Read Online Standing Strong by Fiona McCallum - Free Book Online Page B

kittens at once. He’d wrapped a shoebox in foam and then a towel – that could be washed – and poked holes through so the teats could stick out. Then he’d placed a rolled-up small towel in the shoebox so the bottles attached to the teats would be raised enough to keep the flow going right to the end. He’d put the whole thing in the large box with the kittens and, voila, he had a self-feeder, a pretend mother cat, for his little kittens. He’d work on perfecting his design, but for now it did the job, and he could always add more holes for more teats along the way if necessary. He was satisfied that his creation wasn’t too far off feeling like their mother’s tummy when the kittens paddled, if they used their imagination. But best of all, because it was contained in the larger box, he could take the kittens wherever he went and they could be fed on the move while he was out in the ute.
    It had been a good few days, he thought as he had breakfast and checked the new Facebook page he’d set up. It had photos of the tiny kittens drinking from their self-feeder and a cute shot of Jemima with her head poking out of her pouch – he liked that he had a name to add to the caption. He’d even managed to get a great photo of Squish peering into the box of kittens as if overseeing proceedings. He’d got lots of ‘likes’ and even a few shares. He was beginning to see how Facebook could be a valuable marketing tool. When he got organised to do a major fundraiser, he might be able to save time and money by doing most of the advertising via Facebook.
    Damien was starting to really enjoy the PR and marketing side of things. He’d never had to do anything like this to sell his grain and wool; you just took your load of grain to the silo or put your wool into the next sale. There was no having to suck up to people to get them to buy your produce. Perhaps, if he had his time again, or if this all went tits up – which he wouldn’t let happen because the animals needed him – then he figured he wouldn’t have minded giving this marketing caper a crack. He idly wondered if he should look into doing some short course or something to learn more. He was serious about Esperance Animal Welfare Farm being a huge success. And for the next two years he wouldn’t have a relationship to distract him or take up his spare time.
    With that thought in mind, he gathered his troops – Squish, Jemima, Bob and Cara – and set off to check the depository. On his walks, he always took Jemima’s pouch – she insisted on tagging along, but only ever got a few metres before she was panting and unable to keep up. Damien would stop, bend down so she could hop into the pouch, and then they would carry on until the next time she decided she wanted to get out and hop, though she also spent plenty of time with her head out of the pouch, enjoying the sights. Damien knew this wouldn’t last for much longer – soon she’d be too big for the pouch and too heavy for him to carry. She was growing like a weed, so he was determined to enjoy it while he could.
    Squish’s little legs struggled to keep up too, so he often had the pup perched on his shoulders. He was sure when Bob and Cara paused to look at him it was with pleading expressions for them to be carried too. Not a bloody chance! He felt like a pack horse as it was. Anyway, they needed the exercise, they were starting to look like lard-arses thanks to all the extra human treats – like little bits of cheese – he was giving them out of gratitude, despite telling himself they didn’t expect it and had probably long forgotten the fire.
    His little menagerie sure did bring a smile to his face and put a spring in his step. As he traipsed along, he pictured the four kittens, grown up, following in a line. But he had to stop himself – they were temporary visitors. Not all creatures who came his way