What Pet Should I Get? Detailed Summary Summary

Let's Go to the Pet Shop

The narrator (a boy) and his sister named Kay are going to the pet shop. This is going to be totally awesome because their dad told them he'll pay for whatever they pick. (1.11-2.5)
The boy immediately falls in love with this hand-shaking dog (such a gent) but Kay likes a cat. Already they're running into some problems… (3.11-4.7)

Of course, it only gets worse from there.
They see kittens and puppies; they see monkeys and birds—the narrator laments that it's so hard to make up a mind, especially when confronted with all these cuties.
Kay and the boy consider taking home a bird so it can sing to them at home. (5.1-11.4)

Then the narrator sits Kay down and tells her that they have to land on something. Their mother wants them home by noon, and if they don't pick something out, they won't have a pet at all.
He's all ready to make that choice, but then… Kay runs over to the other side of the shop and points out some fish.
Naturally, this sets the whole debate off again and they go galloping through the store, looking at all the animals on display. Oh no, what will they do? (12.1-17.9)

Then the narrator really loses his grip and starts thinking about all the animals he hasn't even seen yet.
He makes up pets in his mind—like one that flies on a string, and a big old yent who sleeps in a tent.
But he and Kay know they have to choose one pet by noon, and it has to be one in the store. They can't just go on like this forever. (18.11-25.5)

In the end, the narrator makes up his mind. He tells Kay what they're getting and she agrees.
They pay for the pet and they take it home. What pet did they get? Well… we'll never know. (26.1-8)