“Can we please get a cat, Mom?” I begged time after time. I had gone through a harsh time for a couple months, and it became summer. I needed something to look forward to other than just softball and volleyball. My softball best friend, Autumn, had the most luscious caramel and dark brown cat, and her name was Mokie. After I talked to Autumn about Mokie, I yearned to have a cat because I would have something to take care of on my own. I stated, “We should get a cat!” My parents replied, “Absolutely not.” I dropped my head, lowered my shoulders, and shuffled to my room. I thought I would give it one last chance. I claimed, “I will brush the cat every day so no hair would get on the furniture, and I will train it to stay off tables.”
They replied firmly, “No,” so I forgot about it.

One chilly summer day my boyfriend, Ben, and I watched movies at my house, and my parents had a campfire with my grandparents. I looked over at my phone, and it said, “Missed call from Mom 3 minutes ago.” I thought her calling me while being so close to home was strange. I immediately called her back, and she answered. I asked, “What did you need, Mom? Is everything okay?”
“Aubrey, you need to come up here right now! Dad found a cat. Come hold him!” she replied with excitement.
I responded, “We are on our way! Don’t let him run off please!”

I rushed up to my grandparents’ house; we only live two feet away from each other, so it didn’t take long. After Ben and I arrived, my mom had told me my dad heard a cat meowing all day in the woods. He finally decided to call him over by shouting, “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!” When the cat ran over, he went to my mom and snuggled up to her. He purred constantly, and he rubbed on everyone’s hands because he craved attention. I decided it was my turn to hold him. I picked him up and fell in love instantly. His warm, sun-baked fur was charcoal black and snow white. His fur was like silk, and I never wanted to put him down. He had an earthy smell to him like he belonged outdoors. He was a stick; it was obvious he hadn’t eaten in days.

My grandpa said, “Do not feed that thing. We don’t need more than one barn cat!” I looked over at my mom, and she said, “Listen to your grandpa, Aubrey,” and winked at me. Ben and I went into the barn to find the cat food and put some in a bowl, and he ate it like he had never seen food before. I loved this cat so much already. I probably talked about him sixty-two more times that night. I told Ben, “I really hope the cat doesn’t leave. I love him so much!” I received constant eye rolls from my parents and Ben every time I talked about him.

Later on, it was pitch-black dark outside, and we sat on the couch with the French doors open. All of a sudden I heard, “MEOW.” A smile grew on each corner of my mouth while I rushed to the door to see my kitty sitting on the porch. I gave him a cozy blanket to lie on and a refreshing bowl of water to drink. I couldn’t stop wondering what I should name him. Ben said, “Oreo would be a good name,” but I didn’t like it. I was beyond happy that my wish had finally come true. My kitty wouldn’t leave, so my parents couldn’t do anything about it.

Today, my cat lounges in my home. Taking care of him is like taking care of a baby. He is extremely high maintenance. I decided I wanted his name to be Henry because I liked the “old man” name feels of it, but my family and Ben didn’t like it. They all agreed on Oreo, which is why he is called “Henry Oreo Kitty.”

I continued my attachment toward him, and I begged my parents to let him inside as winter approached. I feared he would run away to somewhere he could be warm. My parents finally gave in and allowed him to come inside, and to this day he lives a happy life inside with me.