Since the call five days ago, Suzanne's mind floated amongst the clouds. She couldn't focus at school, she couldn't fall asleep. The week dragged on interminably.

Finally, The Day, Saturday, arrived. Her breakfast barely touched, she climbed into the back seat of the family station wagon. Her mother drove them past the grocery store, the swimming pool, and the elementary school. At the edge of town, Suzanne glanced at the 99-cent second-run movie theater known affectionately as the tin can but didn't notice what movie was showing.

Soon cornfields lined the road, the morning sun caught the soft fine corn silk and it glowed like gold. But it was only a blur to Suzanne's eyes as her stomach began to flip-flop in earnest. Her parents discussed boring grownup topics leaving her adrift in her own mind. After an unbearably long hour, her mother turned slowly up Shelly's gravel driveway.

Normally, Suzanne would have stared in delight at the pick-up trucks, tractors, and numerous dogs running freely through the yard, but today she immediately locked eyes with Shelly who sat waiting for her on the steps of the porch. Before her parents had even stepped out of the car, Suzanne and Shelly were halfway to the barn. Today her parents didn't chide them for their lack of manners.

Suzanne followed Shelly past the long line of cows, the horses' stalls, and a small pigpen. The barn's pungent odor and the cacophony of moos, neighs and oinks that usually assaulted Suzanne's senses didn't register today.

Shelly slowed down as they reached the hay bales and put her finger to her lips. The girls tiptoed the last five yards to the darkest corner of the barn. Suzanne followed Shelly's lead as she got down on her hands and knees to approach their destination.

Suzanne heard them before she saw them in the shadows. "Oh, Shelly," she said in a whisper. "They are so tiny."

Three fluffy kittens mewed and stumbled around their mother: one white, one black, and one striped. The white one slept, the black one hid in the hay, and the striped one drank milk form its mother in earnest.

"Do you want to hold one?" asked Shelly. Suzanne nodded, pointing to the black one. Shelly picked it up and handed it to her friend.

The kitten amazed Suzanne with its softness and warmth. It felt so light, she could not imagine it being born even smaller almost twelve weeks ago. It curled in a ball and tried to hide from her. Soon she felt something brush her knee.

"It looks like her brother wants attention," said Shelly.

Suzanne handed Shelly the black kitten and picked up the curious striped one beside her. This one wasn't shy at all but wiggled and squirmed making Suzanne laugh. Holding it to her chest, it nuzzled her cheek. Suddenly tiny razor-sharp claws dug into her skin. "Ow!" She tried to detach the clinging kitten from her neck.

Shelly laughed. "I think he's the one that wants to come home with you."

"I do too." Suzanne smiled and held the kitten in the air so they were eye to eye. "But we need to talk about those claws."