We were not all born to be comforting beverages.

Once we get over this, we can get to the business of being pearls.

There’s buoyant business running Suite G, and the Fizzer-in-Chief is Boba. Winningly carbonated, ebulliently opinionated, she is a thousand liters of syllables and silliness, a billion bubbles of springtime.

Tell Boba she has feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and her soap-bubble eyes will shine. “Everyone’s got something! Want to see my cheer routine?”

Tell Boba she has daunting odds, and her streaming tail will wave victory. “Odd wins! Want to see how many Cheez-Its we can balance on our noses?”

Tell Boba she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and she’ll pour you a pot of cheer. “I prefer coffee! Meet my sister! I LOVE MY SISTER! Want to be our sister?”

While Boba boings like a renegade tapioca ball, Espresso watches. They’ve huddled together over many mugs, these sisters, and Espresso knows Boba’s fizz.

Cautious with her caffeine, then warm as Sicily, the soft-spoken sister will rise to you like the steam from your first morning mug.

A path of broken demitasse glasses lies behind these ladies. Life on the street is never quite chamomile, and the kindness of a rescue group is usually refreshing. But a positive FeLV test can make you long for your invisible days. There are few cafes with seating for cats with this most feared disease.

Even if they are talkative tapioca pearls.

Even if they are full-bean elegance.

Even if they are comforting carafes of sisterhood.

But Tabby’s Place is no ordinary mug. We are the sloshing pitcher of promises, the venue with a full menu, the smitten setting for the world’s forgotten pearls.

Which means we had room for not two, but three sisters.

At the same time Boba and Espresso were following the great wide mystery to Tabby’s Place, a thirsty tuxedo was rifling through Rhode Island. With FeLV and little taste for affection, Hoopla Green found no mug that fit her trembling paws.

But good people found Hoopla Green, and they jumped through rings of fire on her behalf.

Hoopla’s eyes were flaming as she settled into Tabby’s Place. What was this New Jersey luau, this hurly-burly hula hoedown with outrageous individuals of two species?

Hoopla came from New England, land of careful reserve and L.L. Bean, lobster rolls and the strength to be small. Everything here was so loud and large, not least of all the overflowing love. These people splashed that stuff everywhere.

Hoopla clutched her pearls.

But then there were those girls. They pronounced “water” a little funny, and they seemed a little too interested in something called cheesesteak, and frankly that Boba never stopped bubbling…but boy, were they kind.

Boba and Espresso didn’t mind that Hoopla didn’t effervesce. They didn’t ask her to be a sweeter beverage. They didn’t ask her to pour herself all over people. They didn’t ask anything but sisterhood.

Hoopla didn’t know how to resist.

And so it was that three priceless girls became family, caffeinated with the courage that comes only to the well-loved.

This may leave you with just one understandable question. Tabby’s Place is known for nutty names, but what in the world is a “Hoopla Green”?

We had the same question. (We can’t take credit for this particular moniker.)

We consulted the highest authorities (Google and Bing).

We should have guessed.

It’s a beautiful pearl.

And if you’re reading this, so are you. Your sisters asked me to tell you.

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