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Show Inside Out, 228 I smiled. "I bet he would! Bring him into the kitchen." Terra handed the cat to Paul, who held him gently, tenderly. "His name is Atticus," she said. "You can have him, if you want." I looked at her, surprised. She saw my look and answered, "I can't keep him. He keeps getting hurt in our neighborhood and I think my mom is stressed about him. I thought he might enjoy Paul and Paul might enjoy him. It would be nice i f . . . if I could come visit him here." I turned to Paul. "We'll have to ask Dad, Paul, when he gets back," I said. "He might say no." "But probably not," he said, his words muffled because he had his face buried in the kitten's back. "Thank you," I said to Terra. "I bet Dad will be so happy to see Paul happy-I can't imagine he'll say no." "I'm glad," said Terra. "What was in the news?" "Oh," I said, my heart falling. "Come see." It was a horrible feeling, watching Terra read the paper. She read the article through twice at least, then sat staring at it. Finally she looked up at me. "I've got to call someone," she said. "Do you want to do it from here?" "No-I'll go home. I want to do it at home. With my mom. I'll call you when I know more." |