Willow the lonely kitten Read Online Free

pet.”
    “Are there a lot of people who want to adopt her?” Jake asked.
    “We’ve certainly had plenty of interest,” Heidi admitted.
    But you’re our first choice! Eva wanted to say. Instead she showed Annie her crossed fingers. “They seem really nice!” she whispered.
    “So we do have to join the queue?” Jake frowned.
    “Not necessarily,” Heidi reassured him. “I’ll ask you a few questions, and if the situation seems satisfactory, we can make our decision on the spot.”
    Julie smiled and held Willow tight.
    “So you live at number 22 Swallow Court?” Heidi checked.
    Julie nodded. “Well away from Main Street, with open fields at the back of us.”
    “And have either of you owned pets before?”
    “I haven’t, but Jake has, haven’t you?” Julie turned to her husband. “You had three cats at home when you lived with your parents.”
    “Yes, so I know the routines.” Jake took over from Julie. “Apart from needing feeding, cats come and go pretty much as they please. And I guess I’ll be the one who gets rid of the dead birds and mice.”
    “Willow won’t chase birds,” Julie protested. “Look at her!”
    Snuggled in Julie’s arms, Willow looked as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
    “Oh yes she will, believe me,” Heidi smiled. “Dealing with dead offerings is part of the cat-owning deal, I’m afraid.”
    In the background Eva grimaced. Julie Shannon had just shown she didn’t know much about having a cat as a pet. Would this worry her mum?
    “Anyway, if there are any problems, come back to Animal Magic – we’re only round the corner and we’re always ready to help,” Heidi told the Shannons.
    Good! Eva liked the sound of this. It seemed as if her mum hadn’t been put off. And the more Eva saw of Julie and Jake, the more sure she was that they were Willow’s perfect owners – young, lively and loving.
    Heidi smiled. “Do you have any questions?” she asked them.
    “No, I don’t think so. Does this mean wecan have her?” Julie blew her nose again and waited for Heidi’s answer.
    Please! Please! Eva begged silently.
    Nestled in Julie’s arms, Willow seemed perfectly content.
    “Yes,” Heidi confirmed with a smile. “We can provide you with kitten food and a pet basket, and you can take her with you now if you like. And let me say we’re very grateful to you for offering Willow a home.”

Chapter Five
    It was the start of a very good week for Animal Magic.
    On Tuesday the new sweatshirts arrived before Eva left for school, so she set them out in a rack in Reception next to the leaflets on animal care. Then she ran next door to deliver Annie’s.
    “They’re very bright,” Annie’s mum, Linda, said doubtfully as she hobbled into the hall. She was still on crutches from an accident earlier in the month.
    “And really warm,” Eva told her. “You should have one for when you’re better and mucking out Gwinnie and Merlin.”

    Linda nodded. “There’s a thought. Yes, Eva, you’re right – I’ll need a medium size. Can you ask Heidi to put one aside for me?”
    Eva skipped back home with the order.
    “We make a profit of six pounds twenty pence every time we sell one.” Karl had done the arithmetic. “At this rate, we’ll raise loads of money.”
    Then on Tuesday evening, Jen managed to rehome Suzi, the worried black cat. “She’s calmed down a lot since she camehere,” she told the middle-aged man who came to collect her. “Stress is what led to her over-grooming in her last home, so she needs peace and quiet – no children and no other pets.”
    “She’ll suit me very well,” Mr Howard told Jen. “I lead a quiet life now that I’m retired. And Suzi will be good company, I’m sure.”
    Eva was pleased to see Mr Howard go off with Suzi. She headed quickly for the computer to take her off the website. “Oops!” she said to Jen as she browsed the pages. “We left Becks on here by mistake. Shall I take her off as well?”
    Jen nodded.