Larenti has become a permanent fixture on the patio.  Rare is the time when she’s not out there.  A great deal of her initial fear of people has disappeared when she’s around me, although she does on rare occasions still react with something akin to panic when I move my hands unexpectedly.  It startles her in a way that makes clear she was abused by someone before she was thrown out to fend for herself.

I do intend to adopt her.  It will take more time, and there is always the fear she carries some communicable and untreatable ailment that will pose a risk to the rest of The Kids.  Should that wind up being the case, I will have to alter my plans to bring her inside—but I won’t alter my plans to adopt her.  However, such an outcome would create a plethora of issues when I finally move away from Dallas.  But one step at a time. . .