Yoda was a Persian kitten. Perky ears. Smiling eyes. Pretty fur. Long fluffy tail.
She used to have dreams about climbing treer, catching mice, and becoming a supercat.
“The cape is so cool!” (Yoda)
But then Yoda’s owner didn’t want to care for her anymore, and she was taken to an animal shelter. Every day Yoda watched as the other cats and kittens were adopted.
Monday….”Good-bye Peaches” (Yoda)
Tuesday…”So long Maxine” (Yoda)
And on Wednesday someone even picked up Stanley, the one with the stinky breath.
“Seriously, someone needs to get that car a toothbrush!” (Yoda)
There was no way anyone would ever choose Yoda.
Life is hard for a cat who is overlooked. Feeling unwanted and without purpose make for a life of disappointment and sadness. However, Yoda learns that sometimes you need to take your life into your own hands and find purpose by helping others. The power of love and caring for others are some of the lessons learned in “Yoda” by Beth Stern.
Fur so dirty it had to be shaved. “I feel naked!” (Yoda)
Plenty of food, yet Yoda never felt like eating. Skinny as a string bean.
But one Saturday a nice lady named Beth came to the shelter and…
SHE CHOSE YODA!
“What was going on? Has this lady been tricked? Can’t she see I’m not as clever as Peaches or as cuddly as Maxine? Maybe she needs glasses.” (Yoda)
Trying to figure this out made Yoda extra tired (close eyes and snore).
When Yoda woke up…it was like a dream. Yet, as amazing as the new home was, something was missing.
“I just can’t put my paw on it.” (Yoda)
Beth was worried. She took Yoda to the doctor. After he listened to Yoda’s heart, he said, “Yoda has a sad heart.”
“What does that mean?” (Yoda)
Back at home, Yoda was still feeling blue, when all of a sudden…
CRASH! MEW! MEW! MEW! MEW! PURR! PURR! PURR!
“What’s that?!” (Yoda)
Yoda followed the sounds down a long hallway.
(reading) “Foster kittens inside. Lease keep door closed at all times. Thank you!” Oops. I don’t know how to read.
The door opened and Beth came out. She smiled at Yoda and waved him inside.
“Uh-oh.” (Yoda)
It was all beginning to sink in.
“Maybe this is why she chose me – to fight off the monsters she keeps locked up!”
(but on brave face and march into the room)
“GASP! Nope, no monsters.Something much worse. MUCH WORSE.”
KITTENS! Four hissing, hanging, climbing, clawing, snoring, stinking, out-of-control fur balls.
These kittens needed help. Scratch that…LOTS of help! Yoda sprang into action.
Archie smelled. “Fur + Milk = YUCK” (Yoda)
Oliver had fallen asleep. “Wake up and get down from there NOW!” (Yoda)
Petunia was stuck. “Where was this kitten born? Under a rock?” (Yoda)
Sadie hissed. “Bad news – the parakeet in the painting isn’t, um, real.” (Yoda)
From that day on, Yoda spent all day taking care of the kittens. They listened to like Yoda was their parent.
“Finish your breakfast, Oliver! Gentle paws, Archie! Use your indoor voice, Sadie! No biting Archie’s tail, Petunia!” (Yoda)
At bedtime some of the kittens even slept snuggled under his fur.
Sadie meowed in her sleep and Oliver flexed his claws, but Yoda didn’t really mind. Yoda slept with one eye open to make sure no one got into trouble – especially Petunia.
One afternoon Yoda was teaching Archie to chew his food bite by bite when suddenly, Yoda scanned the room.
“Oliver: Check. Sadie: Check. Sadie: Check. Petunia: Petunia? YIKES!” (Yoda)
Yoda raced through the house.
“Not on the kitchen counters…not under the living room sofa…not behind the toilet.”
Yoda was out of breath with a pounding heart.
“Where is Petunia?!!?” (Yoda)
“SQUEAAAAKKKKKKKKKK!” (Petunia)
She had climbed to the very top shelf of Beth’s closet and couldn’t get down!
“Petunia, why don’t you ever listen?!” (Yoda)
Yoda was about to tell Petunia to wait there when…..
She…….
JUMPED!!!!!......
“OOOOOOOOOFFFF!” (Yoda) (Petunia lands on Yoda)
Beth and the kittens raced into the closet.
“Yoda! Oh no! Are you okay?” (Beth)
Yoda just blinked. “Meow” “Meow” “Meow” (Kittens)
Beth was so worried she took Yoda back to the doctor.
“Yoda isn’t hurt. Not even one little hair. In fact, Yoda has a happy heart.” (Doctor)
Of course, Yoda didn’t understand much of what was being said.
“Can we just cut the chitchat and get back to the house? Who knows what the kittens are up to? Petunia could be climbing the drapes. Sadie could be attacking a school of fish on cat TV.” (Yoda)
That night Yoda gobbled down dinner and washed her fur, which had grown fluffy and white. Smiling at the kittens who were all sleeping around her, she caught a quick catnap.
Being a foster parent was tough work, but someone had to do it. And Yoda had finally become the super cat she’d always imagined she could be.