Samantha opened the morning newspaper and looked for the ad she'd phoned in the day before. It seemed to jump out at her:

I've developed an allergy to my cat.
I must give her up-doctor’s orders.
Genuine cat lover wanted.
This kitty is a bundle of affection!
(415-491-6683)

While Samantha was checking the ad, Binnie brushed up against her making the usual loud purr and characteristic little meows which gave the feeling she was talking. Samantha knew every dot on the animal’s body: the little black circular spot on the roof of the her mouth (always noticeable when she yawned), the white fur muff, the fluffy gray body with three black stripes on the back, and the snowy white paws.

Tom, Samantha's husband, entered the room and gently lifted the furry creature into his arms. He brought her to the basement and came upstairs for the box of litter which he took to the cellar as well. Upon his return, he unplugged the phone, took it to his study and reconnected it."If the phone rings I'll answer it quickly. It's essential to spare Samantha from hearing conversations with potential cat adopters.", he thought.

As soon as he returned to the living room he attempted to lift Samantha’s spirits with a present he had bought for this very day. He removed the brightly colored tiny gift box from his side trouser pocket. Handing it to his wife, he said, "Here's something to make you feel better."

Too sad to be interested in any gift, she placed it on the coffee table unopened and left it there. Looking away from Tom she said, "I've changed my mind."

"What do you mean?"

"I won't give her up. She's been with me too long."

"But we agreed that your health is more important."

"What if the person who takes her won't treat her right?"

"We'll be very careful about whom we give her to."

"She was my only companion, my love object, for the five years I was alone, before I met you."

"Well, now you have me. I can use all the love I can get."

"Stop being silly! Don't you understand? My attachment to her is too strong. I can't be without her."

"Sam, I've also grown fond of Binnie. We'll take a picture of her and put it in a place where we can see it a lot."

"I can't believe you're saying this.... I don't want a photo. I want Binnie! We never should have moved to California.You saw the allergy report. Monterey cypress trees are the catalyst that caused the animal allergies to surface."

"Well, we did move here and your condition is disastrous. Your wheezing sounds like we're in first row seats of a bad musical performance. The cortisone isn't counteracting your allergy and you're also getting side effects from the drug. Did you already forget, yesterday, when your fingers swelled to the extent that you couldn't button your blouse or hold a piece of paper in your hand? Dr. McKenna said you can't have a cat in the house. We spent the past ten days talking about this. I thought you finally accepted placing her for adoption.... There is no choice!"

The phone rang. "Don't answer it," Samantha said, "Whoever it is will call back." She put on her coat and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To the mall. I need to get out. I don’t want to be here when someone comes for her."

"You really do need something to lift your spirits. Why don't you buy something new and not worry about the price?"

The dress she bought gave her a momentary lift, but as soon as she returned home she felt a void. The kitty didn’t run to her as she often did when Samantha had been out. She listened for the scratching sounds which Binnie sometimes made on the basement door. She didn’t hear any. Not wanting to talk to Tom or anyone else she slumped quietly into the easy chair and stayed that way.

A brief smile appeared on her face when she thought about the day she took Binnie from the humane society. The tiny kitten and her three siblings were huddled together, asleep in their compartment. The attendant opened the door and stuck his hand in; only Binnie moved. Standing up, the kitty tried to play with the caretaker’s hand in her characteristic perky manner. While watching the animal amuse herself with the man’s finger, Samantha decided such liveliness was for her. She remembered how quickly Binnie settled in after she was brought to the house. A tear rolled down Samantha's cheek as she recalled how the cat always laid next to her feet, in the early mornings, purring like a little motor. It had been so comforting!

The mood of this reverie was broken when Tom came into the living room, walked over to Samantha, bent down, tenderly put his arm around her, and said, "I wish you had been here to meet the lady who adopted Binnie. She used to volunteer at the animal shelter. Her cat, which she had for many years, died a few weeks ago. She was planning to take a new pet from the humane facility this very afternoon. When she came across your ad, in the morning paper, she empathized with you and loved the fact that Binnie is so affectionate. Struck by the fact that her name, Bonnie, resembles Binnie's, she said it was fate that had led her to us. Here's her phone number. You can visit anytime you want. I hope it makes you feel a little better."

"It doesn't. I already miss her terribly."

"Sam, I read an article recently about the strides they're making with a method for greatly reducing allergies to animals. Maybe, in a few years, you can have a kitty again."

"Even if they find a way to control these allergies, I'd be afraid to have another cat. I'd be worried that the resistance wouldn't be permanent and, once again, I'd have to give up a pet. I'll find a way to to get used to the idea of not having a kitty, but it will take a while...."