak (just average kitten). He was examined, neutered, vaccinated and de wormed that day and returned to the store. I accidentally mentioned it at dinner that night and Sydney replied, “That's my kitten." We again talked about our old cats, one of which has diabetes and it would not be fair to them but maybe someday…

Well Friday came and I had forgotten my lunch. Sydney and my mother brought it to me and wanted to go into the pet store to get a toy for Popcorn, our dog. I started in with them then had a couple clients pull up for medication refills. I told mom and Sydney I would be in shortly. When I arrived 10 minutes later, Sydney and Pumpkin were embracing each other thru the cage bars. Mom said they have been like that since they walked in. Sydney continued to ask for him, exclaiming he was her match and her best friend. I told her someone has probably already adopted him and the paperwork is probably just not done yet.

My head was still saying “No!" But my heart was saying “Maybe!” I called Nancy to confirm that he had already been adopted and she said that he had not yet found a home. I thought again how we just cannot have another pet in the house, especially with my allergies to animals. I called Tammy, and Sydney and I left a message about Pumpkin on her work voice mail. Sydney exclaimed “Pleeeeese can I have him…he is my best friend…I will love him 76 times…” Later that day I took him out to the mobile clinic to give him a bath and spend some time with him. He surely would be terrible for the bath and that would be a good enough reason to not adopt him. He was very friendly, as if he knew this was a test! I gave him a bath and he quietly sat there with soap in his eyes, purring.

Well my heart won that day and I could not come up with a really good excuse so I decided to bring him home. I left a note for the rescue that he had been temporarily “catnapped” and drove home. I called home and we talked about him and decided to meet as parents and talk it over before telling Sydney . I gave the signal honk as I drove up the drive. Tammy was supposed to come to the garage and mobile clinic and meet Pumpkin and then we would decide together. Well, the next thing I heard was a small knock on the door and knew that it was not Tammy. I looked out the window and saw Sydney . I also saw Tammy standing beside her with a video camera in hand. Well I guess it was decided, Pumpkin was now part of our family. I quickly put him in the closet and opened the door. Sydney jumped in and looked around. I asked what she was looking for and she said “I was just checking to see if Pumpkin came home with you”. She looked a little sad so I walked to the closet and opened the door. Since then they have been nearly inseparable. Pumpkin apparently liked to be carried with hands around his neck as he purred with eyes closed. He also seemed to like being dressed in Angelina ballerina outfits.

I cannot explain all the coincidences but just know it was really meant to be. Pumpkin is now almost a year old and follows Sydney everywhere. He is 14#. If Sydney is reading a book, he is on her lap. If she is sleeping, he is nestled beside or even under her head. If she is eating he is begging for scraps. If she is jumping, screaming and playing he sits there and watches as all the other pets dart away. They have an incredible and unbelievable bond. It was really meant to be…

~ Seely