Emma was in 3^rd grade when she asked if we could go into the Commerce PetSmart just to “look at the fish and birds and things.”  I’m not even sure that we knew there were kitties up for adoption on the premises.  But ‘lo, there they were – and Ozzy, along with a couple of siblings and their very young mother, was among them.  Emma’s heart was bound.  Evidently, so was mine.

Ozzy was a lovely tuxedo kitten…black with symmetrical white markings at his neck, belly and all four precious paws.  He was frisky and playful, but skittish… not at all loving.  It must have been his story that so entranced us:  a feral mother and kittens discovered under a deck, hunted and tormented by a hawk (story goes that Ozzy’s sister actually had a chunk missing from her head).  Emma wanted him NOW, but we were leaving for Thanksgiving in two days and would be gone a week – not an auspicious time.  And then there was the Daddy hurdle…

Throughout that luxuriously long Thanksgiving break, Emma and I both thought of Ozzy…. Only Emma talked about him.  I figured he would be long gone by the time we got back – an easy out.  The following Wednesday, we convinced big sister Zoe (then 7^th grade) to go to PetSmart with us – just to see who might still be among the kitties up for adoption.  Ozzy was there. 

Although we tried repeatedly to raise Daddy on the phone while filling out the paperwork – no answer.  Oh well, we knew we’d have the chance to cross that creek before the water got high.  Paperwork complete, we left with hopeful hearts.  Daddy gave his grudging assent later that evening.

When we still had no response to our application by the weekend, we checked back during Saturday adoption hours. Ozzy was still there; but our paperwork had disappeared – and someone else had applied to adopt the kitty of our hearts!  Oh, trouble, indeed!

Fortunately, Sandy remembered us filling out the application, and so we were allowed first dibs.  After our re-application was approved, it was only a matter of waiting for Ozzy to recover from neutering. 

The whole family had already talked about naming our pending kitty Wasabi, after the spicy Japanese horseradish that comes with sushi.  It seemed the perfect name for the feisty kitten who had held his own and won our hearts against tough odds.  Plus, we figured if we called him “Wasi” it would sound to him like his GAAR name Ozzy.

The girls were beside themselves with anticipation.  We were scheduled to pick him up the following Saturday – just days before Christmas. 

Yet again, trouble intervened.  A huge snowstorm moved in Friday evening, with the threat of dumping 10-12 inches by Saturday morning.  After all their anticipation and preparation, Zoe and Emma were not inclined to wait ANY longer. 

Sooo, we called Donna and got permission to retrieve our kitty from his foster family on Friday night.  Off to Plymouth we went – in the dark, through driving snow.  What a nice family– and how sad their kids were to part with Ozzy…. and how happy our girls were to have their Wasabi.

This year will be Wasabi’s third Christmas with us – and what laughter and delight he brings.  Now our girls dedicate Thursday nights to cleaning, feeding and caring for all the GAAR kitties at the Commerce PetSmart. 

In this season of giving and light, we pray that every family might discover the joy that comes from welcoming a pet into their forever home.

Next time…the terrible night our very new kitty Wasabi disappeared!