Perfect Gift (cont'd)
By Cierra, The Horse Lover

Chapter 4:

“Kathryn!  Remember to be good and obey your Aunt Laurie!  Love you!”  Mom and Dad waved out of their new VW 'bug' and drove down the road.  After they left, I felt my eyes grow hot with tears.  I wasn’t sure why, but they did.  I ran to the field, because I didn’t want Aunt Laurie see me cry, and I also heard Perfect Gift whinnying.  

When I got to the fence, I held out the bottle again.  If she didn’t eat anything soon, we would have to bring her to the vet.  I got close to her.  When she didn’t back up, I blew gently into her nostrils - an old Native American trick that I learned from a book.  She was silent for awhile.  When she trotted away, I guessed it would take quite a long time to earn her trust.  

Aunt Laurie called me into the house, “Kathryn Marie!  Time for lunch!”  Boy, if I could use one word to describe my aunt, that word would be fast!  She can cook an entire meal in five minutes. 

“Great!  I’ll be in there in a sec!”  I ducked under the wood fence, and ran to the house.  

Aunt Laurie was setting the table for us.  “I have something for you,” she said as she turned off the stove where she was cooking spaghetti.  We walked down the long hall and turned into Mom and Dad’s room.  She reached under the bed and pulled out a small wrapped box.  “Your present.”  She handed it to me.  “I am giving it to you now because… it seems like a good time.” 

I slowly opened the box carefully.  Inside was a stone statue of a mother Arabian and her foal.  It was beautiful.  You could almost imagine the mare and her foal galloping through flowering meadows. 

“Thanks,” I said, fingering the flowing mane of the mare.  Aunt Laurie smiled.  “Oh, do you want to see my pet rats?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t refuse.

Nevertheless, she did.  “I really don’t like rats, especially their hairless tails.”

I finally persuaded her to come down and see them.  When we got to the “rat room”, I knew something was wrong.  There, in the corner, sat Blueberries.  She was squeaking and blood was all over the bedding.  I knelt down next to the cage and opened the door.  I knew it was too early.  The vet had said that she would have the babies in a week and a half.  That was just yesterday.  I petted her soft fur and looked to see if any kittens had come. T here was one underneath her.  It was pink and very tiny.  She was pushing another out.  It seemed like forever until Blueberries finally stopped pushing.  There were seven little kittens lying on the bedding.  Blueberries licked them while they nursed.  Aunt Laurie had been just quietly sitting on the floor next to me during the whole thing.

“Guess all of them lived, right?” she asked. 

“Yeah.  I’m not sure all of the kittens are in good health, though.  I’d better call the vet.”  I ran up the stairs, leaving Aunt Laurie with the kittens.  I dialed the number for the vet. 

“Hello, Pines Veterinary Services.  How may I help you?” 

“Well, I was in yesterday and my name is Kathryn Cooper... well, there was a lady…” 

“Oh, I checked your rats.  Is anything wrong?” 

“Yes, Blueberries just had her ba- kittens,” I corrected myself.  

“It’s too early and some of the kittens could be sick. Bring her down here with her babies.  Keep them in a basket with lots of rags.  We don’t want them to jolt.  It will be an emergency appointment.  Thanks.” 

After I she hung up, I pounded down the stairs, calling for Aunt Laurie.  When I told her about what the vet had said, we carefully picked up Blueberries and her kittens, and left in the car. 

“Sorry Kathryn, I didn’t think rats were so cute.  Now that I have seen baby rats, I think that I might get some of my own.  Maybe some of the kittens?”

 “Sure,” I exclaimed through a huge smile.  

When we got to the Pines Veterinary Clinic, I walked through the door, holding the basket.  There was a woman with blond hair talking on the phone at the reception desk.  She had on a lot of make-up, and looked as if she had been stuck on the phone all day. 

Aunt Laurie whispered, “Emergency appointment.”  The woman quickly asked the person to hold, stood, and grabbed a red folder from a shelf.  

“So you are Kathryn,” she said looking at her folder.  She smiled at Aunt Laurie. 

“No, this is Kathryn Cooper, my niece.  I am Laurie Smith.  We need to see the vet about these rats.  This rat gave birth too early.” 

She walked us through the long corridor and into the same room that Cocoa had been in before.  “I’ll go get Ms. Harden immediately.  Stay right here.”  

She left the room. It was silent for a while.  I stood up and looked at the anatomy charts for rodents.  Up at the top of the wall, there was a poster about baby rats.  While I was staring at it, something caught my eye.  “Aunt Laurie, look at this.  It says ‘when babies are born too early, many don’t have a good chance.  If any of your rodents have given birth too early, call the vet immediately.  Keep them warm, and make sure they are with their mother.’”

“That’s what we’d better do, then.  Here,” Aunt Laurie said, gesturing for me to give her the wicker basket.  “We’ll move them all close to Blueberries.”

Suddenly, the door opened and Ms. Harden stepped in.  “Hello.  How are you two doing today?” 

“Good,” we answered. 

“Okay, then let’s have a look at them.”  It took a long time.  After examining each one, she set them carefully in the basket.  “Amazing!  You are very lucky.  We had a similar case recently with a hamster and six of the babies died.  Your little rats all lived.  Take them home and give that proud mother this medicine, about once a day,” she said, handing me a bottle of clear liquid.  “This will help her to get stronger.” 

“Okay.  Thanks,” I answered.  After getting home, we ate dinner and I jumped in bed, after checking on the kittens.  Cream was licking a little black one.  I was surprised that Blueberries wasn’t getting angry with her.  But, they looked just as if they were two little mothers, taking care of their little bundles.

The next morning, we went shopping.  I bought a pair of boot-cut jeans, two shirts, and a long denim skirt.  When we got back to the house, I saw Sarah at the door.  “Oh, no!  I forgot!  I was supposed to go to the auction today with Sarah!  Aunt Laurie, I have to get out!”  I opened the door and jumped out.  I ran to the door, where Sarah was repeatedly dinging the doorbell.

“Sarah, I’m sorry I didn’t…” she grabbed my hand and pulled me around the house, headed for the field.  “Kathryn… Perfect Gift… she’s sick!” she said, trying to talk between gulps of air.  I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.  When I got to the fence, I rammed into it.  I saw Perfect Gift lying on the ground, neck stretched, trying to breathe.  I stepped over the one of the fence bars and ran to Gifty.  I lay my cheek on hers and felt her weak breathing.

“Sarah!  Get Aunt Laurie!  Hurry!” I yelled, my voice hoarse from running.

“What?” she yelled back. 

“Go get the person inside the house!”  She nodded and dashed for the house.

Dear Lord, make Gifty be all right.  I need your help.  

Perfect Gift made a squealing sound and lifted her head.  When she saw me, she started to lay her head back down, but I grabbed it.  Her eyes looked right into mine.  It gave me a horrible feeling, like I wasn’t doing enough.  I didn’t know what to do, though. 

Dear God, don’t let me lose another horse.  Not Perfect Gift.  After losing Nugget, I don’t think I could stand it. 

I just sat there, holding her tiny head.  Her short, soft, creamy-colored mane rubbed against my hand.  I noticed something I hadn’t ever before.  Right behind the left ear was a dark brown spot, sort of shaped like a cross.  I scratched it, to make sure that she was born with it.  Sure enough, she was born with it.  It seemed like I sat there with her for hours, although it had been only about five minutes.  Her breathing got easier and soon she was sitting up.  I looked towards the house, where Sarah was running to me. 

“Your aunt is coming!” she yelled, out of breath.  I petted Gifty’s soft coat, which was starting to lose baby hair.  Sarah ducked under the fence rail, red-faced and sweating.  Her long, blond hair was flying all over her face.  She jogged over in her red tee and khaki capris. 

“Sorry I took so long.  I was watching Blueberries.  How is she doing?” she asked. 

“Fine, I think.  Her breathing is getting better.  What is taking Aunt Laurie so long?” 

“She is taking care of Blueberries.”  She looked at Perfect Gift and ruffled her forelock.  “Where are your parents, anyway?” she asked. 

I told her about my new baby sister, and how my parents were flying to Ethiopia.  Aunt Laurie took a long time to get there.  By the time Aunt Laurie got to the gate, so did Sarah’s mom, Ms. Christopher. 

“Sarah!  You told me…”  She saw Gifty and her mouth dropped open.  “Your filly… is she all right?” 

“Yeah, I think so...” I answered, not quite sure that it was the truth.  She opened the faded gate and kneeled beside her. 

“Looks like she is sick with something like the flu, except a lot worse than most foals get it.  Is she eating all right?”  Not even waiting for an answer, she went on.  “You need to keep her in a stable.  Oh, and Sarah, we need to leave for that horse auction.  I’m sure Kathryn is busy.” 

“Oh, no, she’s not,” Aunt Laurie cut in.  “I’ll take care of this.”  She winked at me and I winked back.  I kissed Perfect Gift’s curly mane and whispered, “Get better, okay?”  We jumped into my parent’s car and drove down the gravel road to Sarah’s house.  Picking up their trailer, we headed to the Spokane fairgrounds.  The spring trees were dark green and the song of the male goldfinches filled the air.  I rolled down the window and stuck my head out, taking a deep breath of fresh air.  We passed the vet, passed Albertson’s, and pulled onto the freeway.  Sarah and I sat alone in the back singing to “He Reigns” and “Million Pieces” on her Newsboys CDs.  We finally reached the fairgrounds.

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