Tinsel Cat Pet

Charlotte practically skipped down Diagon Alley, her heart beating with excitement with every step she took. She had thrown on a sweater and a skirt, not even caring if they matched or not, and rushed out the door, eager to get it on with. Because finally, finally, her parents had sent a letter announcing she could get a pet! Charlotte had practically been waiting forever to get one. She missed home, and wanted a companion desperately.

In her rush to get out the door, she still had tinsel from the night before on her skirt. She was trying to decorate something with tinsel (left over from last year's Christmas), but it failed terribly. As she walked, bits of silver tinsel floated down to the floor. Charlotte sighed, pausing briefly to pick it up. She stood back up, a bit annoyed that she had picked a skirt with too much tinsel. She shoved the fallen tinsel into her bag. Charlotte would deal with the tinsel problem later. As she stepped into the pet shop, Charlotte daydreamed about what pet she would get. The sound of many animals and quiet chatter filled her ear. Charlotte felt amazed. There were so many choices, and she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted yet.

A rat? Eww. . . no. A frog? Too slimey. An owl? Hmm. . . maybe. Charlotte thought long and hard, fidgeting with her fingers. She finally decided to walk around looking at the animals. Still thinking about what pet would want, she didn't notice a small kitten who had sauntered up to her, rubbing himself on her ankles. "Oh hello," she said to the kitten, who had probably escaped from his cage. For some reason, she had totally forgotten that she could adopt a cat.

It was really cute, and the moment she laid her eyes on the cat, she knew it would be this one. She pet the gray cat, feeling how soft and fluffy it was. Tinsel from her skirt floated down and landed on the cat's forehead, matching his gray fur. He tried to swipe it off with his paw, but missed. Charlotte laughed, and crouched down to brush it off his fur. "I think I'll name you Tinsel," Charlotte said with a smile. Tinsel's big eyes looked up at her hopefully, and Charlotte picked him up, giving him a hug.

Charlotte walked back to the counter, and fished the money out of her bag. "I'll get this one," Charlotte told the shop lady, pointing at Tinsel, "Thank you." She handed over the money, and picked up Tinsel, pressing his warm body close to her sweater. She stroked his soft fur, and smiled at her new cat. Tinsel seemed to smile back, and licked her hand.