I Didn't Mean to, Mom | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: I Didn't Mean to, Mom | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
04/20/17
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Their mother cat, Cleo, had had her kittens almost two months ago, and keeping Kayla from disturbing the kittens added to the stresses Elaina had as a stay-at-home mother. The six year old wanted to hold and pet the kittens nearly every waking moment. Finally, Elaina resorted to bribery, letting Kayla have extra dessert or TV time every day she left the kittens alone while they were unsupervised. She knew she could believe Kayla, because Cleo was very protective of her babies, and would hiss if disturbed, especially when the kittens were eating.

One afternoon, Kayla called out from the garage, where Cleo had her nursery, "Mommy, the black kitten had an accident outside the litter box. He even got my hand wet!"

Elaina went out to the garage and got an antibacterial wipe for Kayla and asked, "Did you bother Jaguar Kitten, Kayla?"

She noticed her daughter look at the floor, the ceiling, the door through which she had entered the garage… anywhere but at her eyes. She finally responded in a quiet little voice, "I know you said to leave them alone when they were eating or sleeping, Mommy. But Jaguar Kitty was just scratching in the box and I didn't see him do anything, and Cleo wasn't around, so I just pet him a little. He's so soft, Mom!" Her tone lifted with her last comment from ,'oops, I got caught' to 'You do understand, Mom?'

Elaina looked down at her daughter and tried to understand her confession. Perhaps she had made the kittens too much of a forbidden thing. All Elaina was trying to do was make sure that Kayla wouldn't get too attached to the kittens, so when they found homes for them Kayla wouldn't be as upset.

"Kayla," Elaina began quietly, not wanting to get her daughter really upset, "Instead of TV time would you like to have some cuddle time with the kittens before you go to bed?"

Kayla's face became animated with hope and joy. Mom wasn't mad at her for petting the kitten and seemed to be offering her more time to play with the them.

"Yes, Mommy, I would. Tonight, even though I broke the rules and pet the kittens without you or Daddy?"

"Yes, Kayla, even tonight, because you told the truth, just as you learned in Sunday School about Moses and the Ten Commandments. You really acted on the one, 'Thou shalt not bear false witness.' So yes even though you broke Mommy and Daddy's rules about the kittens, you told the truth and I am very proud of you. I think being an honest girl deserves a reward."

Kayla gave her mom a bear hug, and squealed delightedly. "Thanks, Mom! Can I take a kitten to bed when I go to sleep, PLEEEASE?"

Elaina had an answer ready that had always irritated her when she was little, but she saw no other answer. "I'll talk to Daddy when he gets home from work."

Kayla nodded her head so hard that Elaina was concerned she might injure her neck. Through a smile she answered her mother with great glee, "OK, Mommy. Thanks."

She then turned to the kitten who was washing himself and said, "Jaguar, I would like to have you snuggle with me tonight. You're so soft and warm and sweet."

Jaguar did what all cats do when humans speak to them and they don't care, he ignored her and kept washing his paws. A catnip mouse, however, caught his attention, and he began batting it, to Kayla's delight. She and her mom were still watching Jaguar Kitten, when they heard the sound of Roy's motorcycle coming up the drive. Kayla ran out to meet her dad as he removed his helmet, and she practically leapt into his embrace.

"Daddy, Mommy said if it was OK with you, I could have a kitten in my room when I go to bed, 'cause I was an honest girl. So can I, Daddy?"

Roy looked at his wife, and she nodded her approval. Roy's response, and Kayla's answer shouts of joy, made a nosy neighbor look out her window to see if anything was wrong at their house.

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