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Jane's mother wasn't very pleased. Jane had come home cradling a tiny kitten inside her coat. It was a dear little thing, all fluffy and warm, but Jane's mother didn't want the hassle of yet another new kitten in the house.

The trouble was, Jane was always finding lost kittens or injured hedgehogs or birds with broken wings, and once a duckling with a broken leg. Jane's mother quite liked animals, but as she kept telling Jane, she wasn't a vet and didn't know how to look after them properly.

Jane didn't think that mattered. As far as she was concerned, the important thing was to love the animals and feed them. It was true that a lot of them recovered their health that way, but nonetheless the vet's bills were getting rather high.

"I'm sorry," Jane's mother said firmly. "Yes, I agree it's a dear little kitten, but we already have four animals in the house and I just can't cope with any more. Besides, it's costing me a fortune. We'd have to take this kitten to the vet to get all its injections, and I'd have to go straight out to buy some special kitten food."

"I'll buy it, "Jane said eagerly. "I'll buy it out of my pocket money. And I'll save up to pay for the injections. If you pay for them now, I'll owe it to you. But I'll pay you each week."

Jane's mother sighed. "It's not just that," she said. "Animals are such a tie. We haven't been away on holiday for three years and I feel so tired. You can put a dog into kennels, but how can you ask anybody to come in and look after lame hedgehogs and baby kittens and sick goslings?"

Jane frowned. "I don't want to go away on holiday," she replied. "I like it here. And besides, I would much rather be looking after my animals than wasting my time on holiday."

"Well, it's all right for you then, isn't it?" Jane's mum said quietly. But as she walked away her face looked rather sad and very tired.

Jane realised for the first time that her mother was getting older. And Jane suddenly felt rather selfish. Until now, Jane had felt rather proud and virtuous as she'd helped all these animals. Everyone else had seemed to think she was rather marvellous too, and the local newspaper had even written a whole article about her with a photograph of her and all her animals.

But now, Jane began to wonder. Perhaps she couldn't go on and on and on helping sick and damaged animals and birds, because all her helping involved other people too and they might not be quite so happy about it. Maybe she shouldn't keep bringing the sick animals home and expecting her Mum to care for them. But if she didn't, who would look after them?

She thought about it for a long while, trying to work out whether there was a different way of helping animals which might perhaps help her mother as well. Then, she quietly gathered up the kitten and slipped out. She went round to her friend Poppy's house and spoke to Poppy's mother. Then she handed over the kitten and went home.

Her mother was sitting in the kitchen with her head in her hands and didn't look up when Jane came in. "I'm sorry, love," said her mother. "You can keep the kitten if you want to. We'll sort it out somehow."

Jane ran over to her mum and hugged her. "I've given the kitten to Poppy," she said. "Poppy's always wanted a kitten and her mum said it was OK." Then she added, "I think I'll try and get a Saturday job. That way I can help pay for the animals we have,and save a bit towards a day out. I don't expect I could afford a full holiday, but I reckon I could save enough for us both to go out for the day. What do you think?"

Jane's Mum hugged her very tightly. "I am lucky to have a daughter like you," she said, "even if it does mean looking after half a dozen animals all the time as well!"

And they both laughed.