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wasn’t sure pride was one of them.
    “Anyway, the Freemans are coming over after school. They wanted to come right over earlier, but I knew you would both want to meet them.And I know you’ll want a little more time with Domino before they come.”
    Michael wondered what the Freeman family would be like, and how it would be when they first saw Domino. Was he really theirs? And even if he was, did they definitely want him back? Maybe there was still a chance that the little black-and-white kitten could stay with the Battellis forever.
    Michael collapsed on the couch after school. Was it the lucky socks, in their plastic bag? The fact that he was too busy thinking about Domino to be nervous? Or was it just that, for once, he had prepared really well? Whatever it was, Michael’s report had gone perfectly.
    He hadn’t forgotten any of his key points, and he’d even made his classmates laugh — twice. But now, he still had a nervous feeling in his gut. Soon the Freemans were going to come and probably take Domino away. Were they really hispeople? Were they the right family for him? How would Michael know for sure?
    “What do you think they’ll be like?” Mia asked. Domino was curled up in her lap. It seemed almost like she was talking to the kitten, not Michael, who was sitting across from her.
    “I don’t know,” said Michael. “I just hope they’re nice.”
    Mia scratched Domino’s belly, and the kitten rolled onto his back with his paws in the air. “You like that, don’t you?” she asked the kitten. She looked up at her brother. “Well, I still don’t understand how he got out. Wasn’t someone taking care of him? I don’t think they were very responsible pet owners.”
    “Mia, I don’t want to hear you talk that way.” Dad stepped into the room from the office nook, and Mia blushed. “Since you’re wondering, I’ll tell you what Mrs. Freeman told me. A neighbor was taking care of Domino, but often when they’re away, Domino hides most of the time. You knowhow that little kitten likes to hide. The neighbor would leave food and water, but he never saw Domino. So he didn’t know the difference when Domino escaped.”
    “Whatever,” said Mia with an eye roll.
    Dad frowned. “Mia, the Freemans will be here any minute, and I want you to be nice.”
    “We found their cat for them. That seems pretty nice to me,” Michael said.
    “Not you, too.” Dad shook his head. “Remember, fostering is not only about taking care of cats and kittens. It’s about doing the right thing for each one. How would you feel if you lost your kitten?”
    Michael could guess what Mia might be thinking, but she kept her mouth shut.
    The back door swished open, and a moment later Mom appeared, stripping off her gloves. “Are they here yet?” she asked.
    Dad checked his watch. “Any minute,” he said.
    Mia lifted Domino up and handed him to Michael. “It’s your turn,” she said.
    Michael put the kitten on his shoulder. Domino sniffed at Michael’s ear. It tickled. “Hey, Domino, cut it out,” Michael said with a laugh. The doorbell rang, and Michael’s heart sank. They were here already?
    The others went to the door, but Michael stayed put with Domino. As he petted the kitten, he could hear the chorus of hellos and nice-to-meet-yous. Domino’s ears twitched. Coats swished and shoes clomped off, and then a curly-haired boy and a girl appeared in the doorway with Mia. Michael thought they looked just about the same age as him and Mia. They both wore hopeful smiles as they glanced around the room. “Hi, I’m Michael,” he said. “And this is —” But he didn’t need to introduce the kitten.
    “Jigsaw!” said the girl as soon as she spotted Domino. She knelt down. “Here, Jigsaw,” she said. Her brother joined her, sitting on the floor.
    Domino sprang out of Michael’s arms and scampered over to meet them. Michael swallowed hardas he watched the girl pull Domino into her lap. He could hear the