Summary

The short story presents Dawn, a single woman, who wants to adopt a child. Her journey towards adoption begins in winter when she visits the adoption centre. She initially shows restraint, as she will be a single mother, but she is assured by the members of the council that some children prefer to live in a home without a father figure. When she hears the news, she decides to go forward with the adoption. In spring, she is visited by an interviewer who assesses her abilities as a future mother and the living conditions for the child. She explicitly expresses her concern for the presence of Eartha, Dawn’s cat, in the house.

At the beginning of summer, Dawn is given the news that the adoption council has found a match for her. She finds out th...