A Heap of Rags

“Mandy time to leave! We'll be late to Jessica's house.”
“Coming Mom.”
Mandy was the usual 12 year old. Long red hair, green eyes, freckles, and neon green braces.
Mandy raced downstairs shoved her shoes on and ran out the door.
Mandy was not expecting such a interesting car ride as the one they were about to experience.
Mandy McDase family car was a old Chevy from 1981 it had occasional breakdowns, but it was “Still good enough to get you from one place to another.” as Mandy's Dad always said.

Mandy and her mom were almost to her friend Jessica's house when.....
“Mom stop the car!” yelled Mandy.
On the side of the road was a calico cat laying on its side barely breathing.
Mandy got out of the car and slammed the door.
“Let's take it to the nearest animal hospital,” said Mandy.
“We need something to pick her up in, she may scratch. And she needs pressure on the wound.
“How about my sweater?”
“But Mandy that's the sweater that your Grandmother made for you.”
“Mom it's pink my least favorite color and so old fashioned and it's wool thats really scratchy.
“Okay,” laughed Mandy's Mom.
Mandy's Mom carefully picked up the Calico in the sweater.
Mandy took a closer look at the cat.
The cat's little splotches of brown reminded her of her quilt that she had had since she was a baby. That quilt had been patched many times and looked like a rag.
“Rags, she said, that is her name.”
Mandy got in the car and her Mom put Rags next to her.
Click, click, click.
“Mom why is the car making that funny sound?”
“It won't start.”
“Try again Mom it has to start,” she said looking at poor Rags in the back seat.
“The car won't start Mandy.”
“How far is the animal hospital?” said Mandy
“About a half a mile.”
“ I'll walk to the animal hospital then,” said Mandy.

Mandy and her mom were almost to her friend Jessica's house when.....
“Mom stop the car!” yelled Mandy.
On the side of the road was a calico cat laying on its side barely breathing.
Mandy got out of the car and slammed the door.
“Let's take it to the nearest animal hospital,” said Mandy.
“We need something to pick her up in, she may scratch. And she needs pressure on the wound.
“How about my sweater?”
“But Mandy that's the sweater that your Grandmother made for you.”
“Mom it's pink my least favorite color and so old fashioned and it's wool thats really scratchy.
“Okay,” laughed Mandy's Mom.
Mandy's Mom carefully picked up the Calico in the sweater.
Mandy took a closer look at the cat.
The cat's little splotches of brown reminded her of her quilt that she had had since she was a baby. That quilt had been patched many times and looked like a rag.
“Rags, she said, that is her name.”
Mandy got in the car and her Mom put Rags next to her.
Click, click, click.
“Mom why is the car making that funny sound?”
“It won't start.”
“Try again Mom it has to start,” she said looking at poor Rags in the back seat.
“The car won't start Mandy.”
“How far is the animal hospital?” said Mandy
“About a half a mile.”
“ I'll walk to the animal hospital then,” said Mandy.

Mandy and her mom were almost to her friend Jessica's house when.....
“Mom stop the car!” yelled Mandy.
On the side of the road was a calico cat laying on its side barely breathing.
Mandy got out of the car and slammed the door.
“Let's take it to the nearest animal hospital,” said Mandy.
“We need something to pick her up in, she may scratch. And she needs pressure on the wound.
“How about my sweater?”
“But Mandy that's the sweater that your Grandmother made for you.”
“Mom it's pink my least favorite color and so old fashioned and it's wool thats really scratchy.
“Okay,” laughed Mandy's Mom.
Mandy's Mom carefully picked up the Calico in the sweater.
Mandy took a closer look at the cat.
The cat's little splotches of brown reminded her of her quilt that she had had since she was a baby. That quilt had been patched many times and looked like a rag.
“Rags, she said, that is her name.”
Mandy got in the car and her Mom put Rags next to her.
Click, click, click.
“Mom why is the car making that funny sound?”
“It won't start.”
“Try again Mom it has to start,” she said looking at poor Rags in the back seat.
“The car won't start Mandy.”
“How far is the animal hospital?” said Mandy
“About a half a mile.”
“ I'll walk to the animal hospital then,” said Mandy.

“Rags is hurt pretty bad, she will need to stay here for a while
before she can go to a pound, or go home if we find her owner.
Every day until Rags got all better Mandy visited her.
Rags turned out to be a energetic, sweet, adorable cat. Mandy loved Rags .



~

“How is Rags doing?” Mandy asked the nice lady Ms. Dorset who worked at the front desk.
“Rags is fine and going to have kittens!” said Ms. Dorset.
“Really? Your not kidding?”
“Not kidding! We just found out this morning.”
“ That is so cool!” said Mandy.


~

Mandy and her mom were at home one day when Mandy told her mom what was bothering her.
“Mom, I feel bad for Rags, she has no family that we know of,” said Mandy.
“Mandy how about we call the animal shelters and see if anyone has came looking for a cat that looked like Rags, said Mrs. McDase .
“Okay, said Mandy, but can I make some posters?”
“Of course you can.”
“ I hope we find her owner.”Bring, bring, bring, went the telephone at the McDase's house.
“I got it,” shouted Mrs. McDase.
“Hello, said Mrs. Mcdase, who is this?”
“Hi, came a small young voice, my name is Cally, I called because I wanted to know how the cat you found is doing.”
“She is doing fine.”
“I am her old owner.
We had been keeping her inside, but I let her out one day and our neighbors mean bull dog came into our yard and before I could do any thing, the bull dog chased her away, and must have left the chase and Rags got run over by a car.”
“Would you like her back?”Asked Mrs. McDase.
“Yes, can I pick her up tomorrow?” Asked Cally.
“I thick so let me check, yeah, that would be fine.”
“Mom, who was that?” asked Mandy.
“That was Rags owner.”


~



“AH!!!!!” Screamed Cally and her mom.
“ She is Going to have kittens! Cally's mom Mrs. Danzlo said. We can't possibly take her back!








“Mom, One day Mandy said on the way back from the animal shelter. could we get Rags please? The lady at the shelter says they have to find a home soon.”
“Mandy, we have to think about that. Rags is not a toy, Rags is a live cat and will take
time and care, and keeping her happy and well, will all take money.”
“Please,” said Mandy.
“We will think about it.”


~

“Mandy, said Ms. Larson the secretary at the front desk, we just found that Rags is carrying kittens! We have no idea how we had missed it these weeks! We were going to neuter her but we found she was already going to have kittens!
Where is your Mom? I need to talk to her for a minute. Why don't you go play with Rags?”
“Mrs. McDase, said Ms. Larson, the shelter staff and I were wondering if you would be willing to provide a family, or foster family for Rags. I am sure your daughter would take vary good care of her. It would be nice for Rags to be in a warm loving home when her kittens are born.”
“Well, said Mrs. McDase, Mandy seems to really like Rags, and I guess it would be kind of fun to try, so okay!!”
“Mandy.” called Mrs. McDase
“Yes Mom?”
“Come here. Mandy would you like it if we take Rags and make her part of our family?”
“You mean give her a home?”
“Yeah.” said Mrs. McDase