the stray that adopted us

Mars showed up at our gate on a rainy night in June, soaking wet and so skinny you could count her ribs. I was going to ignore her but she just sat there looking at me through the bars. My husband said just one night, so we gave her some rice and chicken from the 7-Eleven, and she ate everything and then slept under the car.

The next morning she was still there. We asked the security guard at the condo, nobody claimed her. We took her to our vet near Rama 9 for a check, she had worms and a bad skin infection on the ear. The vet said she is maybe 7 or 8 years old and probably had puppies before. Mars is a girl, so the name fits anyway.

Its been 4 months now and she sleeps on our bed every night. She don't like the bathroom though, and she still eats fast like someone will take the bowl away. Sometimes at night she wakes up and checks the door, like she is making sure nobody will kick her out. That breaks my heart a little.

Our kids call her the queen. She has her own cushion by the window and she barks at every motorbike that passes the soi. Neighbours complain but I think it's cute. She definately knows she is the boss in this house.

Adopting a stray is not for everyone, you need patience and money for vaccines and check up. But I am glad we opened the gate that night. I really think she chose us, not the other way around.