Children

---

Karen pushed her nose against the window. Her heart began to thump against the cold glass. Was he still there? Her heart dropped to her toes. No, he was gone. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the window. How could he not be there? She had scrimped and saved for a month now. She was so close, how could he just be gone?
A tear slid down her cheek. I thought that one was supposed to be mine, God. She let herself calm down for a second, then opened her eyes. Wait! A boy close to her twelve years was holding her ferret!
She waited with held breath. Would he take him to the counter or was he just playing with him for a few minutes? He held her ferret up and jiggled him around. Was he crazy? He was going to make Riley sick. Karen rushed for the door, hardly noticing the bells ringing as she flung it open. Mom had better hurry, there was no way she was going to let that boy have Riley.
The door clinked shut behind her. She slid behind a rack of chew toys for a better vantage point. The boy held Riley up higher and tossed him in the air. Heat rushed to her face and her body started to tremble. Didn’t he know anything?
She took a deep breath, ready to go out and confront him. She took a step forward and then jerked back as a clerk stepped out from around the counter.
“Careful with him.” She stepped forward and swooped Riley away from the irresponsible kid. She placed him back in the glass pen he belonged in.
The boy shoved around her. “You can’t treat your customers like that. Give him back!”
“No.”
Karen almost cheered when the clerk held her ground.
“Bobby, what’s going on here?” A woman came around the corner. Her voice had the same whiny tone as the boy. Must be his mother.
“This lady won’t let me hold the ferret.” Tears filled his eyes and voice. How could he do that without being embarrassed?
“Is that true?” The woman’s voice went from a whine to absolute control in barely a second.
How would the clerk handle it? She held back a groan of dismay. The clerk looked as nervous as Karen felt.
“Just keeping our animals safe, ma’am.”
The frown on the woman’s face tightened, pulling her lips into a thin line. “What are you implying?”
The clerk, Hannah her name-tag said, shifted from one foot to another. “I’m not implying anything.”
“I want him mommy.”
The boys tone made Karen cringe. How could any self-respecting kid his age act like such a baby?
“How much is he?”
Hannah paused. She didn’t act like she wanted to answer. “One hundred dollars.”
“We’ll take him.”
Tears welled. Karen could barely see as she pushed her way out the door. She stumbled out onto the sidewalk and headed for the van.
She hardly remembered to check for cars before she ran across the parking lot drive. She jerked on the van door and let the automatic settings open it. She jumped in and grabbed the seat, letting tears flow.
It wasn’t long before someone knocked on the window. “Karen? Karen, what’s going on? Open the door,” her mom’s voice came through the door slightly muffled.
She must have hit the lock button when she was climbing in. She sniffed and swiped at the tears on her face with her sleeve as she reached for the door.
She pulled it open and fell out into her mother’s arms.
Her mom stroked her hair, giving her a couple seconds to clam herself. “What happened?”
She sniffed again. “It’s Riley. Some spoiled brat made his mom buy him.”
Her mom tipped her head back, eyebrow raised.
“Well he was!”
“I don’t care. Just because you’re upset doesn’t give you the right to call anyone a brat.”
She pushed her face back into her mom’s jacket.
Her mom pulled her close, rubbing her back. “Aren’t there anymore ferrets in there? With the birthday money you’ll be getting next week you’ll have enough saved up.”
A fresh bout of tears let loose. “No. Riley was the only one I want.”
Her mom gave her another hug. “If that’s the way you want it.”

* * *

Karen stared listlessly out the window. Who would have thought a birthday could be this miserable. Even Mom had left her. She sighed and propped her chin in her hands. Oh, there was mom, pulling into the drive. She had been acting a little strange. Didn’t say where she was going.
Karen pushed off the couch and made her way to the door. Mom might need help carrying groceries or something else in.
“Wait Karen! Back inside.” Her mom’s voice drifted up from the driveway. She must have heard the door.
What was going on? Dad needed to talk to Mom. She had been acting crazy for two days now. Karen headed back to the living room, sat down and waited.
After five minutes of bumping and banging around, Mom walked in. She pulled a folded piece of paper out of her pocket. “I’ve got a surprise for you. This will explain it.”
Karen took it slowly and unfolded it. It was an ad from the newspaper.

Free to good home, black and
white sable ferret. Cage and one
week worth of food included.
Ferret is young, family can no
longer care for it.

Karen’s gaze flew to her mom.
“Some spoiled kid convinced his mom to get him a ferret. He lost interest and didn’t want to take care of it so they were giving it away. I thought maybe this was your birthday present from God.” She pointed out into the hall. Karen tore around her, flying out into the hallway. She dropped to her knees and pulled the top off. Could it be?
The ferret inside was Riley.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE