6

It was senior year. My last year of high school. Did I want to spend it hiding in the shadows? “He’s so small,” I said, watching her bathe the kitten.

“Someone found him behind a dumpster.”

“I don’t know how people can do that, just abandon them.” My heart ached for the small, helpless animal.

Mom’s passion was the rescue center she managed. I’d grown up in A Brand New Tail, sitting right at this counter, watching her work her magic. The kitten purred as she scrubbed his fur.

“We’ll have him as good as new soon enough.” She smiled over at me. “Still thinking about following in your mom’s footsteps?”

“Maybe,” I said around a small shrug.

“You’ll need to make a decision eventually, Lil.”

“I know.” But the prospect of college terrified me. Everyone said it was a chance to find yourself, to learn who you really were. But for someone like me, it was an unknown quantity that made my stomach drop just thinking about it.

“You can stay local, sweetheart,” Mom said, as if she could hear my thou