into this cut. You think that pneumonia you had was bad? Try rabies or blood poisoning. Now hold still.”
She held some wadded-up gauze against the cut, while Saav sat still, fuming.
“I’m not going to get sick,” Saav argued. “Cats catch rats all the time and don’t get sick.”
“Well, I understand that, but I’m going to make sure you don’t have any problems. Now quit squirming, wigglebutt. This might sting a little,” she said, dabbing at the gash with an alcohol pad.
“YOWWWW!!” Saav howled, and hissed.
“Don’t you hiss at me. Hold still, Saav!”
Saav growled, but held still. “What IS that? Battery acid?”
“Noooo, silly. Just a little alcohol,” Carrie said with a smile.
“Phew! That’s worse than that flea stuff,” Saav grumbled.
“Yeah it is,” snickered Pook. “Yuck, Saav, you reek.”
Saav frowned and growled at her sister. Pook crossed her eyes and wrinkled her nose.
“Okay, just a little antibiotic cream, down the cut, there we go….and you’re done,” said Carrie, looking at the scruffy kitten closely and feeling her skin. “Looks like that was the only bad one.”
“It wasn’t that bad, really,” Saav insisted.
Pook shrugged. “I dunno, Saav, it looked a little deep to me.”
“Did it? I couldn’t really get a good look at it.”
“Yeah,” Pook assured her sister. “It did.”
“Pook, you help Saav keep an eye on that and make sure it doesn’t get infected. If it does, let your Mom know. These alley rats really are full of germs and nasties,” said Carrie.
“I will. We always look after each other,” replied Pook, winking at Saav, who finally smiled.
“Thank you, Carrie,” said Saav.
“You’re welcome. C’mon, let’s get you back to the storeroom,” Carrie said, picking Saav up again. Pook followed them to the back, where Carrie put Saav down on the floor. “I’ll run next door and let them know you’ll be in soon.”
Pook and Saav smiled at her, just as another mouse ran across the floor. The cats took off and dispatched the unlucky mouse quickly, then put all three of them in the bucket.
"Bleah, these things taste awful. I think we’re spoiled,” said Pook.
“No kidding,” Saav agreed, flattening her ears.