Samantha's Talent by Darrell Bain, Robyn Pass

sir."
    Growlfer didn't mind the shots at all and gobbled his hamburger as often as he was given it. He loved to have Samantha near and was sorry when she said she had to go, but he promised to hold still when he got a pain shot in his big muscular back leg. Samantha stayed until after the first one then she had to leave. Growlfer nuzzled her face, almost knocking her over with his weight but then his tongue came out and licked her face. It felt like a very rough but friendly wet cloth. She laughed and hugged him.
    "Goodbye, Growlfer. You be good now and I'll try to come back and see you again."
    She left the tiger behind and a tear leaked from each eye and rolled down her cheeks. She couldn't help it; she was just so happy that Growlfer was healed and not suffering such awful pain.
    Dr. Summers put an arm around her. "You can come back any time, Samantha. And thank you again. Thank you so much for helping."
    "You're welcome, ma'am. I'm going to be a veterinarian when I grow up."
    "Well, you'll make a good one! Now I think your father is waiting.
    After Samantha and her father were gone the veterinarian sat and reflected on all that had happened since her first encounter with the young girl and the tiger. Growlfer , she thought. It suits him . And I swear, she can really talk to him and make him understand exactly what she says. I know it's impossible but how else to explain how easily she controls such a fierce carnivore? I wouldn't have dared try the things she seemed to perform so nonchalantly. I believe I need to talk to Dr. Masters and see what we can do for her. She deserves more than just our thanks, but her family certainly doesn't want any publicity. We'll have to be careful.
    ***
    Once Samantha and Ronald were home, Elaine found that she had missed her daughter and husband so much that she wasn't even mad, not then. She hugged Samantha to her breast and both cried together, glad that everything had worked out so well. And best of all, so far the secrecy was holding.
    Two days later the family was having supper when the home phone, a land line, rang. Ronald got up from the table and answered it.
    "Hello," he said then began speaking with mostly single words or very short sentences.
    "Yes, it is."
    "Why do you ask?"
    "Yes, we do."
    "I suppose so." He sighed heavily with those words.
    "I don't believe it would be a good idea right now."
    "Give me your office or home number and I'll call you back later."
    "Yes, that's right. Goodbye." He paused to write a name and number on the note pad by the phone then returned to the supper table.
    "Who was that, dear?"
    Ronald sometimes concealed things Samantha did with animals from his wife but very seldom outright lied to her, partly because he was a very poor at it and she always found him out, but mainly because he hated lying. He and Elaine had taught Samantha that lying wasn't usually a good idea, too. "That was the zoo's veterinarian, Dr. Summers, wanting to thank Sammie again for the diagnosis and for her help with the tiger. She wanted to let her know how well the tiger is doing and she would like to see her again."
    "I still don't think I've heard the whole story. Neither of you said much about your visit to the zoo."
    "I just talked with the tiger once, Mom, but honest, I just forgot because Growlfer was hurting so bad from a sore tooth he could hardly eat. After he told me, then I told the veterinarian but she didn't believe me. That's why Growlfer came looking for me, because I told him I'd try to get him some help. Honest, I didn't know anyone was listening."
    Before her mother could begin chastising her all over again, Ronald came to her defense. "Dr. Summers didn't believe her, honey, even when Sammie just explained she had noticed why she thought the tiger wasn't eating. She didn't say a thing about talking to him."
    "So the vet wants to thank her in person now. She's already thanked her, according to Sammie. You know what this will mean if we let it go any further,