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Show eS will probably all have it by morning,” her voice whined. “I know how it hurts you, dear. Your dad’s at work, and I’m so sick | just couldn’t stand legs in their faces and stomachs. Janet's stomach contracted when she thought of how their pawing would tickle. In the days that followed, it. Karen Hurry, to save the trouble of sat constantly at the side of the box sticking her little finger in their eyes and ears. Mr. Peterson said that it would surely cost a lot of money and stink before they could get rid of Karen’s knowing.” She walked softly to Janet's side. “Go get some water in that red pail that | keep behind the washer downstairs.” them, but sometimes he sat and talked morning,” Janet cried. “Can't we wait?” Mrs. Peterson didn’t answer. She leaned down and picked up Kitten-toe. She petted the cat’s neck as she walked from the room. “| wish your father were here,” she whined. in low tones to Kitten-toe. Mrs. Peterson said that the smell gave her morning sickness all day, so she stayed out of the room. “Janet, look at Mibs!’’ Boyd squeaked from the bedroom. Janet stood doing dishes. She dropped the cup back into the water, wiped her hands on the towel next to the sink, “Look at your baby,” and Janet moaned, and she held it down to the cat's face Kitten-toe looked up at her and purred. She heard her mother’s soft voice behind her, and she stiffened. “Janet, it’s got distemper; Mibs will be all right by The tears streamed faster down Janet's cheeks, and she wiped her ran across the hall into the lavender bedroom. Boyd stood holding the orange and white kitten in his shaking hands. The baby kitten squirmed and strained backwards until its little head touched the base of its tail. It mewed and pawed the air gasping for breath. Janet's throat tightened and she choked on her words, “Oh, Boyd, what's the matter with him?” she asked. Boyd’s voice shook. “I don’t know, he stuttered. “I’ll go get mama.” He dropped the kitten in Janet’s hand. She cupped her hands around it and watched it twist and gag. The sun glared in from the window and made her eyes ache. Hot tears streamed her cheeks. Janet walked over to the box and knelt beside it. It smelled of fur and untrained kittens. Kitten-toe lay calmly nursing the gray and the black kittens. “Mama, you'll have to drown it - the others too. They cheek on her shirt sleeve. “I won’t do it,” she thought. “I won't kill them.” She looked down at Mibs’ tiny body twisted in pain. With a loud sniff, she picked up the cardboard box, walked through the kitchen and down the hollow stairs to the cold basement. Sunlight from the almost set sun filtered through the dirty rectangular window above her head. She put down the box, walked over to the washer and lifted the red_ plastic bucket to the faucet next to the porcelain washer. With a jerk, she twisted the faucet and icy water gushed into the bucket. It filled and became heavy in her arms. Janet turned off the faucet and carried the bucket to the drain in the gray floor. She reached up and pulled on a white string that clicked the glare of the bulb on, put down the bucket and walked the three steps to the brown box and bent down. The kittens, their eyes not yet open, crawled over and around each other sniffing the blue flannel. Janet reached over to the lidless blue clothes hamper and pulled out one of her father’s ragged gray work shirts. With a jerk, she ripped the back out of the shirt and laid it flat on the cold ( 28) Senet nean ed |