"I am not a Disney princess," the vet says with a small smile, "or a Doctor Dolittle, or anything of the sort. My job would be much easier if I were." She sighs wistfully. "From what I have seen, though, is that when a cat gets lost, and a microchip helps it find its way home, the cat is generally quite happy to be back where it belongs, where it can be safe and fed and loved. The procedure is mostly painless -- about as painful as the blood draw I did earlier -- and won't impede their daily life in any way." 

"Pets are like children but woooorse," she whines. But then she shakes her head. "Okay, okay. There's no arguing that she definitely wants to be in my house. I might as well make it easier for her. —do I have to come up with a name first?"

The veterinarian shakes her head. "All that's stored on the chip is an identification number. There's a computer database somewhere that matches the id to whatever information you've provided, so it can be updated easily when you move and such. You just have to fill out the form, and we'll take care of that part for you." She leans down to pick up the carrier. "I'll be back in a few minutes, all right? And feel free to think of a name while I'm gone!" she calls out as she heads back through the door. 

"Naming things is bad and stupid," she announces.

"Pick something funny," Daisy suggests. "Cats can't tell when they're being mocked."

"Hmm."

Her mood lightens a bit. After some thought, she writes something down on the form.

After the promised few minutes, (perhaps closer to ten) the vet returns, cat in carrier in hand, and sets it down on the table next to April. 

The cat is curled up in her carrier, looking very much like she's glad they're done with this ordeal and is ready to go home. 

"All done!" The doctor says. "Did you decide on a name yet?" 

"Pippi Longstocking. Because she's an independent ginger who does what she wants."

Kelly tilts her head in thought for a moment, trying to place the reference. "That's... a children's book, right? Still, if she's anything like you'd describe, that sounds very much like a cat." 

She smiles again. "In any case, thank you very much for coming in! I'm glad your new cat has a home. Please turn in your paperwork to Katy at the front desk when you're done, and we'll send you the results of all of our tests soon. It was very nice to meet you!" 

And then she turns to another person, dog sitting on the floor next to them, and starts talking to them. 

She checks over the form to make sure she hasn't missed anything obvious, and makes Daisy check over the form for her to make double sure, and then hands it in at the front desk and lugs Pippi back out to the car.

"Time to buy cat supplies!" Daisy says brightly.

"Is it too late to burn down my house?"

Pippi Longstocking, curious, moves to the door of the carrier to look out to see what they're up to next. She can't understand what they're saying, of course, because cats cannot understand human speech, but if she were she would be curious what kind of supplies they're going to be getting. 

Well, her questions will soon be answered, because the pet store is only a couple of minutes away and April is not going to leave her in the car while they shop.

"Oof," she grumbles, hoisting the carrier out the door.

"Don't worry," Daisy says innocently, "I can carry the rest of the stuff for you."

"I don't trust that tone of voice."

Pippi Longstocking looks out the door of the cat carrier, doing her best to figure out where they are. It's a flat expanse of blacktop for cars to park in, but relatively empty at this time of day so they've managed to park pretty close to the pet store, which is one of several stores all next to each other in the usual manner of a strip mall. 

Though of course, Pippi can't tell it's a strip mall or a pet store, because she is a cat, and cats cannot read and also don't know what these things are. So all she does is look outside with curiosity and interest, without betraying any knowledge that she doesn't have. 

Lug lug lug.

"So since you know nothing about any of this, I'm just going to get you all my favourites, sound good?"

"I guess I have no grounds to object. You're being really ominous about it, though."

"That's just your suspicious and untrusting nature talking." She starts stacking up an armload of pet supplies. "Litterbox, food and water dishes... the grocery store will have food but I'm gonna get you started with some good brands so Pippi will know the difference if you buy her cheap garbage later..."

"Hey!"

The ears definitely do not twitch when Daisy mentions the good brands. Pippi certainly can't understand them. The ears definitely do not twitch and they're not looking in her direction anyways.