Lost In The Storm. Sky the Unwanted Kitten. Ginger The Stray Kitten. Alone In The Night. Misty The Abandoned Kitten

3. LOST IN THE STORM

Chapter One

Fluff the kitten was lying in her basket on her back, showing off her furry tummy and snoring a little. She wasn’t deeply asleep, just dozing, with her paws tucked under her chin. Her little body only took up one corner of the basket. Fluff was getting bigger, just not very fast. The basket was in a patch of winter sunshine, and it was deliciously cosy. She was planning to spend as much of the afternoon aspossible like this. She needed to keep her energy up, after all, for when Ella got home from school and wanted to play.

Ella’s mum walked past, and Fluff opened one eye thoughtfully. Was there any chance of a snack? Ella’s mum reached down to tickle her behind the ears. She hadn’t wanted Ella to have a cat at first. When she and Ella first met Fluff at the farm where she’d been born, Mum had called Fluff a dirty, scruffy little kitten, and told Ella she could have a goldfish instead. (Fluff was a little sad that Ella didn’t have a goldfish, actually.She would have liked one.) But when she’d seen how upset Ella was, and understood that she really was old enough to look after a kitten properly, she’d changed her mind. Now she fussed over Fluff almost as much as Ella did. Fluff purred at the attention, and waved her paws idly. Ella’s mum stroked the silky fur on Fluff ’s tummy, and laughed. She reached for the packet of cat treats on the counter. Fluff sprang out of her basket in half a second, standing on tiptoe with her paws against the cupboard door, scrabbling to get closer.

“I shouldn’t be doing this.” Mum shook her head. “You eat far too many of these. You’ll get too big for your basket.”

Fluff delicately nibbled the prawn-flavoured treat out of Mum’s hand, and pranced back to her basket. She knew Ella’s mum was joking. The basket was huge! Fluff liked to lie up against one edge of it, to make it seem a bit smaller. She had a feeling that Ella and her dad had gone a bit over the top in the pet shop.

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After Fluff had run away from the farm to escape being taken home by a horrible boy who wanted to feed her to next door’s German shepherd dog, Ella and her family had finally found her again a couple of days before Christmas. It had been the snowiest Christmas for twenty years, so Ella hadn’t been able to go out and buy Fluff a Christmas present. She’d made up for it when the snow thawed, spending most of herChristmas money from Grandma on cat toys. Ella walked past a pet shop on her way home from school, and she liked to pop in and spend her pocket money on things for Fluff. Fluff didn’t mind at all – she wasvery fond of those prawn-flavoured cat treats…

Suddenly, Fluff pricked up her ears. She could hear someone opening the front door. Ella was back from school!

“I’m home!” Ella called, and Fluff bounded up to the front door to twine herself round Ella’s legs lovingly. She enjoyed having a nice sniff of the outdoors as well, poking her nose round the edge of the door.

Ella scooped her up gently.“Hey! No running off, Fluff!”

Fluff rubbed her head up and down Ella’s chin. She wasn’t trying to run off. It would just be fun to go and have a wander around outside. She hadn’t been allowed out much since Ella and her family had adopted her, and sometimes it could be a little bit boring, being an indoor cat. Ella took her out in the garden at the weekends, but it was too dark when she got home from school. Fluff loved the garden, scratching the tree bark, chasing leaves, watching the bird table. She wished she could go and explore more when they were out, but she could see how worried Ella was about her getting lost again, so she stayed close by. Fluff thought it was a bit silly though – as if she could get lost by just investigating next door’s garden! She’d only been lost before because she had been so young. She was a bit bigger now, and she could find her way anywhere, she was sure.

“I brought you home a present!” Ella said, as she shut the door. She carried Fluff into the kitchen, gave her mum a quick hug, and started to root around in her school bag.

“Another trip to the pet shop?” Mum asked, half-annoyed, half-laughing. “That cat is going to think it’s Christmas every day.”

Ella looked a little guilty. The pet shop was on her way home from school, and she was allowed to pop in, as long as she didn’t take long. Mum liked to know where she was. “I know. But you did say she needed a collar. They haven’t had any really nice ones before, but look at this!” She held up a beautiful blue leather collar. “Isn’t it gorgeous? And look, it’s got a place for her name and everything.” Shefastened it round Fluff ’s neck, and Fluff shook her head briskly, not sure about this new feeling.

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“It’s a bit big,” Ella said, studying it thoughtfully. “But I suppose she’ll grow into it, won’t she? It looks beautiful.” Dangling from the collar was a little round golden tag. “You could choose,” Ella explained. “If I go back to the shop they can put her name on it. But I wanted to check what else we should put. Should we have our address engraved on it as well, in case she gets lost?”

Mum looked thoughtful for a moment.“Actually, I think just our phone number. Not even her name. I know it sounds silly, but if we put her name on, it means everyone knows it, and someone could call her over. We don’t want anyone to find it easy to steal our gorgeous kitten, do we?”

Ella looked horrified.“No! I didn’t think of that. Just the phone number then.” She picked Fluff up again and held her tight, so tight that Fluff wriggled after a few seconds, trying to get down.

“Hey! Ella, it’s OK. It’s just a safety thing. It’s really, really unlikely.” Mum gave her an anxious look. “I know you love Fluff, and of course we don’t want to lose her, but I think you’re just worrying too much. Fluff ’s growing up now, and cats are very independent. I think you’re going to have to let her out on her own soon.”

Ella looked down at Fluff, who was now sniffing at the counter, hoping for more treats.“But what if she gets lost again?” she asked.

Mum sat down next to her.“There’s no reason why she should, Ella. Cats have a really good sense of direction. She won’t just go running off for no reason, she’ll look around, make sure she knows how to get back. She’s clever, isn’t she?”

Ella nodded.“Yes,” she agreed, and then she added doubtfully, “but she was lost before.”

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“She was really little then, and it wasn’t her fault, anyway. She’d never been away from the farm. And she found you, didn’t she? That shows you just how amazing her instincts are.”

“Mmm.” It was true. They’d never understood how Fluff had found her way back to them, but Ella couldn’t believe it was just a coincidence.

“I think we ought to get Dad to put a cat flap in the back door. Then Fluff will be able to come in and out when she wants to.”

“OK,” Ella agreed reluctantly, still anxiously eyeing Fluff. She was such a small kitten, even now she’d grown a bit – and even with her podgy cat-treat- filled tummy. Would she really be safe out on her own?

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At the weekend, Ella’s dad went with her to the pet shop to buy Fluff a cat flap. It was the first time that Ella had been there and not enjoyed it. Normally she just wandered round wishing she had more money to buy presents for Fluff! Now she stared worriedly at the display of collars while Dad and the pet shop owner discussed different sorts of cat flap. The engraved disk for Fluff ’s collar was ready for them to pick up, too, but Ella’s excitement about it was almost gone. It had been replaced by a sense of relief that when Fluff went out of her new cat flap and disappeared, at least there was a chance that someone would find her and call.

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The cat flap was a clever one that could be locked, or set so Fluff could only go through it one way. It was a pain to fit, though. Ella’s dad had to saw a chunk out of the back door, and it took him ages. When it was finally finished, Ella crouched on the lawn waving the prawn-flavoured cat treats to tempt Fluff through. It didn’t take her long to get the idea, although she looked very surprised when she first tried it. She had her front legs on the doorstep and her back legs in the kitchen, and she wasn’t quite sure where her tummy was. She gave a panicked sort of wriggle, and suddenly all of her was in the garden. Fluff looked round suspiciously, not entirely sure how it had happened.

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“Clever Fluff,” Ella whispered, rewarding her with cat treats. “Do you like your new cat flap, mmm? You will be careful though, won’t you?” She scratched Fluff ’s favourite behind-the-ears spot. “You stay close to the garden.” Ella gulped. “No running out into the road, Fluff!”

Fluff purred as Ella petted her. She wasn’t sure she completely understood this cat flap business yet, but it seemed to mean that she could just go out whenever she wanted to! And then get back in again for a snooze in her basket – it sounded brilliant to her, but she could hear in Ella’s voice that she wasn’t completely happy about it. She rubbed herself all round Ella twice in a comforting way, making her giggle.I won’t run away, she promised.Don’t worry.

For the first few days, Fluff kept her expeditions confined to the garden. There was plenty to explore there anyway. Ella had quite a big garden, long and narrow. Her mum loved gardening, and there were big flower beds, which Fluff wasn’t much interested in, but also lots of exciting corners and pockets. Best of all was a tall old apple tree, its branches starting quite low to the ground. Ella had a swing in it, which she loved to sit and daydream on. The apple tree was Fluff ’s first real chance to practise climbing, and it made a brilliant claw-sharpener, too.

But after a little while, Fluff had found all the interesting things in her garden, and she scrambled up the fence to look down at next door. She’d seen Mrs Jones, Ella’s neighbour, before. Ella had held Fluff up to the fence to be admired, and Mrs Jones had commented on her beautiful markings. Fluff hadn’t had a chance to see much of the garden, but now she noticed something very exciting. She plunged down the other side of the fencewith an undignified scrabble of claws, and stopped at the bottom for a calming lick of her ruffled fur. Then she set off to investigate. Mrs Jones’s garden had a pond! With fish in it, Fluff soon discovered. She whiled away the rest of the afternoon perched on the rocks by the side of the water, dreamily watching the fish darting to and fro. Was it her imagination, or were they swimming slightly faster, looking a little more worried? Obviously she would need practice, but Fluff was fairly sure that if she dipped a paw in and held it still, she would be able to catch a fish…

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Fluff was so interested in the fish that she almost forgot to get back to the house before Ella arrived home from school. She didn’t want Ella to worry that she’d got lost, and of course, she loved to see her. She could always tell when it was nearly time for Ella to be back.

Fluff sprang up from her place on the rocks, and scooted halfway up Mrs Jones’s fence before she’d even realized she was climbing. Then she nearly slid backwards, and had to jab her claws in hard to stay on. Embarrassed, she flung herself up and over and streaked across the lawn to the cat flap. Ella was just coming in the front door, and Mum laughed as Fluff shot through the flap.

“Just in time, Fluff! Oh, you’re all out of breath.”

Fluff glared up at her, and sat down in the middle of the kitchen floor, curling her tail round her legs in a dignified pose. She was trying not to look like a kitten who’d nearly fallen off a fence, but her whiskers were still twitchy with excitement. Outside might be a bit dangerous, but she did love it!

Chapter Two

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It was mid-February, and it had suddenly got cold again. Ella was extra-glad to have Fluff sleeping on her feet at night. Mum and Dad had said that she was supposed to sleep in her basket, but they pretended not to notice that actually she always curled up with Ella. Mostly she stayed at the end of the bed, but a couple of times Ella had gone to sleep cuddling her, and Fluff slept snuggled under her chin.

Ella woke up early that morning. The duvet was huddled up around her shoulders where she’d wriggled herself down in the cold of the night. Fluff was pacing up and down the window sill, mewing excitedly.

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“Fluff!” Ella moaned. “It’s not even properly light yet, what’s the matter?” Then she sat up, confused. It was almost light, but the room looked different somehow. And why was Fluff making such a fuss? Ella wrapped the duvet round her shoulders like a cloak and padded over to the window.

“Oh, wow! It’s snowed again!” she exclaimed as she peered out.

It had snowed very heavily just before Christmas, when Fluff was lost, but the cold snap hadn’t lasted long. January had just been grim and wet.

“Why does it have to be a school day?” Ella sighed. “It’ll be too dark to play outside much after school.”

Ella tried to argue at breakfast that school would probably be closed because of the snow, but Mum said it would have been announced on the radio. She promised faithfully to help Ella build an entire family of snowmen when she got back, and they dug out wellies and scarves and hats for the walk. Ella normally walked on her own to school. It wasn’t very far, and she met up with lots of her friends, but today Mum said she’d go too, at least most of the way, because she was worried Ella might slip over in the snow.

“Don’t go out today, Fluff,” Ella said, as she struggled to pull her wellies on over two pairs of socks. “It’s really cold, and the snow’s very deep. You’d probably sink up to your whiskers. Stay in the house and keep nice and warm.”

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Fluff snuggled into her basket and snoozed for a while, but she was itching to go outside. Despite what Ella had said, Fluff really wanted to investigate the snow. She padded over to the cat flap and peered out. The snow was brand new and inviting. She couldn’t see any tracks in it, just a sheet of crunchy, sparkling white. She pushed the cat flap open gently with her nose, and sniffed. The snow smelled so fresh, and she could hear the wind blowing through the trees, the snow falling from the branches with softwhumpf noises. How could she stay inside? She wouldn’t go far…

Fluff eased herself out of the cat flap, shaking her paws daintily as they hit the snow. She knew all about snow, of course. Her long journey from the farm to Ella’s house had nearly ended in disaster when she was caught in a snowstorm. But today she was just going for a quick look around. Nothing could go wrong. She’d explore the snowy garden, and as soon as she felt cold or tired, she could go back inside to warm up, and probably beg some cat treats from Ella’s mum. Ella was just being too careful, Fluff thought. It was nice that Ella wanted to look after her, but really, she could look after herself!

Fluff’s paws sank deeply into the snow. It must have been snowing for most of the night, as there was a thick layer over everything. The garden looked completely different, covered in strange lumps where the plants had been. Fluff looked down and saw her paw prints in the snow – the only ones. It was very exciting to be the only animal outside. She gave a little jump to make more prints, scattering her tracks around the lawn in a pattern.

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It was still snowing a little, the flakes drifting down idly, tickling Fluff’s whiskers. She sat up on her back legs and tried to catch them with her front paws, but the snowflakes floated on the wind, and it was hard to tell where they were going. One particularly large flake came twirling down past Fluff ’s nose, and she whisked her paws at it. It seemed to dodge, she twirled around to chase it and suddenly she was flat on her tummy in the snow. Fluff stood up quickly, checking that no one had seen her slide. The snowflake had disappeared into the thousands of other snowflakes, and Fluff spat snow out of her mouth crossly. She plunged off across the garden to find something else to do.

Suddenly she noticed that hers weren’t the only tracks any more. A delicate pattern of forked prints was spattered over the snow by the fence. And perched on top of the fence, eyeing her cautiously, was a blackbird!

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It whistled shrilly and hopped down into the next-door garden. Fluff trotted along the path of tracks eagerly. She’d got the hang of walking in the snow again now, lifting her paws higher than usual. The tracks led underneath the fence, and Fluff wriggled after them, not even remembering that she’d planned to stay in her own garden. The blackbird was on the bird table now, gobbling breadcrumbs that she’dput out. It must have been that morning, because Fluff could see the prints of Mrs Jones’s wellies in the snow. She gazed hopefully up at the blackbird for a while, but it just squawked and chattered at her angrily. Clearly it didn’t fancy coming down to be chased. She hopped from footprint to footprint instead, and realized that Mrs Jones must have gone down to check on the pond as well. Her prints led right up to the edge. Fluff stood in them and leaned over to look. The pond was frozen! She could see the water-plants poking out in places, snow drifted up around them, but most of the pond was covered with strange, clear, greenish ice. Fluff couldn’t see the fish at all, they must be hiding away at the bottom. Cautiously, she put a paw on the ice, and it skidded. She jumped back quickly. She’d already fallen over once, and the ice was horribly cold.

The pond was close to Mrs Jones’s fence, and there was an inviting gap underneath. The next garden smelled really interesting; somehow the cold was making all the smells so much better! Fluff flattened herself to the ground and squirmed through the gap, her whiskers twitching excitedly. Then she squirmed some more, and then she wriggled. Then she stopped wriggling. She wasn’t going anywhere. She was stuck!

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Chapter Three

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Fluff hunched her shoulders worriedly, trying to work out what had gone wrong. The gap had looked perfectly big enough– her whiskers had fitted through, so the rest of her should have been able to. Then she realized – it was her collar. It had caught on something, maybe a nail sticking out of the fence. Suddenly Fluff panicked and started to struggle, pulling backwards and forwards desperately, mewing frantically and scrabbling with her paws. She mewed for Ella to come and help her, forgetting that Ella was at school. But after a couple of minutes she was too exhausted to struggle any longer, and she slumped to the ground, her neck aching where the collar was pulling at her.

Fluff lay panting miserably, wondering what to do. She supposed she would just have to wait for someone to rescue her. When she didn’t get home in time to meet Ella from school, they would start to worry, wouldn’t they? Or maybe Mrs Jones would come out to look at her pond again. Fluff shivered. It was going to be a horribly long, cold wait.

Fluff mewed with frustration. It was just so stupid. Her collar was too big, and it had got caught. It wasn’t her fault! She gave a furious wriggle, and suddenly felt the collar stretch. Perhaps instead of trying to pull the collar off the fence, she should be trying to get out of the collar altogether. She pulled downwards, trying to stretch the collar even more. It hurt a bit, but the collar did seem to give. Now if she could just pull herself backwards…

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Fluff popped out of the collar, feeling as though she might have pulled her ears off. She twitched them. No, they were still there. She’d done it! Feeling very proud of herself, she examined the collar. There wasn’t a nail, just a sharp splinter of wood sticking out of the fence. Fluff hadn’t been as far as the next garden on her travels before, so as she came out from under the fence she looked around carefully, trying to work out if this was another cat’s territory, or even worse, if there was a dog around. Everything smelled all right, but she wasn’t sure how the snow changed smells, and she wanted to be extra cautious. As she sat watching, she noticed a strange metal thing in the middle of the garden, a pole, with things hanging from it. Fluff sat with her head on one side, trying to work out what it might be. Suddenly two birds flew down to perch on the hanging bits, and she realized it was full of birdseed. Fluff ’s ears pricked forward, and she sank into a hunting crouch. If only she could get closer… Fluff hadn’t had much opportunity to practise her hunting skills yet, but she was keen to learn. Her mother had tried to teach her how to catch mice back at the farm, but Fluff thought birds looked more fun to chase.

With a heavy flumping sound, a pair of enormously fat wood pigeons thumped down on to the snowy grass. They were too big to perch on the feeders, but there were a few bits of seed and nuts scattered about in the snow underneath, and the pigeons set to gobbling them up greedily.

Fluff’s heart began to beat faster with excitement. This was her chance! How pleased Ella would be if Fluff brought her back a pigeon! She left her hiding place and crawled closer on her tummy, low to the ground, her paws muffled by the snow. The pigeons completely ignored her, too busy making sure they didn’t miss any bits of seed that might be half-buried in the snow. With a massive burst of energy, Fluff pounced, fastening her teeth into the tail of the nearest pigeon, which let out a loud squawk of surprise. She’d done it! She’d actually caught something!

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The pigeon looked round, saw that it was being attacked by a cat in the middle of its lunch, and panicked. All right, so it was only a very small cat, but then pigeons are known for having very small brains.

Squawking in horror, the pigeon tried to fly away, but this was a bit difficult with a cat attached to a vital part of its flying equipment. Fluff hung on grimly as the wings beat up and down. Her first catch wasnot getting away. Seeing that flapping wasn’t going to work, the pigeon changed its tactics, and began to runand flap, trying to build up some speed to help lift itself off the ground. Rather like a feathery plane thundering down the runway, it set off across the lawn. Fluff was dragged along behind like a waterskier, her paws making great tracks in the snow.

At last the pigeon managed enough lift and pulled itself off the ground with a mighty effort, taking Fluff with it. Her front paws left the ground, and she peered down worriedly. Surely the pigeon couldn’t actually fly off with her… There was no way she was going to let go! Luckily for Fluff, the tail gave up instead. A great clump of feathers came right out, and the pigeon flew off looking decidedly bald. It landed clumsily at the top of a nearby tree, and squawked abuse at Fluff, furiously preening its mangled tail. Fluff sat on the ground, panting and spitting feathers. Did that count as catching a pigeon? she wondered. Could she claim it as half a pigeon, perhaps? She heaved a happy sigh, and spat out a last feather.

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Fluff gazed up at the pigeon, still angrily squawking at her, and noticed that it had started to snow again. She danced around the lawn, pouncing on the twirling snowflakes. This was so much fun! It was cold, of course, but her thick fur was keeping her cosy, and in a few minutes she would head back to her cat flap and the lovely warm house. She chased round and round, whisking her tail, still full of excitement after her hunt. The snow was coming in big, thick flakes now, large enough to snap at with her teeth.

Fluff was enjoying herself so much that she didn’t notice how heavy the snow was becoming. The pigeons and the other birds had disappeared, and it was terribly quiet. Fluff opened her mouth and tried to catch a particularly plump and dizzy snowflake, and then looked around in surprise. She couldn’t see! The whole garden was a mass of whirling white and grey, and Fluff couldn’t see anything beyond two whisker-lengths away. She shuddered. This was too much like her scary journey a couple of months before. She needed to get home at once. But – where was home? Fluff gulped. She couldn’t even see the fence.

A gust of icy wind rushed at Fluff, and she felt as though it had blown right through her. Her ears were laid back against her head, and the snowflakes felt like stabbing needles as they blew into her fur.

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Worriedly, she peered around her. She could just about see the tree that the pigeon had flown into, so the fence must be over there somewhere. Leaning into the wind, she ploughed forward. It was so cold now! Oh, at last, there was the fence. Fluff’s panicky feeling eased a little. She only had to get across next-door’s garden and she would be home. She wriggled under the fence, and then followed her nose straight across. She was nearly there – and once she was back home, she wasnot coming out again. Not till it stopped snowing, anyway.

Fluff almost bumped into the next fence, but she didn’t mind, she was just so glad to see it. She popped out from underneath; she was back in her garden!

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Except– this didn’t look like her garden. Even with the snow everywhere, it didn’t feel right. Ella’s garden had lots of little walls and hedges and things, but this garden was big and flat. Had she miscounted the number of fences? Fluff didn’t think she’d gone into another garden after next-door-but-one, but perhaps in the excitement of exploring, she had…?

Feeling frightened, she scurried across this strange garden to the next fence, hoping desperately that this time she would see somewhere she knew. The snow was drifting up against the fences now, and she had to half-burrow through. Hopefully, she pushed the snow out of the way with her nose, and stared around. This garden was full of play equipment, a slide and a little wooden house, half covered in snow.

Fluff had never been here before. Fluff had gone the wrong way in the storm– and now she was completely lost!

Chapter Four

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Fluff stood still for a while, sniffing the air, hoping to catch a familiar scent that would lead her home. But the snow deadened the smells as well as the noises, and Fluff felt completely blind. What should she do? Had she gone past Ella’s house in the storm somehow? Should she be going back or forwards?

One thing was certain. Shehad to move somewhere. Sitting still wouldn’t keep her warm. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones – even her whiskers ached with it. The awful thing was, she might be going even further away from home! Miserably, Fluff forced her paws to keep plodding on through the deep snow. Without realizing, she slipped through a gap in a broken-down old fence at the bottom of a garden, and strayed into the old wood that ran along behind the houses on Ella’s street. It was even harder going. She was wading through drifted snow under tall and menacing trees. Fluff knew she’d never been anywhere like this before, and it made her shudder. The trees seemed to wave their dark arms at her, and their roots tripped her up. It felt as though they did it on purpose, sending her rolling into hollows of deep snow, so she had to struggle and fight her way out. Every time it happened, Fluff grew just a little bit more tired.

It was getting dark, and even harder to see. Fluff wished sadly that she had listened to Ella, and never gone out in the snow. She still didn’t quite understand how she had managed to get so lost. One minute she had known exactly where she was, and the next she’d had no idea. It had all happened so fast. Fluff shivered. There was nothing she could do about it now. She needed to rest, but where could she go? There were a few places under the trees, where the roots had made little burrows, but they didn’t look very warm. Fluff needed somewhere out of the biting wind.

Suddenly, something loomed up out of the gloom. Fluff peered forward doubtfully. It certainly wasn’t a tree. In fact, it looked more like a house.

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With a fresh burst of energy, she trotted forward, picking her way carefully over the snow. It was a tumbledown old cottage, built for the gamekeeper who guarded the wood, but it had been empty now for years and years. The door was boarded up, but there were plenty of holes where a small cat could creep in. Fluff sighed with relief as she squeezed herself between the boards. Even just inside the door the difference was wonderful– no more freezing wind slicing through her fur.

Staggering with tiredness, Fluff headed further in, looking for somewhere comfortable to sleep. Gratefully she spotted a pile of old blankets in one corner. They were smelly and stained, but Fluff wasn’t feeling fussy. She burrowed in, wanting to be as warm as possible, and hollowed herself out a little nest in the rags. She closed her eyes, wrapped her tail round her nose, and let a warm tide of sleep wash over her. All at once she was back home, with Ella, being stroked, and fed cat treats.

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But then she heard a noise. Fluff twitched in her sleep, fighting to stay in her lovely dream. Oh, she didn’twant to wake up, and be back in this cold, real adventure! Something was breaking into her dream– a mewing sound. Fluff sighed. It was no good, she wasn’t asleep any more. She poked her head up from her blanket nest, and gazed round grumpily. She couldn’t see anything, and the cottage was silent, except for the eerie shrieking of the wind outside. Was it that she’d heard? It must havebeen. Fluff was just settling back down to sleep when she heard the mewing again.

Something was crying for help!

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Ella rushed home– as fast as she could in slippery wellies – full of news about her fun day. School had been all about snow – talking about snowflake patterns in science, writing snow poems in English, and lots and lots of playing outside in the snow at lunch and break.

“We had a brilliant snowball fight,” Ella told her mum happily, as she watched her make a mug of hot chocolate. “Oooh, can I have marshmallows, please? Excellent.” She took the chocolate and sat down, sipping it slowly. “Yum. It’s so cold out there, Mum, my fingers are freezing, even though I had my gloves on.” She gripped the warm mug tightly. “They’re only just thawing out.” Ella took a big mouthful of chocolate, and sighed happily. It was nice to be back inside. “It’s so cool that it’s Friday, and we’ve got the whole weekend free. Can we go sledging in the park tomorrow?” Then she looked round, suddenly realizing that she hadn’t seen Fluff since she got back. “Mum, where’s Fluff? She didn’t go out, did she?” Ella asked anxiously.

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Her mum looked surprised.“But she’s got her cat flap now, Ella, she’s allowed outside! I saw her playing in the garden earlier.”

Ella looked worried.“I told her not to. I was scared she’d get lost in the snow again. I suppose it was silly to think she wouldn’t go out.”

“I don’t think you need to worry, Ella,” her mum said reassuringly. “Fluff ’s not a baby any more. I know she’s still tiny, but shehas grown! She’s definitely old enough to be out there.”

“But it’s been snowing really hard today, Mum! And Fluffalways comes back to see me when I get home from school. Always.” Ella got up to peer out of the kitchen window. “The snow’s really deep in the garden. She could easily have got confused about where she was going. Oh, why didn’t I just lock the cat flap?”

“Ella, it’s not fair to lock it, unless we really need to. Fluff wouldn’t understand why she couldn’t go out. She’d just get upset.” But Ella’s mum came to join her at the window. “You’re right though, it is odd that she isn’t back yet. I wonder where she’s got to.”

“We should go out and look for her,” Ella said, heading for the hallway to put all her outdoor things back on.

“Oh, Ella, no, I’m sure we don’t need to. Sit down, finish your hot chocolate. Honestly, Fluff was having a lovely time out there earlier on. She was playing with the snowflakes. She’s probably just got too caught up with exploring. I’m sure she’ll be home in a minute.”

Ella trailed reluctantly back to the table. She knew Mum was right, but something was still niggling at her. Fluff hadnever missed meeting her before.

Ella’s mum didn’t sit back down, but stayed thoughtfully staring out of the window. She wished she was as sure as she was making out to Ella. She didn’t think Fluff was lost, but shewas worried. Fluff should have been back– was she hiding out somewhere, waiting for the snow to stop? She just couldn’t help feeling that it was an awfully cold day for a small kitten to be stuck outside…

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

Fluff stood up, her whiskers twitching. Usually hearing another cat would have made her fur stand on end, and she’d be wanting to fight and defend her territory. But there was something about that cry. She didn’t think that the cat making that noise was going to be putting up much of a fight. She picked her way out of her blanket nest, and stood still, listening carefully. She’d been so sleepy when she heard the mewing that she wasn’t quite sure where it had come from.

There it was again. So quiet. So weak. Fluff listened anxiously. The other cat wasn’t in this room, she was almost sure. She picked her way over the rubbish and fallen bricks, and peered through the doorway. The cottage was tiny, only two rooms. The inner room was full of broken furniture, and Fluff leaped up on to an old chair to try and see what was happening. The room was silent, and she looked around worriedly. She was sure she hadn’t imagined it. Although – the mew had seemed to be part of her dream at first…No! There it was again. The cry was coming from a battered cupboard on the other side of the room. Fluff wove her way carefully through the junk, and nosedat the door. It swung open slightly, and cautiously she stuck her head inside.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_23]

Staring back at her out of the gloom was an enormous pair of green eyes.

The mew came again, and Fluff watched in horror as a tiny white kitten struggled to its feet, desperately trying to reach her.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_24]

The kitten could hardly stand, and at once Fluff jumped into the cupboard, nosing the little creature gently. She towered over it. This kitten was far too young to be on her own! She looked as though she was only just old enough to eat food, rather than milk from her mother. Wherewas her mother? Fluff could smell that at least one other cat had been here. Maybe this was where the kitten had been born. Cats often chose odd places to have their kittens–she had been born in a stable, and the horse it belonged to hadn’t been happy at all.

But the mother cat’s scent was fading. This kitten had been alone for a while, Fluff thought. She had to be starving. She was nuzzling hopefully at Fluff, as though she thought Fluff might have brought her some food, but eventually she gave up, and collapsed down again. The cupboard was lined with rags, like the nest Fluff had made, and the white kitten lay down, curling herself up tight. She looked cold. Fluff lay down gently, curling herself around the kitten, like her own mother used to snuggle up to Fluff and her brothers and sisters.

The kitten mewed again, an even smaller sound this time, but she sounded pleased. Fluff purred comfortingly. Go to sleep. Maybe we can find your mother, she thought. But she had a horrible feeling that the kitten’s mother was far away. Somehow they’d been separated.

Fluff rested her head gently next to the little white ears, watching anxiously as the kitten twitched her way to sleep. Fluff’s tummy rumbled, but at least she’d had breakfast, which was more than she guessed the kitten had. She could feel the tiny body warming up, and her own eyes began to close.

Curled around each other, the two cats slept, alone in the snowy night.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_25]

Chapter Five

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Ella got up at six the next morning. It was still practically dark, but she didn’t care. She felt as though she hadn’t slept at all, though she supposed she must have done. All her plans for a weekend of fun in the snow had gone – Fluff still wasn’t back. Ella went downstairs, put on her winter coat, hat and scarf, and unlocked the back door. The cat flap swung open asshe went out, and she felt like kicking it. Sheshould have locked it, no matter what Mum said. She would rather have a grumpy Fluff than no Fluff at all.

Out in the back garden the snow looked even deeper. There must have been another big fall in the night. Ella shivered. It was really freezing, even wrapped up as she was. She sighed. The garden looked so beautiful, all white with patches of green and icicles hanging from the branches. It was like a Christmas card– there was even a robin perched on the fence, looking at her hopefully to see if she was about to put crumbs out. Ella smiled a very small smile. If Fluff had been here, she would have been jumping up and down under the fence trying to get him. But all that proved was that Fluff definitelywasn’t anywhere in the garden. Tucking her hands under her arms to try and keep them warm, Ella walked down the path– or rather, where she thought the path ought to be, as she couldn’t see it at all.

“Fluff! Fluff, come on. Breakfast!” she called, trying to sound cheerful.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_26]

She stared round the garden, willing a stripy little furry body to come shooting out of the bushes. Then her heart leaped as she saw something moving at the bottom of the garden.“Fluff!” she squeaked delightedly, running towards her. “Oh, Fluff, you had me so worried. You bad cat, I thought I’d lost you again. Oh!” Ella stopped still as the strange cat stared up at her in surprise. It looked rather offended – as though it had been minding its own business, going for a morning walk, and suddenly it was being chased by a screaming girl. It twitched its tail irritably, and strolled on over the snow in a very dignified and haughty way, deliberately ignoring Ella.

“Sorry…” Ella whispered after it. She knew it was stupid to apologize to a cat, but it seemed to be the kind of cat who would expect her to. Now she could see it properly, it didn’t even look much like Fluff. It was loads bigger, and its tabby coat was more spotted than striped. Trying not to cry, she plodded back to the house.

Her parents were in the kitchen making breakfast. They were both dressed, which wasn’t normal for a Saturday. Usually everyone got up slowly, enjoying the weekend.

“Any luck?” Ella’s dad asked. “We heard you calling.”

Ella shook her head.

“I thought I saw her,” she said miserably. “But it was another cat.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_27]

“I’m sure she’s just waiting for the snow to stop,” Ella’s mum said briskly. “She’ll be back soon. Sit down and have some breakfast, Ella.”

“The snowhas stopped,” Ella pointed out, as she perched on the very edge of a chair. “So why isn’t she back?”

Ella’s parents glanced at each other with raised eyebrows, and she glared at them. “You’re not taking this seriously!” she burst out. “Fluff ’s lost, I’m sure she is. We have to go and look for her.”

Her dad sighed.“I have to say, I’m surprised she isn’t back. She’s never stayed out this long before, has she?”

Ella’s mum nodded reluctantly. “I suppose not. I’ve just been hoping she’d pop through the cat flap any minute, but maybe we should go and look for her. We should probably start by asking the neighbours if they’ve seen her.”

Ella leaped up from the chair, heading for the door.

“Ella!” her mum yelled after her. “It’s half-past six! On a Saturday! You cannot go and wake up the whole street. Eat some breakfast first.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

A couple of hours later, Ella and her parents had asked up and down the street, but no one had seen Fluff. Everyone was upset to hear she was missing– lots of the neighbours had said how sweet she was, and how she often came up to be stroked and fussed over. Ella’s parents had asked people to keep an eye out, and check that she wasn’t shut in any garages or sheds.

“Mrs Jones’s curtains are open now,” Ella pointed out, as they trudged back up the street. “Can we go and ask her? Fluff loves her garden, she spends ages watching her fish in the pond.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_28]

“We might as well,” her mum agreed.

Mrs Jones was horrified.“Poor thing,” she said, sounding really worried. “It’s so cold out. Oh, Ella, I’m sorry,” she added, seeing Ella’s eyes fill with tears. “You must be beside yourself, especially with her being lost before. I’m sure she’ll turn up. She’s such a bright little thing. She’s probably just found herself a nice warm spot to see the snow out.”

“Have you been out in your garden?” Ella said, sniffing. “She might be by your pond.”

“The pond’s frozen,” Mrs Jones replied. “I saw her looking at it yesterday, she seemed very confused.” She shook her head. “I don’t think she’s out there now, Ella, but you’re welcome to go and check.” She held the door open. “Why don’t you all come and have a cup of tea, you must be freezing.”

She led the way into the kitchen, and unlocked her garden door for Ella to go out. Ella’s parents sat down gratefully. They were just sipping the tea, when Ella dashed back in, tears streaming down her face.

“Ella! What is it?” her mum asked, leaping up. “What’s happened? Is Fluff—?”

Gulping, Ella stretched out her hand, and laid something small and wet on the table next to the teacups.

It was Fluff’s collar.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_29]

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

Fluff woke up as a cold draught cut through the door to the cupboard, and made her flicker her ears uneasily. It took a few moments for her to work out where she was, then she looked down worriedly at the white kitten. She was curled into a tiny ball, right up against Fluff’s tummy, and she was deeply asleep. Fluff licked her gently, and she laid her ears back, but didn’t wake up. Fluff knew that she had to try and find her way home. Ella would be desperate, and the longer she left it, the harder it would be to find any tracks to help her get back. And she was starving! She’d missed her tea, and breakfast. That made her feel guilty, though – who knew when the younger kitten had last had anything to eat? Fluff eyed her thoughtfully. She hadn’t sounded hungry last night. Was she so weak that she’d forgotten to be hungry? That was bad, very bad. Fluff needed to get home at once, and the little one had to wake up and come too. Fluff nosed her firmly, and she gave a faint, complaining mew, then opened her green eyes and stared accusingly at Fluff.

Fluff licked her again, apologetically, then butted her in the chest to make her stand up. The kitten mewed miserably, and tottered to her feet. Fluff stared at her, suddenly realizing that even now she was warmed up, this tiny creature was not going anywhere. Fluff had found it almost impossible to stagger through the snow the day before– and this kitten was very weak!

But what should Fluff do? She didn’t want to leave the kitten behind, either. Helplessly, she watched as the little white cat gave another feeble mew and slumped back down again. No, she certainly wasn’t coming on an expedition through the snow. Fluff would just have to go and find Ella, and bring her back to help. The wailing wind had died down now, leaving an eerie silence, and Fluff thought the snow must have stopped. She would be able to see where she was heading. She felt better now she had made a decision, and she nosed her way out of the cupboard, and across the room. She wanted to find some of the rags of blanket she had curled up in yesterday. The kitten wasn’t so frozen now, but without Fluff to keep her warm, she would quickly get cold again. Dragging the blanket back with her teeth, she wrapped it round the kitten.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_30]

A tiny purr rumbled through the scrap of white fur, making Fluff feel even more determined. She had to find help. Giving the kitten one last worried glance, she pushed the cupboard door to with her nose to keep the cold out, and set off.

Fluff peered cautiously out of the hole in the cottage door, and shivered. The snow was even deeper now, but at least it seemed to have frozen hard. She stepped out, and looked helplessly around. Which way should she go? She had no idea. Even if she’d been able to remember which way she’d come, it all looked different now. Even the smells were covered in snow. She took a few uncertain steps, hoping to recognize something soon. Then, to her horror, Fluff noticed snowflakes spiralling down. More snow! She looked up, hoping it would be just a light shower, but the sky was full of them, falling thickly down towards her. She needed to get back under cover fast – she knew from yesterday that there was no point trying to go anywhere in this. But perhaps she had time to find some food, before the storm got too heavy? Fluff looked around hopefully, but only saw trees. No good.

Hurrying back into the cottage, she noticed something she’d not seen in the dark the evening before. A battered old bag, lying by the door. Eagerly, Fluff clawed at it, retrieving a foil-wrapped packet. Ham sandwiches! They didn’t smell very fresh, but she was in no position to be fussy, and neither was the kitten.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_31]

The kitten didnot want to be woken again. Fluff had to cuff her nose to make her sit up and take notice of the food. She sniffed at it reluctantly, too tired to bother, but Fluff knew the kitten had to eat. She bit off a tiny piece of ham, and then nudged it against the kitten’s mouth until she opened it to protest. As the taste of the food hit her tongue, she brightened a little, swallowing it down, and looked hopefully at Fluff for more. Fluff bit off some more pieces, gulping a few down herself. The kitten managed several mouthfuls, then curled up to sleep again.

Fluff watched her, feeling relieved. Surely the food would help her? She devoured the rest of the sandwich, then tucked herself back round the kitten. There didn’t seem to be much else to do but sleep, so she slept.

It was much, much colder when she woke again. She was shivering, even wrapped up in their blanket nest. The kitten wasn’t. She was completely still, and for an awful moment Fluff thought she wasn’t even breathing.

There was a tiny snuffle of breath, but it was so shallow– as though the kitten could hardly be bothered. When Fluff tried to rouse her, she wouldn’t wake. She was too cold.

Fluff stood up. The cold seemed to be inside her now, a freezing fear that she wouldn’t be able to save this little one. The kitten had no one to help her but Fluff. Even if it was still snowing, she had go,now, and find Ella, and bring her back.

Chapter Six

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Fluff staggered through the snow, her paws aching with the cold. Every so often she had to stop and rest, taking in deep shaking breaths of the burning cold air, and each time it was harder to set off again. But she couldn’t give up. She was desperate to find Ella now. If Fluff could just keep going, surely she would find her soon, and she’d be home and in the warm, and Ella would be able to help the snow-white kitten. She ploughed on, trying not to think of the cold, just imagining the big bowl of tuna fish that Ella would give her…

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

“Ella, sweetheart, we have to go back home now. It’s turned really cold – it’s not good for us to be out in this for so long.” Ella’s mum was looking really anxious.

“But Mum, Fluff ’s out in it!” Ella cried. “And she’s tiny and she isn’t wearing a great big coat and boots and a hat and—”

“Yes, yes, I know.” Mum sighed. “Just a little longer then. We’ve been up and down the street twice now though, I don’t know where else to look.”

“What about that little wood that backs on to the gardens further down?” Ella’s dad suggested.

“Well, yes, I suppose she could have got in there,” Mum agreed doubtfully. “It’s worth a try.”

“There’s an alleyway round the corner, we can get in that way.” Dad strode off, Ella trotting beside him.

They were a few steps in among the trees when Mum held Ella back.“I’m not sure this is a good idea after all,” she told Ella. “The snow must have blown right in here, it’s really deep, and there’s bound to be tree roots and things hidden under the snowdrifts. You could break an ankle.”

“Mmmm.” Ella’s dad looked thoughtful. “You’re right. Maybe we should poke a branch into the snow to make sure we aren’t about to fall into anything dangerous.”

Ella wasn’t listening. Letting go of her dad’s arm, she took a shaky step forward, and crouched down. Her parents watched in amazement as a tiny grey shape staggered towards them through the gloomy, snow-filled wood. Ella was crying, tears tracking down her face without her even noticing.

Fluff put on a burst of speed and shot into Ella’s arms, curling her head joyfully in under Ella’s chin, and purring with relief and happiness. She’d found Ella. She was back. She was safe.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_32]

For a few moments she allowed herself to enjoy being stroked and cuddled and told how brave she was, and how naughty to go running off in the snow. Then she wriggled herself out from Ella’s tight embrace, putting her paws against Ella’s chest and mewing urgently.

“What’s the matter?” Ella looked confused. Fluff had seemed so happy to see them, but now it was obvious that she wanted something.

Fluff struggled out of Ella’s arms and jumped lightly down, looking back up at Ella, and mewing again.Follow me! she was saying, as clearly as she could. She trotted a few paces back into the wood, and looked round at Ella beseechingly.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_33]

“What’s she doing?” Dad asked. “Fluff, that’s not the way home. Come on!”

“She wants us to follow her,” Ella said firmly. “Look, she’s calling us.” And she set off after Fluff, who bounded ahead delightedly, all her tiredness gone. Only a few moments before, she had felt as though she was going to drop down in the snow and sleep. She had been struggling throughthe drifts for over an hour, trying to find any signs of the way home. But now she was back with Ella, she had a surge of new energy.

“Ella, be careful!” her mum called. “Don’t trip over any fallen branches!” Ella’s parents scrambled after them. They had no idea where they were going, but it was clear that Fluff was trying to get them to follow, anyone could see that. Every so often she would turn round to check they were still with her, then head off again, following her paw prints purposefully back through the trees.

There it was! Fluff jumped through the door of the cottage, popping her head back out to call to Ella. Ella crouched down to squeeze through the gap in the door after her.

“Ella, no!” her mum yelled. “Be careful, you don’t know what’s in there!”

“It’s OK, Mum,” Ella called back. “I’m following Fluff, it’s fine.”

Her mother tried to catch her up and stop her, worried that the old building might be falling down, but she slipped on the snow, and slid over, falling on to her hands and knees just in time to see Ella disappearing into the building. Ella’s dad stopped to help her up, and they skidded over to look through the window.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_34]

Fluff wove her way hurriedly through the cottage, still calling to Ella to follow.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, Fluff! I can’t fit underneath all this stuff like you can!” Ella puffed, scrambling over a pile of old sofa cushions. “I wish I knew what you were trying to show me, anyway.” She realized that Fluff had stopped next to an old cupboard that was jammed up against the far wall. She was peering round the door, her body tense, nervous, almost scared – as though she wasn’t sure what she was going to find. Ella walked quietly up to Fluff, and knelt behind her, but she couldn’t see what Fluff was looking at. Suddenly some of the stiffness went out of Fluff’s spine, and she reached gently into the cupboard. She backed carefully out, carrying something in her mouth – something quite large. She dropped it in Ella’s lap, and it was only as Fluff sat back and gazed hopefully up at her, that Ella realized what it was. Fluff had just given her a kitten! She had pulled it out of the cupboard like a magic trick.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_35]

“Fluff! It’s a kitten! Where did you—?”

Fluff mewed urgently at her, and Ella looked more closely. She stroked the tiny white head, and saw that the little creature didn’t stir. She gave Fluff an anxious look, her heart thudding with nervousness. Fluff looked back up at her lovingly.

“I don’t know,” Ella said worriedly. “She’s so little and weak, Fluff. I – I’m not even sure she’s still breathing.” She stood up, cradling the tiny furry ball gently. “Come on. We need to get her to a vet.” Very carefully she wrapped the kitten in her scarf, and tucked the parcel inside her jacket. She wasn’t sure she could clamber over all that junk carrying her.

Ella’s parents were calling her as they headed back, and her dad was starting to pull away the boards blocking the door.

“Ella! There you are!” he said angrily as she crouched to go through the hole. “What have you been doing? You should never have gone in there; what have we told you about playing in dangerous places like that?”

“I wasn’t playing, Dad!” Ella said indignantly. “Look!” And she opened her jacket to show them her tiny passenger. “Fluff found her. But I’m not sure—” Her voice wobbled. “I can’t see her breathing,” she whispered, tears stinging the corners of her eyes.

“Let me see.” Her dad lifted the kitten out, and she lay floppy and lifeless in his big hands. He was silent for a horribly long moment. “She is. But only just. Come on, we need to get home right now and ring the vet. We need to tell them we’ve got an emergency coming in.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_36]

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

Ella had been to the vet’s surgery before, to take Fluff to have all her vaccinations, but this time there was no hanging around in the reception. She and her parents raced in, Ella cradling the kitten, and were rushed straight through to the surgery. It was the same vet who’d looked after Fluff before, and she smiled, recognizing Ella.

“The receptionist said you’d found a stray kitten?” she asked, gently taking the scarf-wrapped bundle from Ella.

Ella nodded.“She’s so tiny, and she’s only just breathing,” she explained. “It wasn’t really us that found her though, it was Fluff.”

“We think she must have been abandoned by her mother,” Ella’s dad put in. “Fluff and Ella found her in an old cottage on some woodland near us.”

The vet nodded thoughtfully.“She looks about three or four weeks old to me. Only just old enough to survive without her mother. She’s very weak – I think she’s had a couple of days on her own in the cold. I’m going to put her on a drip to get some food into her, and we’ll put her in an incubator, get her really nice and warm.” She smiled, looking at Ella’s anxious face. “I think you found her just in time. I can’t promise, but it looks to me as if she’s just cold and hungry, nothing worse. You might even be able to take her home in a couple of hours.” She started to get the equipment she needed.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_37]

“Oh, that’s fantastic!” Ella squeaked, not noticing that Mum and Dad looked a bit shocked. “That’s really good, because I don’t think Fluff will understand where she is. She looked so upset when we drove off. She was watching us through the window—”

“Ella, Ella, hang on,” Mum interrupted. “We don’t know who this kitten belongs to. And we already have Fluff, I’m not sure we can—”

“Mum!” Ella was horrified. “We have to take her home! Fluff saved her – what are you going to tell Fluff if we go back without her?”

Dad looked thoughtful.“Didn’t the people who moved from that house down the road a few days ago have a white cat? I’m sure I remember seeing one around. Was she pregnant? Maybe she decided to have her kittens in that cottage. Cats do that sometimes, don’t they?” he asked the vet. “Find strange places to havetheir kittens?”

The vet nodded.“It’s to do with wanting to be private, and keeping the kittens safe. If her owners were moving, she might not have liked all the mess of packing up at home.” She was laying the white kitten in what looked like a fish tank. “This has got a heat mat to warm her up gently,” she explained. “I’ll take her through to the ward when she’s settled.”

Ella peered through the plastic side. The kitten looked really cosy, but that gave her a horrible thought.“What happened to the other kittens?” she asked worriedly. “Do you think they’re outside somewhere? There was only this little one in the cupboard.”

“Maybe the mother carried them back to the house,” the vet said thoughtfully. “Or perhaps she only had the one. That happens sometimes, and it would mean that it wasn’t too obvious she was going to have kittens. Her owners might not have known.”

Mum looked sad.“So they took her with them and left the kitten behind.”

“Yes, she might have had to go home for some food. Thank goodness for Fluff,” the vet said, smiling.

Mum sighed, and shook her head.“I suppose you’re right, Ella. After what Fluff did, we have to take this one home too.” Then she smiled. “I might have known it wouldn’t stop with one!”

“You mean we can keep her?” Ella asked, hopping up and down. “Really?”

Her dad grinned.“Why not. I took ages putting in that cat flap, we might as well use it… Ooof!” he gasped as Ella hurled herself at him for a hug.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can’t wait to tell Fluff!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_38]

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

Back at home Fluff was sitting anxiously on the window sill. She didn’t quite understand where Ella and the kitten had gone, but Ella had whispered that they were looking after her. She stared out at the snowy street, watching for the car, waiting for Ella. As they pulled up in front of the house, she jumped up with her paws scrabbling on the glass, mewing excitedly. Where was the kitten?

Ella got carefully out of the car, and Fluff watched in relief as she walked slowly up the path, cradling the kitten. Fluff was there waiting as they opened the door, twining affectionately around Ella’s ankles, then leading Ella to the kitchen and her too-big basket. She watched as Ella carefully set the kitten down on the red cushion, then she stepped in and curled herself around the white kitten lovingly. The kitten, who’d been fast asleep ever since they left the vet’s, opened one eye sleepily, and looked up at Fluff. “Prrrp,” she murmured, and a very small bright-pink tongue shot out and licked Fluff ’s nose. Then she went back to sleep.

Fluff looked down at her, and then back at Ella, who was crouched next to the basket watching.

Ella reached over to scratch Fluff under the chin.“What shall we call her?” she wondered, looking at the kitten’s white fur, snuggled next to Fluff ’s tabby coat. “How about Snowy? Sheis our snow rescue kitten.”

Fluff yawned and stretched a little in agreement.

Ella grinned, watching the two of them snooze.“It looks like we were right to buy a big basket after all!”

6. SKY THE UNWANTED KITTEN

Chapter One

As the car started, Lucy pressed her face up against the window, staring sadly back at her home. Except it wasn’t her home any more. In a few hours’ time another family would arrive, and another removal lorry, just like the one that was lumbering down the road in front of her parents’ car. She blinked back tears as they pulled away, staring back at Nutmeg and Ginger, the two friendly cats from the house next door. They’d been frightened away by all the fuss and bother of the removal men, but now they were back on their usual spot, the wall between Lucy’s garden and the one next door. They liked to sunbathe on the bricks, and Lucy loved to play with them and cuddle them and pretend they were hers. She longed to have a cat of her own. She had asked her parents so many times, but they always said she would have to wait until she was older.

The ginger cats stared curiously after the car. Lucy rolled down her window and waved to them. Nutmeg mewed, and walked down the wall towards the street. Lucy sniffed miserably. She couldn’t believe she would never see them again. A few seconds later the car turned out of her road and she could no longer see the cats, or even the house.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_3]

“How long till we get there?” Kieran, Lucy’s older brother, asked, unplugging his new iPod for a moment.

“A couple of hours, probably,” their mum said. “We should definitely be settling in by lunchtime!”

“Doesn’t it feel great, being on our way to our new home!” their dad added enthusiastically.

Lucy sniffed and said nothing. She clutched Stripy, her old toy cat, even tighter. They’d just left her home behind. What they were going to was only a horriblehouse. It would never, ever be home.

Lucy hardly spoke the whole journey. She just gazed out of the window, and worried to herself. A new house. A new school. No friends! She missed Ellie, her best friend, loads already. Ellie would be in the middle of PE right now.I wonder if she’s missing me too? Lucy thought.

“We’re almost there!” her mum said excitedly, jerking Lucy out of her daydream, where she was back at school playing football with Ellie. “Look, Lucy, this is our street! Doesn’t it look lovely?”

Lucy made a smallmmm sort of noise. It was nice. Pretty gardens and friendly-looking houses. But it wasn’t home.

“Oh good, the removal men are here already! Let’s start getting unpacked. I bet you two want to see your rooms, don’t you?” Dad sounded even more enthusiastic than Mum, if that was possible.

Lucy’s new room was huge – much bigger than her old one, as Mum had happily pointed out. “And you can have it any colour you like, Lucy,” she promised, placing a box of toys on the floor. “Maybe purple, what do you think?”

Lucy sat on the bed that the removal men had dumped in the corner, and gazed around, hugging Stripy. She was trying to be happy, but it was all so different.

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The weekend flew past in a messy, grubby whirl of unpacking. Lucy felt left out– Mum and Dad were so happy about the move, and even Kieran was excited about the new house. She seemed to be the only one who missed home.

Now the moment she was really dreading had arrived– her first day at her new school. Surely someone who’d just moved ought to get at least a week off school, not just one Friday, spent driving to the new house. Even Kieran had complained that it wasn’t fair they had to start their new schools today. Lucy trailed slowly across the empty playground after her mum, who was heading for the school office.

“Look, a school garden!” Mum said brightly. “And the sign says they have a gardening club. You’d love that, helping to plant seeds, wouldn’t you?”

“Maybe,” Lucy murmured. She saw a notice up about a football team, too, but there was no way she’d be able to join a team now, in the middle of term.Everyone will already have their friends, and their gangs, she thought unhappily.I’m going to be so left out.

The school secretary buzzed them in and took them over to Lucy’s classroom. The school was actually much newer and smarter than the one Lucy had been going to until three days before, but she wished she was back at her scruffy old school. She stayed silent as her mum and the secretary chatted about the new computer suite. Her mouth was drooping sadly as they arrived at class 5W, and the secretary showed them in.

Her new teacher, Mrs Walker, smiled kindly at her, then announced,“Class, I’d like you to meet Lucy. She’s just moved here, and I want you all to make her feel very welcome.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_5]

Lucy blushed and didn’t know where to look. She hated everyone staring at her. Mrs Walker then took Lucy to one side, and said the class had really been looking forward to having her and she knew Lucy would be very happy once she’d settled in.

Lucy wasn’t sure how she was supposed to do that – she’d never had to settle in anywhere before. She’d been to the same school since nursery, and she had knowneveryone.

“You sit here, Lucy, and Orla and Katie will look after you,” Mrs Walker said. “You’ll show Lucy where everything is, won’t you, girls?”

Orla and Katie nodded and smiled.“Hi, Lucy!” they chorused.

“Hello,” Lucy muttered, and sat down as quickly as she could.

Orla and Katie tried their best, but Lucy was too shy to give more than yes or no answers to their polite questions. Eventually they gave up, and although they stayed with her all through the lunch hour, they stopped bothering to talk to her.They don’t like me, Lucy told herself unhappily, as she listened silently to Orla telling Katie all about her ballet exam.No one’s even talking to me.

Class 5W were actually quite a friendly group, but they couldn’t do much faced with a silent Lucy, and she was so unhappy that she couldn’t see that she needed to make an effort, too. Lucy was in the cloakroom putting on her coat to go home, when she heard some of the girls talking about her. She stayed frozen where she was, hidden behind a coat-rack, and listened.

“That new girl is a bit strange,” someone said, giggling.

“Yeah, she hardly said a word all day.” Lucy recognized the voice of Orla, one of her minders. “I hope Mrs Walker doesn’t make us look after her tomorrow as well.”

“Perhaps she thinks she’s too good for us,” another voice suggested. “I’m glad I didn’t have to talk to her.”

“Yeah, she does seem a bit stuck-up,” Orla agreed.

Another girl from Lucy’s class who was on the same side of the cloakroom as her gave Lucy a worried look, and coughed loudly. There was a sudden silence, then Orla’s head popped round the coats, and her eyes went saucer-wide. She shot back again, and there was a burst of embarrassed giggling.

Lucy stood up and stalked out, blinking back tears. So what if they didn’t like her? She certainly didn’t likethem. She heard the girls start whispering very fast, worrying about her telling Mrs Walker what they’d said.I hate this school, she thought, as she brushed her sleeve across her face angrily, trying to pretend to herself and everybody else that she wasn’t crying.

“So how was your first day? Did you have a good time?” her mum asked eagerly as she met Lucy at the school gate.

“No. It was horrible, and I want to go home.”

“Oh, Lucy, I’m sorry.” Her mum looked at her anxiously. “I’m sure it’ll get better, honestly. You just need to take a few days to get used to everything.” She sighed, and then said in a cheerful voice, “I thought we’d walk back, it’s not far. Kieran wanted to go by himself, so you and I can see if we spot any nice parks on the way home.”

“Not there,home. I want to go back to our old house, and my proper school. I hate it here! No one likes me!” Lucy wailed. “I miss Ellie, and all my friends!”

Mum sighed again.“Lucy, your dad and I have explained this. We had to move. Dad’s job is here now, and if we lived in our old house, he’d have to spend hours getting to work. We’d never see him. You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

Lucy shook her head, and sniffed, trying not to cry where loads of people from school would see her.“I know,” she whispered. “But it’s really horrible here.”

Her mum put an arm around her shoulder.“I know it’s hard, sweetheart. But I promise itwill get better. We’ll just have to do lots of fun things to cheer you up.”

Lucy rubbed her sleeve across her eyes. She couldn’t believe she had to go back tomorrow.

Chapter Two

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Lucy stared out of the classroom window, trying not to catch anyone’s eye. She’d been at her new school for nearly a week now, but she still hadn’t settled in. She couldn’t forget the way Orla had talked about her. The awful thing was, Lucy knew she probably had seemed stuck-up and unfriendly, and all those things Orla had said. But it still seemed unfair.Didn’t they know how lonely she was? Couldn’t they see how difficult it was being the new girl?At least it’s Friday, Lucy thought.

“Hey! Pssst…”

Lucy jumped slightly as someone prodded her hand. She looked up, confused. The pretty red-haired girl who sat across the table from her in her maths group had poked her with a pencil.

“Mrs Walker’s watching you,” the red-haired girl whispered. “If you weren’t new, she’d have had a go at you by now. You’ve been looking out of the window for ages and we’re supposed to be drawing that hexagon shape. Are you stuck? Do you need a rubber or something?”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

Lucy shook her head, and gave her a tiny smile.“I’m OK, thanks,” she whispered back, glancing quickly over at Mrs Walker. It was true – the teacher was looking her way. She bent her head over her book, suddenly feeling a little less miserable. Maybe there were some nice people in her new class after all.

When the bell rang for break, Lucy watched as the red-haired girl wandered out of the classroom with a group of other girls, all chatting excitedly. Maybe she should say something to her? But that would mean going up to her in front of the whole group. She would have to try to say something interesting, or just hang around on the edge of the circle until someone noticed her. She couldn’t face that, what if they all ignored her? Lucy gave a little shudder and stayed put. She’d go to the school library. Like she had every other day this week.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

The next morning, Lucy lay in bed, hugging Stripy, and feeling grateful that she didn’t have to drag herself out to get ready for school. She’d tried to go back to sleep, but it wasn’t working. She sighed, and looked round her room. So far she hadn’t even bothered to unpack all her boxes. She was still hoping that somehow things would change and they could go home, but the hope was draining away with every day they stayed.

Kieran wasn’t helping, either. He was loving his new school, and last night he’d spent most of dinner time talking enthusiastically about going to play football with some really cool new mates he’d made already. Mum was really excited about all the decorating that needed doing, and Dad had started his new job… Only Lucy was desperate to go back to their old home.

“Lucy! Hey!” It was Kieran, banging on her door.

Lucy ignored him, but he didn’t go away. “Lucy! Get up, lazy!” He opened her door a crack, and peered in.

Lucy sat up.“Out! You’re not allowed in my room!”

“OK, OK! But get up. Mum and Dad have got a surprise for you in the kitchen. You’re going to love it!” he called, then thumped off back downstairs again.

A surprise! For a tiny moment Lucy’s heart leaped. They were going home after all! She jumped out of bed and raced down after Kieran.

“Are we going home?” she gasped excitedly, catching him just at the bottom of the stairs.

Kieran gave her a strange look.“Of course not, silly, thisis home now.”

Lucy’s shoulders slumped again. She trailed into the kitchen after him.

“Lucy!” Her parents were smiling happily at her, which just made Lucy feel more alone than ever.

“We’ve got a surprise for you, darling. Remember we said you’d have a special treat when we got here?” Mum pointed to a large box on the kitchen table.

Lucy stared dully at it. When her parents told them about the move, they’d said they would get Kieran an iPod, and that they had a special present in mind for Lucy, too. She’d been so sad missing everyone at home that she’d forgotten all about it.

She stared at the box, feeling just the tiniest bit excited. What could be inside? Suddenly the box started squeaking.

Lucy moved closer, curious despite herself. She opened the top flaps, which were attached together to make a sort of handle, and peered in.

Inside the box was the most beautiful creature Lucy had ever seen. A kitten with soft creamy fur, huge blue eyes, a chocolate-brown nose and gorgeously oversized brown ears.

Lucy gasped. A kitten!

The kitten looked anxiously up as the box opened, and mewed. It was a strange noise, almost like a baby crying, and Lucy immediately wanted to pick up the kitten and cuddle it. The kitten seemed to think this was a good idea, too. It stood up, balancing its paws on the side of the box, and shyly put its head over the side, looking up at Lucy with its amazing sapphire-blue eyes. “Wowl?” it asked pleadingly. “Wowl!”

Lucy lifted out the kitten, and it immediately snuggled into her pyjama top and started to purr.“Hello, little one,” she said softly.

“Told you she’d love her,” Lucy’s dad said happily to her mum. “She’s called Sky, Lucy. She’s a Siamese. We know you’ve wanted a kitten for so long, and we think you’re old enough now to look after a cat properly.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

“Yes,” said Mum. “We know how upset you’ve been about us moving to Fairford. But you can’t be miserable with a beautiful kitten to play with, can you?”

Lucy stared at them in disbelief. The kitten was gorgeous, but it was as if her parents thought having a pet would suddenly make everything all right again. Lucy would forget about Ellie and all her friends, her school, her lovely old bedroom, and be happy for ever. Her eyes filled with angry, disappointed tears.

She carefully detached the kitten’s tiny, needle-sharp claws from her pyjamas, and put her back in the box. Then she ran out of the kitchen, her shoulders heaving.

“Lucy!” Mum called after her, her voice shocked.

“Hey, Lucy, what’s the matter?” Kieran said. “Mum, Dad, can I pick the kitten up? It’s really cute, and it’s crying.”

Dad’s voice was worried as he answered. “Yes, give her a cuddle, Kieran. I need to go and talk to Lucy, and find out what’s wrong. I just don’t understand, I was sure she’d be so happy.”

Chapter Three

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Lucy’s dad had picked up Sky from the breeder early that morning. Sky had only left home before to go to the vets, and she’d always returned to her familiar room, and the big basket she shared with her mum and her brothers and sisters. Today she’d had to stay in the dark box on her own for ages, and she was so lonely. She wished she could go home, and snuggle up and let her mum lick her fur to make her feel better.

Where was she? It didn’t smell like the vets, and it certainly wasn’t home. She couldn’t hear any other cats, either. She had started to cry for her home and her mum, and then someone had opened the box.

Sky shrank back into the corner of the box and peered up at the girl, feeling scared. Who was this? It wasn’t one of the people she had met before. But then the girl, Lucy, had picked her up, and Sky had relaxed a little. She could see the delight in the girl’s eyes, hear it in her quickened breathing, and feel it in the thud of her heart as the girl held her close. She had nestled snugly up againsther, purring gratefully. She liked this person. The girl had stroked her, and nuzzled her ears, and rubbed her lovingly under her chin. But then suddenly she had taken her firmly round the middle, and put her back into that dark box.

Sky didn’t understand. She hadfelt how happy the girl was to hold her. Lucy had been full of love, she knew it. So why had she suddenly changed her mind? The soft, cuddly person had turned stiff and cross, and Sky didn’t know why.

Now she was sitting in a large, comfortable basket in the corner of the kitchen, with a bowl of kitten food and another bowl of water. There was a litter tray close by. She had everything she needed. But no one was with her, and she was so lonely. What had she done wrong? When Lucy had ran out, the boy had cuddled her briefly, then everyone had disappeared, and the kitchen was empty.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_8]

Sky was not used to being on her own. Until early this morning, she had lived in a house that was full of cats– her mum, and all her mum’s sisters and their kittens, and her own sisters and brothers. There was a whole room full of boxes and big scratching posts and toys. Sky had spent most of her time with her mum, snuggling up in their basket, but she enjoyed being petted and stroked by people as well.

She wouldn’t have minded leaving her home so much if Lucy had stayed cuddling her, but now she was alone she felt desperate to go back. She howled her loud, piercing Siamese howl, crying for someone to come and love her.

Upstairs in her room, Lucy could hear Sky. The kitten’s sad, lonely wails made her want to cry, too. She knew exactly how Sky felt – taken away from her lovely home, and brought somewhere she didn’t belong. She wished she could go and comfort her, but she just couldn’t do it.

Lucy could hear her parents coming up the stairs, talking in low, worried voices, and she knew she had to explain how she was feeling. The trouble was she wasn’t sure shecould. Maybe it would be easier just to say she’d changed her mind about wanting a cat?

Her parents came in, and sat next to her on her bed. Her mum put an arm round her, but Lucy sat stiff and tense.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want a kitten,” she said tiredly when Dad asked what was wrong.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_9]

Her parents exchanged confused glances.“But Lucy, you’ve begged for one for years!” Mum protested. “Every Christmas and birthday, a kitten’s been top of your list. Now we’ve finally moved to a house big enough to have a cat, and on a nice quiet road, and you’ve changed your mind!”

“Yes, I’ve changed my mind,” Lucy echoed.

“We thought you’d love a kitten,” Dad said, shaking his head. “I just don’t understand. All that time you used to spend playing with Nutmeg and Ginger next door. Mrs Jones used to joke that they were more your cats than hers.”

Lucy’s eyes filled with tears again at the thought of Nutmeg and Ginger. She missed them so much.

There was another mournful cry from downstairs.“That poor kitten,” Mum said. “She doesn’t know what’s going on. We’d better go down so she isn’t all on her own. Lucy, I know you’re missing our old home, but we thought Sky would cheer you up. She really needs someone to look after her.”

Lucy didn’t answer, and kept her eyes fixed firmly on the floor. She knew that! She was desperate to go and cuddle Sky, and tell her everything would be all right. But things weren’t all right, and it was no use pretending.

Lucy glanced up as her parents shut the door. As soon as she was sure that they were both at least halfway down the stairs, she buried her head in her pillow and cried and cried. A kitten! At last! And she couldn’t keep her!

Eventually, Lucy dragged herself up from her bed. She wanted someone to talk to– she wanted Ellie! Lucy took out a pen and her favourite cat writing paper from one of the boxes, and started to write to her about everything.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_10]

Lucy started to cry again, and her tears smudged the ink on the page. She scrunched up the unfinished letter and threw it in the bin. It was just so unfair! A beautiful kitten, just like she had always wanted, but her parents had only got Sky to make Lucy forget her real home.

“Well, I won’t!” Lucy muttered fiercely, gulping back sobs. “They can’t make me! Not even with a kitten…”

By now Lucy had cried so much that she was desperately thirsty, and her head ached. She threw on some clothes, and opened her bedroom door quietly. Kieran had gone out to play football, and Mum and Dad were in the garden, looking at the rickety old shed. She could creep down and grab a glass of juice without having to talk to anyone.

Upstairs in her room it had been terribly difficult to tell herself she didn’t want a kitten. Downstairs in the kitchen, with Sky staring at her with huge, confused, sad blue eyes, it was completely impossible. Lucy held out for as long as it took to go to the fridge and pour her juice, and drink a few thirsty gulps. But the sight of Sky lost in her too-big basket was irresistible. Lucy put the glass on the table and knelt down beside Sky.

“You don’t know what’s going on, do you?” she asked gently. “I’m not trying to be mean, honestly,” she sighed.

Sky just wanted someone to play with her. She stood up, stretched, and put a paw on Lucy’s knee. She gazed at her, her head on one side questioningly. “Maaa?” she mewed pleadingly. Lucy’s mum had left a cat toy in the basket, a little jingly ball with ribbons attached to it, and Sky pawed at it hopefully.

Lucy shook her head, smiling.“OK. When it’s just you and me, I’ll play. But we have to pretend, all right? When Mum and Dad are around, I won’t be able to play at all.” She looked at Sky. She knew a kitten wouldn’t understand that sort of thing, even if she did look very intelligent.

Sky batted at the ball again. Enough talking. She wanted to play.

Lucy danced the ribbons in front of Sky, bouncing the little ball up and down, and sending Sky in crazy, skittering circles all over the kitchen. It was so funny! Lucy hadn’t known Nutmeg and Ginger when they were kittens, and she hadn’t realized how much more playful a little kitten would be than her two middle-aged, rather plump cat friends. Sky danced, she jumped, she tumbled over and over, attacking the fierce ribbons. “Oh, Sky!” Lucy giggled.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_11]

Then she heard voices coming up the garden path. Mum and Dad! Swiftly she stood up, and dropped the jingly ball back into Sky’s basket. Sky watched her, puzzled. Was this a new game? Was she supposed to jump into the basket and pull it out again? She dived in, and popped up with a mouthful of ribbons. But Lucy had turned away. She was standing by the table, drinking her juice. Sky waited. Maybe she was supposed to creep up on Lucy, and give her a surprise? Yes! It was a hunting game! She dropped the ball and leaped sneakily out of her basket. Tummy low to the ground and ears pricked with excitement, Sky crept across the kitchen floor – slowly, slowly, now pounce on Lucy’s foot!

Just then, Lucy’s parents came back into the kitchen. They saw Sky standing on her hind legs, her paws on Lucy’s jeans, gazing pleadingly up at her. Lucy was ignoring the kitten entirely, not even looking at her.

Lucy’s mum sighed, and went to pick Sky up and stroke her. Sky gave a tiny purr – it was nice to be cuddled – but she was still gazing at Lucy. She was confused. Why didn’t Lucy want to play any more? What had gone wrong? It was as though Lucy was a different person. And not a very friendly one.

Chapter Four

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By Monday morning, Sky was even more confused. Lucy gave her lots of cuddles and was wonderful to play with when they were on their own, but as soon as anyone else came into the kitchen, she would pretend that she couldn’t even see Sky. It was horrible. Sky couldn’t help feeling that she must have done something wrong, and she was desperate to make it better. Lucy’s mum was trying to keep her in the kitchen until she settled in, but Sky had other ideas. She wanted to follow Lucy everywhere. She trailed determinedly round the house after her, and tried to climb into Lucy’s lap every time she sat down.

Lucy was sat at the table eating breakfast, so she tried it again now. But Lucy gave her one quick, unhappy glance and slid her off. Sky crept back to her basket, her whiskers drooping. Kieran made a huffing noise at Lucy, as though he thought she was being stupid.“Here, Sky,” he murmured, holding out his hand. “Kitty, kitty.”

Sky sniffed his fingers politely, but it was Lucy she really wanted. She gave him a little purr as he tickled her ears, though. Then she looked up hopefully at Lucy one last time, but she was staring firmly at her cereal bowl.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_12]

Lucy’s mum was watching them as she buttered some more toast. “We’ve got to be really careful not to let Sky out of the house today when our new sofa is delivered. She isn’t big enough to go outside yet.”

Lucy shrugged and saw her mum give her a worried look– she was obviously thinking that Lucy still hadn’t changed her mind about Sky. She stared into her cereal, not feeling hungry. Things were going just as she’d planned, and she’d never felt so miserable.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

School seemed even worse on Monday. A few times during lessons Lucy glanced at the red-haired girl, hoping she would look back, but she never did. It would be so good to havesomeone to talk to, and the red-haired girl– Lucy was pretty sure she was called Izzy – had seemed friendly before.

At home time Lucy trailed silently down the road after her mum.

“Did you meet anyone nice today?” her mum asked cheerfully.

“No,” Lucy sighed. “Thereisn’t anyone nice.”

“Oh.” Her mum looked upset, and Lucy felt a bit guilty.

Lucy glared at the new house as they turned into their road. Then she grinned. Sky was perched on the back of the new sofa in the front room, peering out. Lucy blew her a kiss behind her mum’s back as Mum fumbled for her keys, and Sky made a flying leap off the sofa. Eventually, Lucy’s mum opened the door, and Sky shot out…

“Oh, catch her, Lucy! We mustn’t let her go into the road!”

Lucy tried to grab the kitten, but Sky was too fast for her. Sky danced about all over the garden, enjoying the game of chase. She hadn’t had any time with Lucy today, and now Lucy was giving her lots of attention! She hid behind a large plant, her tail swishing excitedly, waiting to jump out.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_13]

“Sky! Here puss, puss…” Lucy was creeping closer, hoping to take the kitten by surprise and grab her. She could see Sky’s whiskers twitching from behind those big leaves. She jumped behind the plant and her hands closed on nothing as Sky clambered on to the garden wall.

“I’ll go and get some cat treats,” Lucy’s mum said. “Just try to keep her in the garden, Lucy, please!”

“Oh, Sky,” Lucy whispered, as Mum disappeared into the house. “I know I haven’t been very nice, but don’t run off, please. Come on…”

Sky stretched out to sniff Lucy’s fingers as Lucy moved slowly closer. Lucy’s eyes were bright and wet, and she looked so sad. Sky rubbed her head against Lucy’s hand, hoping to cheer her up, and Lucy smiled a little.

“You’re just so beautiful,” Lucy murmured, as she scooped the kitten gently off the wall and into her arms. She brushed her cheek against Sky’s face, and Sky purred happily.

Gazing down the road, Lucy blinked in surprise. There was Izzy! Just turning the corner, with a bigger girl who had the same red hair. They looked so alike that they had to be sisters. Did Izzy live in this road, too? Lucy watched hopefully as the two girls walked along the other side of the road, and stopped at a house a couple of doors down. Izzy suddenly looked round and caught Lucy’s eye, and Lucy blushed, embarrassed to be caught staring.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_14]

Izzy gave Lucy a quick smile and a tiny wave, almost as though she was shy, too. Then she followed her sister up the path.

Lucy held Sky close, imagining how great it would be to have a friend living just across the road. They could walk to school together. Maybe have sleepovers at each other’s houses. She’d always gone by car to her old school, and none of her friends lived anywhere close, not even Ellie. Without thinking, she rubbed Sky gently behind the ears, making her close her eyes and purr with delight.

“So you caught her then?” Lucy’s mum was now standing right beside her, holding a packet of cat treats, and smiling.

Lucy looked up, still lost in her thoughts. Then she remembered. Ellie was her friend, not Izzy. She didn’t want a kitten to make her forget. She didn’t want a kitten at all. She’d told her parents that… She stuffed Sky into Mum’s arms, and dashed into the house.

But she could hear Sky mewing, and she longed to rush back and cuddle her again…

Chapter Five

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Lucy was staring gloomily at the bean plants in the school garden, and wondering why they bothered growing beans when nobody liked them. Suddenly, somebody tapped her on the shoulder and she jumped.

Izzy grinned at her.“Sorry to scare you. I guess you didn’t hear me coming up behind you!”

“Um, no…” Lucy murmured.

“I’m Izzy. Do you live in our road, Hazel Close? I saw you yesterday on the way home from school.” Izzy stared eagerly at Lucy.

Lucy nodded.“Yes, we’ve just moved there,” she said quietly.

Izzy didn’t seem too bothered by Lucy’s flat tone of voice. “That’s brilliant. There’s no one else my age in our road – well, only Sean Peters and he’s worse than no one. It’ll be really good to have another girl around.”

Lucy smiled. It felt so nice to be wanted!

“So is that gorgeous kitten yours? Is she a Siamese? Have you had her long? You’re so lucky, having a kitten!”

Lucy said nothing. She didn’t know what to say. Sky was her kitten, but she wasn’t going to be keeping her, was she?

Lucy stared at the ground. There was an uncomfortable silence. Izzy turned to go.

“Orla said you were stuck-up,” she said. “I told her you might just be shy, but maybe she was right.” She shrugged, and marched off across the garden.

Lucy stared after her, her thoughts racing. Izzy was really nice, and seemed to want to be friends. But now she thought that Lucy was stuck-up. As Izzy opened the garden gate, Lucy dashed after her, trampling most of a row of carrot plants in her rush to catch her up. She caught hold of Izzy’s sleeve.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_15]

“I’m really sorry, I’m not stuck-up, honestly. I just didn’t know what to say.” She sighed.

Izzy just looked at her. It wasn’t a very encouraging start, but Lucy took a deep breath and began to explain.

“Look, Ireally didn’t want to move here. We had to because of my dad’s job. I just kept hoping and hoping that my mum and dad were going to change their minds. It’s not that I don’t think Hazel Close is nice,” she added quickly, not wanting to be rude about Izzy’s home. “And I guess this is probably a nice school, but I’m really missing my old school, and it’s just not the same.”

Lucy stopped for breath. Izzy looked curious, so she kept going.“Mum and Dad are trying to persuade me to like it here. They gave me Sky on Saturday, to make me feel better about the move. That’s what Mum said.” Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. “She’s supposed to help me forget my old house and my friends and everything.”

“Wow,” Izzy muttered. “I suppose I’d be miserable if I had to move somewhere totally new.”

Lucy nodded.

“But at least you’ve got Sky. She’s gorgeous!” Izzy smiled.

“She is,” Lucy agreed. “You’re going to think I’m stupid. But – well, I’m pretending I don’t like her. That’s why I just didn’t know what to say when you asked if she was my kitten.”

Izzy looked confused.“But why?”

“If Mum and Dad see I really love Sky, they’ll think I’ve stopped missing home and I don’t mind staying here,” Lucy explained. Itdid sound stupid. She blushed miserably.

“Iguess that makes sense,” Izzy said rather doubtfully. “So your mum and dad think you don’t want her?”

“Whenever they’re around I don’t play with Sky, or even look at her,” Lucy admitted.

Izzy nodded slowly.“But … what’s going to happen? If your parents think you don’t want her, won’t they give her back? You’re going to let them?”

“Yes. I mean, I thought I was. I was missing home so much.” Lucy sat down on the bench by the gate, and heaved a huge sigh. “Only now I’m not sure I can!”

“Mmmm.” Izzy sat down next to her. “I can’t imagine giving her back. She’s so cute!”

Lucy smiled.“She is, isn’t she?” Then she put her chin in her hands and sighed again. “But I can’t just change my mind now…”

“You might end up having to stay here,and not having a gorgeous kitten,” Izzy pointed out.

“I know,” Lucy said gloomily.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

That night, Lucy waited until her parents were both in the front room, and then crept out of bed. She stole quietly down the stairs, not wanting Kieran to hear her either, and along the hallway to the kitchen.

Sky looked up hopefully as she opened the kitchen door. Lucy had stroked her quickly a few times that evening when no one was looking. She did wish that Lucy would be nice like that all the time. Sky waited anxiously. Was Lucy going to ignore her again?

Lucy came and sat down next to her basket, and gently stroked the top of Sky’s silky head. “Izzy thinks I’m stupid not telling Mum and Dad how much I like you,” she told the kitten. “She said she doesn’t know how I can pretend. I’m not sure I know either,” she added sadly.

Sky climbed out of her basket and clambered up Lucy’s leg. She stood on Lucy’s lap and butted her chin. That was sure to make her feel better. She licked Lucy, too, just to be certain. There.

Lucy giggled.“Oh, Sky, your tongue’s really rough!”

Sky purred as she heard Lucy laughing. It had worked. Lucy was feeling better. She’d seemed so sad before, but now she felt warm and friendly. Sky curled herself into a comfortable ball on Lucy’s knee, gave a huge yawn and went to sleep.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_16]

Chapter Six

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Sky woke up and yawned, stretching her paws lazily. Then she opened her eyes wide, remembering where she was. Lucy’s house. The thought of Lucy made her sit up eagerly. Lucy! Where was she? Last night Lucy had cuddled her to sleep on her knee – but now she was back in her basket. Sky hopped out and went to sniff at the kitchen door. She looked up at the handle thoughtfully. Her mum could jump and open door-handles, but Sky wasn’t big enough yet. She prowled up and down impatiently. Maybe Lucy would be down soon, and she’d have someone to play with.

When Lucy’s mum came downstairs, Sky wove around her feet, nearly tripping her up, but Lucy’s mum just laughed. “Are you starving, Sky? Poor kitten! Here you go.” She placed a full bowl of kitten food on the floor, and Sky settled down to eat it, keeping one eye on the door.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_17]

When Lucy finally came into the kitchen, Sky danced over to her delightedly.Where were you? I’ve been waiting for you! Cuddle me! she mewed.

Lucy gulped. She cast one quick glance at Sky, her tail pointing excitedly straight up, her whiskers twitching with happiness, and then dragged her eyes away. It was so unfair to keep doing this! Sky didn’t understand that she could only love her when no one was around.Quite soon, Lucy thought sadly,Sky’s going to give up on me…

Lucy’s parents watched as the kitten pawed eagerly at Lucy’s leg, and Lucy ignored her again. Lucy’s dad gave her mum a serious look and shook his head.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_18]

Sky gazed up at Lucy. After last night, she’d been sure that Lucy wouldn’t act all strange and cold again. Her tail hung low now as she slunk miserably back to her basket, ignoring the rest of her food.

Lucy didn’t touch her breakfast either.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

“Wow, you must be starved,” Izzy said, watching Lucy munching swiftly through an apple at break.

“Mmmm,” Lucy nodded, swallowing. “Didn’t eat much for breakfast.”

“Well, we’ve got PE straight after, so you’d better have this as well.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a cereal bar.

Lucy gave her a grateful look.“Don’t you want it?”

“No. Mum keeps giving me them, but they’re yuck. You’re welcome,” Izzy smiled.

Lucy had looked for Izzy as soon as she got into school that morning, hoping that she would be there already. She’d been delighted when Izzy had seen her and rushed over. When they got into the classroom, Izzy had asked if she wanted to sit next to her – there was room, and she said Mrs Walker wouldn’t mind. Orla and Katie looked surprised, but they didn’t say anything.

“Hello,” Lucy muttered shyly, as she went past. It was the first thing she’d said to them since her first day, and they looked a bit confused.

It was amazing how different school was now she had someone to talk to. Lucy found she actually enjoyed their PE lesson, which was football skills. Izzy was terrible, but she didn’t mind and just rolled her eyes at Lucy and giggled hopelessly every time she had to run off across the field after the ball. Lucy was quite good at sporty stuff, and Mr Jackson said he’d have to keep an eye on her for the school team. Lucy couldn’t help feeling a bit excited.

When Lucy’s mum came to pick her up she was amazed that Lucy came running across the playground to her, rather than trailing slowly out after everyone else. She was with a pretty, red-haired girl who had a massive grin on her face. The red-haired girl grabbed a tall, red-haired woman, who had to be her own mum, then came to join Lucy.

“Did you ask her?” Izzy said anxiously.

Lucy shook her head.“Mum, please can I go to tea with Izzy? She lives across the road from us. Pleeeaase?”

“Oh, Lucy, that sounds great, but maybe another day?” said Mum. “We haven’t given Izzy’s mum much notice.” She smiled apologetically at the red-haired woman.

“Actually, if you don’t mind, it’s fine by me,” Izzy’s mum replied. “Izzy mentioned last night that she’d met Lucy, and she’d love to have her over. Lucky it’s a Wednesday actually, Izzy’s sister Amber has choir so I pick Izzy up. Usually the girls walk home together. You’ve just moved in, haven’t you?”

Izzy’s mum was really friendly, and as the four of them walked home she told Lucy’s mum about the neighbours, and which were the nicest shops in the area.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_19]

Izzy’s mum made a massive tea of pasta, and afterwards Lucy and Izzy hung out in her room. Izzy had a sleepover bed that slid out from underneath hers, and she promised to ask if Lucy could stay the night soon.

“Amber’s got a portable DVD player. I bet she’d lend it to us for the night,” Izzy told her.

Izzy also had a secret stash of chocolate left over from her birthday, and somehow, munching happily and chatting about the worst teachers at their school, Lucy forgot that she wanted to leave Fairford. It seemed all too soon that Izzy’s mum was calling up the stairs to say that Lucy’s dad was here to take her home.

“See you tomorrow!” Izzy waved cheerfully to her as she crossed the road. “Hey, ask your mum if you can walk to school with me and Amber!”

Lucy nodded and waved back.“I will, promise!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

Lucy walked into the kitchen, smiling happily to herself, and then stopped. Mum and Dad both had serious faces.“What is it?” she asked anxiously.

“Lucy, Mum and I have been talking. About Sky.” Dad’s voice was sad as he looked over at Sky’s basket.

Lucy looked, too. Sky was curled-up fast asleep– she was so cute.

“We really hoped that having Sky to play with and look after would make you feel better about the move. We know you’re missing Ellie and the others.” Her dad sighed. “But I’m sure you’ll settle down after a while. Izzy seems very nice – it’s great that you’re starting to make friends.”

Where is Dad going with this? Lucy gazed at her parents.

“Anyway, it looks like we made a mistake with Sky. We should have talked to you about it first, before we went ahead and brought her home.”

Lucy blinked stupidly. She could see that Dad was telling her something important, but she couldn’t quite seem to understand. Sky was a mistake? Lucy started to feel scared. She looked at Sky, who was still asleep in her basket, although she’d wriggled round and was now lying on her back with her paws in the air. She looked like a toy kitten.

Dad smiled sadly as Sky let out a sleepy half-mew, half-purr.“Luckily the breeder we got Sky from has been very understanding. Tomorrow evening Mum will take Sky back.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_20]

Chapter Seven

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Lucy felt suddenly cold. It was just like Izzy had said.You might end up having to stay here, and not having a gorgeous kitten.

“Oh, Lucy, don’t look like that!” Her mum came over and gave her a hug. “We’re not cross with you. It was our fault for not talking it over with you first.”

No, you don’t understand! Lucy wanted to cry out.Don’t give her back!I want to keep her! But her voice seemed to stick in her throat as her parents went on talking.

Mum stroked Lucy’s hair sadly. “Sky deserves a home where she’s really wanted. She’s such a loving little kitten – she needs someone to give her loads of love back.”

Lucy had been about to try to explain, but that made her stop. It was so true. Sky did need a home where she was properly loved. Lucy had a horrible feeling that that special home wasn’t here with her. She’d been so mean – Sky didn’t know whether Lucy loved her or hated her.Maybe I just don’t deserve to have a kitten, she thought.

But she had to say goodbye to Sky properly. Even if Sky didn’t understand.

Later, Lucy crept downstairs while her parents were in the front room. Sky was in the kitchen, as she usually was at night, and Lucy opened the door quietly.

Sky saw her from her basket, and laid her ears slightly back, and stared up as Lucy came closer in the faint light from the hallway.

Lucy gulped. It was obvious that Sky didn’t know what was going on. She crouched down by the basket. “Mum and Dad are right,” she whispered to the kitten, running one finger down Sky’s back. “You do deserve a better home than this. I’ve come to say goodbye,” she murmured, her eyes filling with tears. One of them dripped on to Sky’s nose, making her jump.

“Mrow!” she mewed indignantly, and Lucy laughed and cried at the same time, stifling the strange noise in case her parents heard. Sky’s face was so funny, her blue eyes round and cross.

“Ssshh, Sky!” Lucy scooped Sky up, tucking her into her dressing gown. “Come on,” she whispered. Lucy looked round quickly as she opened the kitchen door, then scurried up the stairs to her room.

Sky snuggled against Lucy’s pyjamas, watching curiously as they went upstairs. She’d never got this far before, the stairs were steep and someone always caught her before she’d struggled up more than a few steps.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_21]

Where was she going? Sky purred excitedly as Lucy opened the door to her room and placed her down gently on the floor.

Lucy snuggled under her duvet and watched Sky exploring her bedroom, sniffing her way around the boxes. Having Sky in her room made the little kitten seem much morehers, somehow. Lucy could imagine doing her homework up here, with Sky sitting on her windowsill watching the birds, or snoozing on her duvet. Sky clambered on to the bed next to Lucy, and purred lovingly in her ear.

“What am I going to do, Sky?” Lucy murmured sleepily, stroking her. All of a sudden she was so tired. “I wish you could tell me what to do…”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

Lucy awoke to find Sky licking her face with her rough little tongue.

“Hey, Sky… That’s a nice way to be woken up,” she muttered sleepily. “I suppose you want breakfast?” she said, as Sky jumped down off the bed and padded over to the bedroom door.

Lucy threw on her dressing gown, and carried Sky downstairs. When they got to the kitchen she jumped lightly down, and stared demandingly at her food bowl.“Mw-wowl!” she told Lucy firmly.

Lucy grabbed the bag of kitten food from the cupboard. She poured some into Sky’s bowl, and fetched herself some juice from the fridge. Watching Sky busily devouring her breakfast, Lucy wondered if she could bear to let Sky go. She was so lovely! If she told her parents she’d changed her mind, maybe they could keep her…

Her mum came down a few minutes later.“You fed Sky!” she said in surprise. Then she looked at the bag that Lucy had left on the counter. “I suppose I might as well take that to the breeder’s with me later. They’ll be able to use it up, or give it to her new owner. The basket and things, too, probably,” Mum sighed.

Lucy walked quickly out of the kitchen, before she started to cry. Sky’s new owner! The person who was going to really love her… Everything was so complicated, Lucy felt she didn’t even know what she wanted any more.

The doorbell rang. Izzy and Amber had come to pick her up for school like they’d arranged last night. Sky peeped round the front door, and Izzy nudged Amber. “Look, isn’t she gorgeous? Isn’t Lucy lucky?”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_22]

Amber smiled.“Oh! She’s so tiny. You reallyare lucky, Lucy!”

Lucy didn’t want to explain what had happened in case she started crying again. “Mmmm!” she said, forcing a smile.

As soon as Amber left them at the school gates to go on to her secondary school, Lucy burst out,“They’re taking Sky back!”

“What?” Izzy yelped. “When?”

“Today,” Lucy said miserably. “Mum and Dad told me when I got home from your house last night. They said they’d made a mistake, but the people who bred Sky will have her back. Luckily.” She sniffed.

Izzy gazed at her in horror.“And you’re just going to let them?”

Lucy stared down, noticing that her school skirt had white hairs on it.“I suppose so,” she murmured. She was cryingagain!

“You just can’t!” Izzy said. “That beautiful kitten, the best presentever, and you’re letting them take her away!” Izzy’s eyes were flashing, and people were staring at them as they walked along the corridor to their classroom.

“You don’t understand!” Lucy wailed.

“No, I don’t.” Izzy dumped her bag on their table.

“Last night I was going to tell them I’d changed my mind about Sky and wanted to keep her,” Lucy explained. “I was trying to think how to do it while I was at yours. But when I got home they told me they were going to give Sky back because she needed someone who’d really love her. And they’re right! All I’ve done is make her sad…” she sobbed.

Izzy made a disbelieving noise and put her arm round Lucy.“She didn’t look sad the other day when you were cuddling her in your garden! She looked really happy!”

Lucy looked up at her hopefully.“Do you think so?”

Izzy thought for a moment.“Do you think maybe you’ve been upset about moving house for so long that you’re just looking on the wrong side of everything?” she asked.

Lucy felt hurt. It sounded as though Izzy thought she was just being stupid.

“I’m not trying to be mean,” Izzy added hurriedly. “It’s just I thought you were actually starting to like being here. You don’treally hate it, do you?”

Lucy shook her head slowly.“Noooo,” she murmured. She looked up at Izzy, feeling confused. She’d been telling herself she hated Fairford for so long, it was hard to admit to someone else that it actually wasn’t so bad. “No. Since I made friends with you, it’s been fun,” she said, smiling. She sat down slowly onthe edge of the table, thinking aloud. “And if I could keep Sky, and not have to pretend I didn’t like her, it would be even better.” Lucy looked shyly up at her friend – Izzy reallywas her friend.“All I have to do is explain to Mum and Dad, and everything will be OK.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

Back at Lucy’s house, her mum was in the hall searching for her keys, ready to go out shopping. She just had time before Lucy and Kieran came back from school. Mum grabbed her coat from the understairs cupboard. “Where have I put them, puss?” she muttered to Sky. “Oh, there they are, in my pocket all the time!” She sighed, looking at Sky’s bright, interested eyes. “I’m going to miss you. But I suppose it’s for the best. I’ll see you in a while, little one.”

Feeling lonely, Sky watched her walk down the road from her perch on the back of the sofa. Then she wandered through the house, looking for something fun to do. She could hear the washing machine rumbling in the kitchen. It would be going round and round! She liked to watch it, so she nudged the door open.

Sky didn’t use her basket much during the day – she usually slept on the sofa – so Lucy’s mum had tidied it away with her food bowl, and the bag of food. It was all piled up on the counter, ready to take back that evening. Forgetting about the washing machine, Sky looked at the place where her basket was supposed to be, feeling confused. What was going on? Her bowl, her basket, all that food? Didn’t they want her any more?

But she liked it here, and she was sure Lucy was beginning to like having her here, too. Determinedly, Sky stalked out of the kitchen. This was her home now, here with Lucy!

Distracted by losing her keys, Lucy’s mum hadn’t closed the understairs cupboard properly. Sky had never seen this door open before, not even a crack, and she nudged it further open with her nose.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_23]

It was full of wellies and bike helmets and coats, and it looked dark and curious. Sky wriggled through the door, and wove herself between the wellies to get further in. At the back was a big wicker basket, full of scarves and hats. Sky climbed into it, and burrowed under Lucy’s pink, fluffy hat. Perfect. Now she would stay here until they changed their minds.

Chapter Eight

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Lucy and Izzy had agreed to race home after school as fast as they could get Amber to go. As they dashed down their road, Lucy spotted her mum in the driveway, carrying something bulky. It looked awfully like the special box that Sky had come in.

A horrible thought suddenly struck her. What if Mum had taken Sky back earlier than planned? What if Sky had already gone?

She sped ahead of Amber and Izzy, and flung herself through the gates. Her mum had put the box down on the driveway while she closed the garage door, and it was open at the top, its flaps not folded together. It was empty.

Lucy knelt down beside it and looked in, knowing it was no use, but hoping that somehow Sky was there after all, she just wasn’t looking properly. But there was no kitten. Lucy was too late. Holding the flaps of the box, Lucy started to cry.

“Lucy!” Her mum was staring at her in horror. “Lucy, what is it? Whatever’s the matter?”

Lucy was crying too hard to speak. Izzy and Amber had now caught up with her. Izzy stared down at the box.“Oh no! She’s gone already?”

Lucy nodded, her shoulders heaving.

“Girls, what is going on?” Lucy’s mum asked.

Izzy looked up at her.“Lucy was going to tell you she didn’t want to give Sky back after all. It was all a big mistake.”

Lucy’s mum gasped. “Lucy? Is this true?” She bent down and pulled Lucy up, putting an arm round her. Lucy clung on to her, still crying quietly.

“Yes,” she gulped. “Sorry!”

“But why didn’t you say?” her mum asked, confused.

Lucy heaved a shuddering sigh.“Because I thought you only gave me Sky to make me forget about everyone back home, and I didn’t want to forget my friends!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_24]

“That’s not why we gave you Sky!” Her mum sounded hurt. “Although … I suppose I can understand how you’d see it like that. Oh, Lucy.”

“And now it’s too late anyway,” Lucy sniffed.

Her mum smiled.“Actually it’s not.”

Lucy looked up at her in sudden hope.“Can we get Sky back?”

“We don’t have to. I was just getting the box out of the garage ready, that’s all. Sky’s inside somewhere. I’m not sure where, I’ve only been back ten minutes.” Lucy’s mum smiled as Lucy, Izzy and Amber dashed over to the front door. “Would you like me to let you in, by any chance?”

The girls burst into the house as soon as she opened the door, calling eagerly for Sky, expecting her to come running. Lucy couldn’t help thinking how lovely it was not to have to pretend she didn’t care about her lovely kitten. Her kitten! Sky really was hers now!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

“Have you found her?” Lucy’s mum called a couple of minutes later, once she’d put the box away. “I’d better ring the breeder and tell her we’re not bringing Sky back after all.”

But Lucy, Izzy and Amber were coming down the stairs, looking worried.

“What’s the matter?” Lucy’s mum asked, putting her coat away.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_25]

“She’s not here,” Lucy said anxiously. “She couldn’t have got out, could she, Mum? She’s disappeared. We’ve looked everywhere.”

Her mum shut the cupboard door.“I don’t see how she could’ve got out. She was definitely in when I left, I saw her sitting on the back of the sofa as I went out. Come on, let’s look again. She’s probably hiding, and playing a game with us.”

But they looked and looked, and when Kieran got home he joined in, too, and Lucy’s dad a while later. By the time Amber had to drag Izzy home for tea, they still hadn’t found her. Sky had disappeared completely.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

Tucked away in her warm little nest, Sky had heard everyone searching and calling. She’d almost come out, but maybe they were only trying to find her so they could take her away? The voices calling her name sounded frightened and upset. She thought Lucy was crying, and that made her feel sad, too. Maybe she should come out, and make Lucy feel better? It was so hard to know.

Sky wanted her basket to go back in its proper place in the kitchen. If she waited till they all went to bed, maybe she could go and see if they’d put it back for her? Yes, she would come out then. She was awfully hungry, though, and it was a long time to wait.

Sky tunnelled underneath a tasselled scarf to make her bed more comfortable. The cupboard was chilly, and so lonely. Oh, she wished Lucy would come and find her– the nice Lucy who stroked her so lovingly, and told her how beautiful she was. That Lucy didn’t want to give her away, she was sure!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

“Lucy, I know you want to keep looking, but it’s really late. You have to go to bed – you’ve got school in the morning. We’ll search outside tomorrow, even though I still don’t see how Sky could’ve got out.” Lucy’s mum looked anxiously out of the window into the darkness.

Lucy stared out of the window as well, and shivered. It was so dark and cold now. Sky had only been outside the house that once when she’d slipped through the front door. She couldn’t stop imagining poor little Sky out there on her own, perhaps hiding under a bush, cold and frightened.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_26]

She hugged her mum sadly, then slowly climbed the stairs to her room. Was it only this morning that Sky had woken her up by licking her face? It seemed so long ago. She got into bed, and lay there wishing she hadn’t been so stupid. If only she’d told her parents sooner that she’d changed her mind, then maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

Sky was determined to wait until everyone had gone to bed before she came out. Then she would go and see if they had put her things back in their proper places. If they hadn’t, well, she would go back into the cupboard until they did! But she would find something to eat first.

As the noise in the house died down, she cautiously crawled out of her woolly nest and perched at the edge of the basket, her paws on the rim, listening carefully. Could she sneak out and look around yet? Was it safe? Perhaps she could creep up the stairs and see Lucy, too. She missed her so much!

Sky threaded her way carefully across the cupboard, avoiding a pile of umbrellas, and squeaking with disgust as she bumped into Kieran’s muddy football boots. Here was the door – she could see a line of light shining from the hallway.

But shouldn’t that line be bigger?

Sky was horrified as she realized that the door to the cupboard was closed. Confused, she scrabbled desperately at the wood, hoping to make the door open again. This door had definitely been open before. Why was it shut now? She yowled in frustration and fury, her tiny claws leaving long scratches in the paint.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_27]

Eventually, Sky’s howls turned to frightened cries. She was trapped. She couldn’t get out. What if shenever got out?

Lucy! Come and find me! Please! she mewed.

But everyone else in the house was asleep, tired from searching and crying and worrying, and no one heard.

Eventually, Sky clambered back into her safe little nest. She wriggled under Lucy’s hat and fell asleep, her paws sore from scratching.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

A little later Lucy woke up with a start. She’d been half-dreaming, half-worrying. What if Sky hadn’t just slipped out because she spotted an open door? What if she’d run away on purpose?

Lucy knew she had been behaving oddly, playing with Sky one minute, and ignoring her the next. Maybe Sky had given up on her. After all, she had been taken away from her home and her mum, too, and everything had been different and strange, just like it had been for Lucy.

I drove her away, Lucy thought miserably, certain now that this was what had happened. Suddenly she threw back her duvet.“I made her go, and it’s up to me to go and find her,” she muttered to herself. “I can’t leave her out there, thinking I don’t love her. This is all my fault.”

It was past midnight, and Lucy was pretty sure everyone was asleep. She grabbed her torch, which luckily was on top of one of her boxes, and sneaked down the stairs. She wasn’t going to bother getting dressed – her pyjamas were fleecy and warm. She’d just put on her big dressing gown, and her fluffy hat and scarf. She was pretty sure Mum had unpacked them, and they were in that cupboard under the stairs.

Inside the cupboard, Sky was in a restless half-sleep. Then all at once the door opened, and a beam of light cut into the gloom of the cupboard, dazzling Sky for a moment before her eyes adjusted. It was Lucy! Sky was about to run to her, when she remembered the way her basket and food bowl were piled up on the kitchen counter. Did Lucy still want her? She peered out from under Lucy’s hat, her eyes big and round and hopeful in the dark.

“It’s my fault,” Lucy whispered to herself. “Poor Sky. All because I was so stubborn.”

Sky heard her name, and Lucy’s sad voice. But what did it mean?

Lucy spotted the basket, and flashed the torch over the top, looking for her hat and scarf. It was cold outside and she might be out searching for a while– she wasn’t coming back until she’d found Sky and brought her home!

Then she stopped with a gasp. Peering out from under her hat was a tiny creamy-white head. Big blue eyes blinked at her uncertainly.

“Sky!” Lucy breathed. “There you are! Mum was right, you didn’t get out after all! Oh, Sky, we’ve been looking for you all night.” She crouched down next to the basket, and looked closely at her. “Are you all right? Were you stuck in here? Why didn’t you call?”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_28]

Sky watched Lucy warily. Her voice sounded loving, but a little sad as well.Please don’t give me back… she mewed.I want to stay!

“Were you hiding?” Lucy asked slowly. “Because you didn’t know what was going on? Oh, Sky, I’m so sorry…” She reached out one finger, very gently, and rubbed Sky under her chin. “It’s all going to be fine now, I promise. No more pretending I don’t love you, because I really, really do. I know I do. Please come out!”

Sky stood up unsteadily on the pile of hats and gloves, and mewed again.I’m so hungry! she told Lucy.

“You must be starved,” Lucy muttered. Very gently, she picked Sky up, cradling her close.

Sky could feel Lucy’s heart beating as she carried her to the kitchen. Her own heart was thumping anxiously, too. Where would her basket be? She sat tensely in Lucy’s arms as she opened the door, and turned on the kitchen light. Then she howled in dismay. It was piled up on the counter still, with her bowl and food bag. They were still going to give her away!

“Hey, hey, Sky, what’s wrong?” Lucy asked. “Oh! Your basket. Does it look strange up on the counter like that? It’s all right, look.” Whispering soothingly and cuddling the tiny kitten in one arm, Lucy took Sky’s toys out of the basket and put it back in its warm corner by the radiator. Sky stopped crying, and leaned over Lucy’s arm to sniff it suspiciously. It seemed right. Good. Now all Lucy had to do was get her food bowl.

“Lucy!” Lucy’s mum was at the kitchen door, her dressing gown half-tied, looking worried. “What are you doing?” she said. “Oh, you’ve found her! Where was she?” She turned to Lucy’s dad, who had followed her downstairs. “Lucy’s found Sky!”

Lucy carried her kitten over for her mum to stroke.“She was in the cupboard under the stairs. She must have been there all that time!” She looked seriously at her parents. “I think she was hiding because she didn’t know whether we wanted her or not,” she said quietly. “But we really do, don’t we?”

“Of course we do,” said Mum.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_29]

Her dad poured some food into Sky’s bowl. “I bet she’s starving.”

Sky started to eat, gulping down the food, then looking hopefully for more.

“It’s not that long till breakfast, Sky, don’t worry!” Lucy giggled. She looked up at her mum and dad. “Can Sky sleep on my bed?” she begged.

Her mum nodded.“If you get back to bed right this minute! In fact, I think we shouldall get back to bed!”

Sky rubbed her head against Lucy’s chin as she carried her upstairs. She could tell how happy Lucy was.

As Lucy snuggled up under her warm duvet, Sky curled up next to her on the pillow and purred loudly. There was no place either of them would rather be! Lucy and Sky were home.

8. GINGER THE STRAY KITTEN

Chapter One

“Are we going past the farm today?” Rosie asked her gran hopefully. They had a few different ways back from school to Gran’s house, but the lane past the farm was Rosie’s favourite. That was the good thing about Gran picking her up from school while Mum was at work. Gran wasn’t usually ina rush, and she didn’t mind walking slowly while Rosie stopped to look at any cats she happened to meet on the way. Rosie loved cats and was desperate for one of her own, but she hadn’t managed to persuade her mum yet.

Gran smiled at her.“Oh, I suppose we could go home that way. I could do with picking up some eggs from Mrs Bowen. I might make a cake tonight, as it’s the weekend.” She looked down at Rosie, and said thoughtfully, “But you know how she likes to chat, Rosie. Are you sure you won’t get bored?”

Rosie looked up at her in surprise, and realized that Gran was teasing. Gran knew that Rosie loved going to the farm, because while she was talking to Mrs Bowen, Rosie could go and watch the stray cats in the farmyard. There were lots of them, and Gran said they were called feral cats because they weren’t anyone’s pets. Rosie had never managed to count them all, as they were so hard to see, but she thought there were probably about twenty of them. Mrs Bowen put food out occasionally, but mostly they lived on the mice they caught in the barns.

Rosie loved to imagine that the cats belonged to her, but they weren’t really very friendly. If she sat on the foot step of the old rusty tractor for ages and ages, they might prowl past her, but none of them would come to be stroked.

One of the prettiest cats, a tabby with beautiful spotty markings, had given birth to a litter of kittens about five weeks before. Rosie had heard them mewing in the barn, but she hadn’t been able to see them for ages, as the tabby cat had hidden them under some old hay bales that were stored in there.

Now the kittens were all dashing about the farmyard, and they weren’t quite as shy as the older cats. Rosie was really hoping that she could tame one of them. She couldn’t help dreaming of taking a kitten home for her own pet.

She knew which one she wanted most of all– the gorgeous little ginger boy kitten. He was so sweet – he had gingery-creamy fur with darker ginger stripes, and an amazingly bright pink nose. His eyes were very green and very big, and Rosie thought he was the most handsome cat she’d ever seen.

Sometimes people called Rosie Ginger because of her long, curly red hair. Mum had always told her that her red hair was lovely and different, and that she’d like it when she was older, but Rosie wasn’t so sure. Then she had seen the kitten. She felt like she and the kitten were a pair, with their ginger colouring. They were ginger and proud of it!

She wished the ginger kitten would let her stroke him. She could just imagine how soft his fur would be. The other day he’d actually come close enough to sniff at her fingers, but he’d darted off again without letting Rosie touch him.

Gran called hello at Mrs Bowen’s back door, which was half open, and Rosie looked eagerly around the farmyard. She had something special for the cats today, and she was really hoping she could tempt the ginger kitten to come over to her.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_3]

Rosie had noticed at lunch that her friend Millie had ham sandwiches. Mum usually put jam sandwiches in Rosie’s lunch box, because they were her favourite, but she couldn’t help thinking that the kitten would love Millie’s sandwiches, the ham smelled really nice. Millie was picking at the ham with a bored expression.

“Don’t you like your sandwiches?” Rosie asked, a plan starting to form in the back of her mind.

“I wanted peanut butter, but my brother had nicked it all,” Millie sighed. “I hate ham…”

“Do you want to swap? I’ve only got one left, but it’s jam,” Rosie offered hopefully.

“You sure?” Millie looked delighted. “I didn’t know you liked ham. You can have both of them!”

Rosie had slowly eaten one of the sandwiches, and then tucked the other one away in her lunch box.

“Didn’t you like it after all?” Millie asked.

Rosie leaned over closer to her. The kitten felt like a special secret, and she didn’t want everyone to know. “I’m saving it. Remember the gorgeous ginger kitten I was telling you about that lives on the farm on the way back to my gran’s house? He came right up to me the other day, and I bet if I had some food he might even let me stroke him. You don’t mind, do you?”

Millie shook her head.“Of course not! Oh, you’re so lucky, going to see kittens. Are they tiny?”

“The lady who owns the farm thinks they’re about five weeks old. They’re so cute! Maybe your mum would let you come home with us and see them one day? I’m sure Gran wouldn’t mind. She could do tea for you as well.”

Now Rosie carefully unwrapped Millie’s sandwich, and started to crumble it into little bits, very gently, trying to keep as still and quiet as she could. It didn’t take long for the cats to get a whiff of the delicious, meaty smell.

Rosie caught a movement out of the corner of her eye, just a streak of black fur. It was one of the kittens, popping its head round the tractor wheel, trying to see what that yummy smell was. Suddenly, several more little cat faces popped up, their whiskers twitching as they sniffed the air.

Rosie threw a bit of sandwich on the ground a little way away, and the closest kitten, the black one, pounced and swallowed it whole. Then he looked up for more. All the other kittens padded a few steps forward, not wanting to miss out. This time Rosie dropped the food closer, and one of the tabby kittens darted in and grabbed it, running back to a safe distance before she dared to stop and eat.

Rosie’s heart thumped with delight as she saw her favourite ginger kitten patter across the farmyard, eager to join in. She tried to throw the next piece close to him, but the tabby kitten got there first and gobbled it up, right under his nose. The ginger kitten gave Rosie a piteous stare.I’m so hungry, he seemed to be saying.Pllleeeease feed me…

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

This time Rosie threw him an extra-large piece. The ginger kitten held it down with one paw, and hissed protectively when the others circled round him. Rosie laughed out loud– his furious little face was so funny – and the kittens looked up at her in shock, their eyes wide. Then they all shot off back into their hiding places. “Oh no!” Rosie muttered to herself, wishing she hadn’t been so noisy.

But the ginger kitten had only run a couple of steps away from his piece of sandwich, and now he eyed it uncertainly. Food– but also noisy girl. What was he supposed to do? He eyed her thoughtfully. He’d seen her before, she came quite often. She didn’t usually make a noise, and she was quiet now. She wasn’t even moving. And she still had lots more of that sandwich.

He darted over and gulped down the rest of his piece, then looked around. His brother and sisters were hiding still. If he went a bit closer, while they weren’t here, he might getmore sandwich… Nervously, ready to run in case she made that loud noise again, he edged closer, his eyes on the ham.

Rosie carefully tossed him a little bit, much nearer to her feet this time.

The kitten stared at her suspiciously. Rosie looked back. Maybe it was too close. But then the kitten moved one paw forward cautiously, and then the other, and then he was just close enough. He started to gobble the sandwich, with one eye on Rosie all the time.

When it was all gone he sat up and eyed her hopefully, licking his whiskers. He cast a quick look behind him. The others were all watching, but they weren’t coming any closer. The food was all his! He knew it was risky, but the sandwich was too delicious. He had to have more!

Rosie couldn’t help smiling. He was only about a metre away from her foot, almost close enough to touch. This time, instead of throwing the sandwich, she just held out her hand with the last few pieces in.

The ginger kitten stared at her nervously. What was he supposed to do now? The smell of that sandwich was so good. He could just run up and grab it, couldn’t he? He skittered forward, his whiskers trembling, and quickly licked up a few crumbs from Rosie’s hand, before stepping back to watch her again.

Then he heard a noise and looked round. His brother and sisters were starting to creep closer! They’d seen that he wasn’t afraid, so they were getting braver, too. If he didn’t wolf that sandwich down fast, he might have to share it.

The ginger kitten hurried back to Rosie and started to eat as fast as he could, licking the crumbs away with his rough little tongue. Rosie had to try hard not to giggle– he was tickling her!

In a few seconds the kitten had eaten the lot. He glared at her hand, obviously wondering when it was going to produce some more.

“Sorry, it’s all gone,” Rosie whispered. “But I’ll bring you some more next time. I bet Mum would let me have ham sandwiches if I asked, and I’d give them all to you.”

The kitten eyed her expectantly, and Rosie stretched out her hand. He licked it, but there was no more ham.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_5]

Rosie gently stroked the top of his head, and he jumped in surprise, looking up at her with enormous emerald eyes.What was that for? he seemed to be saying. Rosie guessed he just wasn’t used to being stroked. He didn’t know that she was trying to be nice. It made Rosie feel sad.

“Rosie! Where are you?” It was Gran, calling from the farmhouse door. The ginger kitten raced for the safety of the barn at top speed, chasing after his brother and sisters, and Rosie sighed as she got up. Still, she had managed to stroke him! That was a first. He was so little and thin, but his fur had been gorgeously soft, exactly as she’d imagined. More than ever, Rosie wished she could have a kitten just like him…

Chapter Two

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Rosie thought about the ginger kitten all weekend. It was such a big step that he’d let her stroke him! Maybe she really would be able to tame him. He was very young, after all.

She sat dreamily at the kitchen table, while Mum was writing a shopping list, drawing pictures of the kitten. It was so hard to get his stripes right, she had to keep starting again.

“That’s beautiful, Rosie!” Mum said, leaning over.

Rosie shook her head.“His face ought to be more of a peachy colour. I don’t have the right pen for it.”

“Is it a real cat then?” Mum asked. “One of the ones you see on the way home from school?”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

“He’s a kitten at Mrs Bowen’s farm,” Rosie explained. “You know, the little farm down the lane, about two minutes’ walk from Gran’s house? There’s five of them altogether. You’d love them, Mum.”

She looked hopefully at her mother. Maybe if Mum came and saw how cute the kittens were, she’d let them take the little ginger one home. If only Rosie could tame him…

“He does look cute,” her mum agreed. “Just be careful though, won’t you? Those wild cats have probably got all sorts of horrible bugs.”

Rosie sighed. That didn’t sound particularly hopeful…

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Rosie’s mum couldn’t understand why she was so keen to get to school on Monday morning.

“I’m going to be at work early, at this rate,” she said. “What’s got into you, Rosie? Usually it’s me telling you to get a move on, not the other way around.”

Rosie just smiled. The sooner she was at school, the sooner it would be home time and she could persuade Gran to take her to the farm again. Or it felt that way anyway, even though she knew that really it didn’t make any difference how early she got there.

She’d made sure Mum bought ham for her sandwiches this week, and she’d begged for an extra yoghurt so she could save both sandwiches and not have her tummy rumbling all afternoon.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Luckily, Gran didn’t mind going to the farm again, and chatting with Mrs Bowen. Rosie ran ahead as they went down the lane that led past the farm, calling to her gran to hurry.

“I can’t walk any faster, Rosie,” said Gran. “You really do love those cats, don’t you?” She was frowning a little as she said it, but Rosie was thinking about whether the ginger kitten would remember her and didn’t notice.

It seemed to Rosie that the cats appeared more quickly this time when she sat down on the old tractor. Obviously they remembered her as the food person. The ginger kitten was the first to appear, his wide, white whiskers twitching with anticipation. Rosie wished he wasn’t so nervous of her, and that she could take him home and look after him. She crumbled the sandwich and scattered a few pieces around, hoping that again he’d be brave enough to come really close.

The kitten sniffed the air delightedly. More ham! And the others weren’t as brave as he was, so he could have most of it to himself. He was sure the girl wasn’t dangerous – shehad touched him last time, but very gently. It had been quite nice. He’d even let her stroke him again, if there was ham.

Rosie watched hopefully as he crept forward, and she held out a particularly yummy-looking piece of ham. The kitten nibbled it delicately, then bumped her hand with his forehead, as if to say thank you. Rosie held out her left hand with some more sandwich, and carefully rubbed behind his ears with the other.

The kitten looked up at her, still confused about why she wanted to stroke him like this, but not minding too much. He even purred, just a little. He was a bit itchy behind the ears, and she was rubbing exactly the right spot.

He finished the last of the sandwich and stared at Rosie, sniffing her fingers to see if more food would appear. When it didn’t, he yawned, showing a very pink tongue, and jumped on his little tabby sister’s tail, starting a kitten wrestling match.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_8]

Rosie watched them, giggling quietly to herself. They were so funny! Maybe tomorrow she would bring a piece of string for them to chase, she was sure they would like that.

The kittens suddenly scattered, and Rosie turned to see her gran coming out of the farmhouse and waving goodbye to Mrs Bowen. Gran looked a bit worried, and Rosie jumped up.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, as they headed for the gate into the lane.

Gran looked down at her, and sighed.“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this for a while, Rosie,” she said. “Mrs Bowen is moving – she’s going to live with her son in the village. The farmhouse is a bit too big for her now she’s on her own.”

Rosie stared up at Gran in surprise. She couldn’t imagine the farm without Mrs Bowen. “Oh… So who’s going to live at the farm now?” she asked. “Is Mrs Bowen selling it?” Rosie looked back at the farm gate. There was no For Sale sign up.

“No…” Gran hesitated. “Well, yes, I suppose she is. The land has been sold to a developer – they’re going to knock down the farm buildings and put up some houses instead. Mrs Bowen signed the contract with them a little while ago, and she’s been gradually packing her things up and moving them over to her son’s house. She’s leaving the farm this week.”

Rosie gasped. It was all happening so quickly. Then a horrible thought struck her.“But Gran, what’s going to happen to the cats? They won’t stay around when the farm’s a building site! Where will they go?”

“It’s all right, Rosie,” Gran said soothingly, putting an arm round her shoulders. “Mrs Bowen’s asked the people from the Animal Rescue Centre in Wilmerton to rehome the cats. They’re going to come and collect them tomorrow, she told me. It’ll be much better for the cats, you know. They’ll check them over, and find proper homes for the kittens. As for the older cats, they’ll try and find someone with farm buildings or stables who’ll have them as outdoor cats, like they are here.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_9]

Rosie nodded.“But I won’t see them any more,” she said sadly, her voice quivering. “Not even the little ginger kitten, and he was starting to like me, Gran, he really was. I … I even thought of trying to take him home, if I could persuade Mum…”

“I’m not surprised he liked you, considering you were feeding him all your sandwiches.” Gran smiled at her. “Mrs Bowen does have windows and I’m not blind, Rosie!”

“Oh.” Rosie looked up at Gran, her cheeks a little pink. “You won’t tell Mum, will you?” she asked.

“Well, no. But I think you’d have been better off eating the sandwiches yourself and buying some cat treats with your pocket money,” Gran suggested. “I shouldn’t think your mother would like to know she was making sandwiches for a tribe of wild cats.”

“It won’t matter now anyway,” Rosie said tearfully. “I’ll never see any of them again!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

When Mum picked Rosie up from Gran’s that night, she was surprised by the quiet, sad little figure who trailed down the stairs.

“What’s up, Rosie? Did you have a bad day at school?” she asked.

Rosie shook her head.

“You go and get your things, Rosie,” Gran suggested, and by the time Rosie had packed up her homework and her pencil case, Gran had obviously told Mum what was going on, because she didn’t ask again.

Rosie stared miserably out of the car window as they drove back to their house, which was a bit further out of the village than Gran’s. The rescue centre people would be thinking about new homes for the kittens already, she supposed. All those lucky people, who’d be getting gorgeous kittens. Rosie wondered who would get to adopt the ginger kitten. Maybe there’d be a girl her age. But she was sure no one would ever love him as much as she did. She was so jealous.

Suddenly, Rosie sat up straight, staring out of the front window in excitement. Why shouldn’t that girl be her? The kitten needed a new home, and he already liked her. She could name him Ginger! It was perfect!

Except that she would have to persuade her mum, of course.

“What is it, Rosie?” her mum asked. “A rabbit didn’t run in front of the car, did it? I didn’t feel anything.”

“What? No! Mum, can we have a kitten?” Rosie gabbled. “Please? All Mrs Bowen’s cats need new homes, and we’d be a perfect new home, wouldn’t we?”

Mum didn’t say anything for a minute, and Rosie stared at her hopefully. At least she hadn’t said no at once.

“I don’t know, Rosie,” Mum murmured at last. “It would be nice to have a pet – but those kittens are wild. They aren’t used to people. I don’t know if we’d be the right home. Someone who knows more about cats would be better, I think.”

“We could learn about cats!” Rosie pointed out eagerly. “And those kittens really, really need homes, Mum. Did Gran tell you the rescue centre people are coming to get the cats tomorrow? They’ll hate being in a rescue centre, in cages. There’s one of the kittens, Mum, he’s really sweet,and he’s already almost tame. He lets me stroke him and he even eats out of my hand. He’d be a brilliant pet!”

“Well, I’ll think about it. Maybe we could go and see them, see how tame they really are. I’m not sure I want a wild kitten climbing my curtains…”

Rosie beamed. She was sure that Ginger was hers already. He was so cute Mum just wouldn’t be able to resist him!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Back at the farm, the ginger kitten curled up next to his mother and brother and sisters, in a pile of hay in the old barn. It made a cosy nest, and he licked his paw sleepily. He was thinking about that girl, and wondering if she would come back tomorrow. She might bring more food, and maybe she would stroke his fur again. It was nice when she did that, a bit like his mother licking his ears.

He snuggled up closer to his tabby sisters, and closed his eyes. The hay was soft and warm, and he quickly fell asleep, never dreaming that everything was about to change.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_10]

Chapter Three

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

The next morning, the kittens were startled awake by the noise of a vehicle driving into the yard. Mrs Bowen didn’t have a car, and she took most of her eggs to the village shop to sell, so very few people drove up to the farm. The kittens blinked at each other, then peered blearily over the edge of their straw nest. The kittens’ mother, the spotted tabby cat, went to stick her nose round the old barn door. The ginger kitten pattered after her, eager to see what was going on. He wriggled between his mother’s front paws, staring out into the yard.

Mrs Bowen was standing by the back of a van, next to two girls. One of the girls opened up the doors and started to unload some odd-looking boxes. The van smelled strange, the kitten thought. He’d never smelled anything quite like it before. And what were those wire box things?

His mother was tense beside him, her whiskers pricked out as she watched what was going on. His brother and sisters were starting to mew and cry back in their nest, as they smelled the fear scents on their mother and the other older cats who were watching, too. They just didn’t trust humans. The tabby cat backed into the barn so that her ginger baby wasn’t between her paws any more, and butted him hard with her nose.

He looked round in surprise. What was the matter? Why was she pushing him? Was it a game? Then he saw that her eyes were wide with fear, and the fur had risen all along her back. This was no game. She swiped the kitten with her paw, sending him sliding out into the yard, and then she hissed at him with her ears laid flat back against her head. It was quite clear what she was telling him to do.

Run!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_11]

The ginger kitten scooted quickly out of the barn door, heading for the old tractor. The tyre had come away from the wheel, and the ginger kitten had found this wonderful hiding place while he was playing at jumping out on top of his sisters. There he waited, his heart thudding with fear, trying to work out what was going on.

His mother had darted back into the barn to try and fetch his brother and sisters, and some of the other cats were trying to make a run for it, too. But as soon as they’d seen that the cats knew they were there, the two girls had quickly put a net round the barn door. Now they’d put on big gloves, and they were catching the cats with strange things that gripped them round the neck.

Ginger watched in horror as one by one his brother and sisters were caught, and placed into wire cages. He could hear them mewing frantically as the cages were loaded into the van. Then one of the girls walked right up to the tractor where he was hiding.

The kitten edged back as far as he could go, trembling. He didn’t want the girl to see him, but nowhe couldn’t see what was happening. Where were they taking his brother and sisters? Were they all in that horrible-smelling van? Had they caught his mother, too? He couldn’t see! His tail thrashed from side to side as the girl walked past, searching – for him, maybe. Ginger curled himself into the tiniest ball, his eyes wide with fear.

“I’ve just caught the last one. I’m glad I had my gloves, she was struggling like anything!” shouted a voice from across the farmyard. Ginger then listened as the girl walked away from the tractor and the van doors slammed shut.

As the van drove off, a small bright-pink nose peeped out from the wheel of the tractor. Ginger watched the van rattling out of the farm gate, carrying his brother and sisters away from him, and gave a miserable little mew. Should he try to follow them? But he was sure his mother hadn’t been happy about where they were going. Where was his mother? Maybe she’d managed to find a hiding place, too? Perhaps she would come and get him now the people had gone? Or should he try to find her?

[Êàðòèíêà: img_12]

Ginger crept out of his hiding place, and started to search the farmyard. It smelled empty, and there was no sign of any other cats at all. But he couldn’t believe that his mother had left him. She wouldn’t! Even if they had caught her, she would have got away somehow.

He wandered round the outside of the barn, mewing sadly, and wishing she would come back soon, because he was getting hungry. Maybe she’d gone hunting for a nice mouse for his breakfast. Yes, that was probably it.

As the morning wore on, he got hungrier and hungrier. He searched around for his mother and mewed pitifully for her, but still she didn’t come.

At last he went a little closer to the farmhouse, drawn by the smell from the bins. Mrs Bowen had been clearing out her fridge and cupboards, and there were some black plastic bags lying there. The kitten pawed at one of them hopefully and clawed a little hole, hooking out some old cheese. He nibbled at it. It wasn’t very nice, but it was better than nothing.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_13]

He ate all of it, his whiskers twitching at the strange taste. He wished the girl would come back and feed him some more of that delicious ham. He had been surprised when she stroked him, but he’d quite liked it. If she came back now, he wouldn’t be all on his own and she might stroke him some more. Oh, if onlysomebody would come!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Rosie practically towed Gran to the farmyard after school.

“All right, Rosie, all right! But we can’t stay long. Mrs Bowen is still busy packing. She’s moving tomorrow. She won’t want us bothering her today,” Gran said firmly.

“I know, but I must just find out about the kittens, whether the people did come today. Mum said we might be able to pop into the rescue centre on the way home!” Rosie looked up at her gran with shining eyes. “If she likes him, we could even take him home this afternoon!”

Gran smiled. It was lovely to see Rosie so excited, although she wasn’t sure Rosie’s mum would agree to a kitten straight away.

Mrs Bowen waved to them from the kitchen window. She was piling china carefully into a big box, and looked a bit hot and bothered.

“Did they come?” Rosie asked her excitedly. “Did they take all the kittens to the rescue centre?”

Mrs Bowen smiled.“Oh yes, dear. This morning.”

“Have you got the address?” Rosie asked hopefully. “Mum says we can go and look at the kittens – she might even let me keep one of them! The sweet little ginger one, you know?”

Mrs Bowen wrote it down, and Rosie folded up the piece of paper and tucked it carefully in her pocket.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Mum had said she’d try and leave work a bit early so they could go to the rescue centre that evening, and now Rosie sat by Gran’s front window, watching for her car. When her mum arrived at last, she dashed out to meet her.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_14]

“The kittens are at the rescue centre! I’ve got the address, Mum. Come on, they’re only open until six!” she cried.

Her mum laughed.“All right! But remember, Rosie, we’re just looking. I know you hope we’ll be taking that kitten home, but I still need to think about this. And anyway, I can’t imagine we’ll be allowed to take one of them yet. They’ll need to be checked by a vet, to make sure they’re fit and healthy.”

Rosie nodded.“But at least let’s go and see!” she pleaded.

Secretly she was sure that as soon as her mum saw Ginger, she would give in. Maybe they wouldn’t be able to take him home today, but they could still tell the rescue centre people that they wanted him!

The rescue centre was in the next village. The girl at the reception desk knew about the kittens, and she smiled at Rosie’s eager questions.

“I’m sure you can go and see them,” she said. “We wouldn’t usually let people visit the kittens until we’d checked them over, but seeing as you already know them…” She led Rosie and her mum through to a room at the back, with large cat-runs in it.

Rosie spotted the tabby mother cat at once. She was prowling up and down the run, looking anxious.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_15]

“Oh, she really doesn’t like being shut in. And she must be upset that she’s not with her kittens,” Rosie said sadly.

The girl from the rescue centre nodded.“I know. But because she’s a feral cat we need to separate her kittens from her now, before they get too old. It’s so the kittens can get used to humans and to give them the best chance of settling in when they go to their new homes. They’re in that run at the end, want to see them?”

“Oh, yes… Come and see, Mum!” Rosie whispered, grabbing her mum’s hand and pulling her along.

“Oh, they are sweet!” her mum agreed, peering through the wire. “Look at that little black one!”

But Rosie was staring anxiously into the run. There were four kittens in the basket, curled up asleep– one black, and three tabbies. There was no lovely little ginger kitten.

Ginger wasn’t there!

Chapter Four

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

“Don’t cry, Rosie,” Mum said gently as they walked back to the car.

Rosie was trying not to cry, but there were just a few tears that she couldn’t seem to stop. She was thinking about what could’ve happened at the farm when the cats were caught.

Why hadn’t Ginger been with them?

Probably he’d found a sneaky way out of the barn and slipped away. But why? Perhaps he’d just been frightened of the rescue centre people, but it was also possible that he had stayed behind at the farm to wait for her. Maybe he hadn’t wanted to go with the other cats because of her, because she’d beenfeeding him and playing with him.

She had read about feral cats on the internet and knew that they were good hunters, but Ginger was too young to hunt properly for himself. His mother would still have been catching food for her kittens, and showing them how to chase the mice in the barns. Without her to feed him, he might starve. Rosie nodded firmly to herself. She had to go back to the farm. She just had to find him, however long it took.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Rosie was determined to stop and look for the kitten the next day, but she and Gran got a shock when they reached the farm. Gran had come another way to collect Rosie from school, because she needed to go to the shops, and they both stopped in surprise as they came close.

“Goodness, that’s gone up quickly!” Gran exclaimed.

A huge wire fence was now surrounding the farmyard, covered in big notices about wearing hard hats, and no children playing on the building site. It was a building site already!

Rosie pressed her face up against the wire fence. The farmyard was deserted, with no sign of life at all.

“Can’t we go in and look for him?” she asked Gran.

“No, Rosie, look – it says no one can go in.” Gran sighed. “We’ll just have to keep coming by and hope we spot him – or perhaps we could ask the builders to keep an eye out. There’s no one here now, but I’m sure there will be soon, otherwise they wouldn’t have bothered to put the fence up, would they?”

Gran was right. The next day, a couple of men in yellow hard hats were wandering round the building site with a little machine that beeped, which Rosie and Gran guessed was some sort of clever measuring gadget. It took them ages to catch the men’s attention, but at last one of them came over.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Have you seen a kitten?” Rosie said nervously. “There were some cats here, and they were taken to a rescue centre, but we think one of the kittens ran away and…” She trailed off. “We just wondered if you’d seen him? A ginger kitten?”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_16]

“No, sorry.” The builder turned away. Rosie didn’t dare call him back, even though she wanted to.

“Could you keep an eye out for him, please!” Gran called, and Rosie squeezed her hand gratefully. She’d wanted to ask that, too.

They carried on walking, Rosie looking back sadly every so often. They seemed to be able to see that fence for ages.

“Don’t give up hope, Rosie,” Gran told her. “You never know.”

But Rosie couldn’t help feeling that her chances of finding Ginger were getting smaller and smaller. What if he had escaped before the fence went up. Maybe he wasn’t there at all!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Ginger was hiding between two hay bales in the barn, peering out occasionally, and trembling as the men’s heavy boots thumped past the door. Who were they? And why were they stamping and crashing round his home? He wished his mother and his brother and sisters would come back, but he was almost sure now that they were gone for ever. If his mother had still been here, she would have come to find him by now, wouldn’t she?

He had hidden in the barn when the men came to put the fence up, and he’d dashed back there again this morning when they returned. He didn’t dare do more than poke his nose out occasionally to see if they’d gone. He was starving, and it was getting harder to find anything to eat in the bin bags by the farmhouse.

There were voices outside now. Were more people coming? He shivered. He wanted the farm to go back to being quiet and safe like it was before. He listened miserably, but then his ears pricked up. He knew that voice. It was the girl! She was there! Maybe she’d known he was hungry and had brought him some more sandwiches? He edged nervously round the barn door, the fur on his back ruffling up.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_17]

The men were still there, and the girl was talking to one of them. If only they would go, he could run over to her. Perhaps she didn’t know he was here. He mewed a tiny mew, hoping she would hear. But he didn’t dare call more loudly in case the men saw him.

No! The girl was turning away. She was going!

Rosie walked sadly away down the lane with Gran, leaving the kitten staring desperately after her.

The girl had gone, and Ginger didn’t know if she would come back. He felt so small and scared, and very, very alone…

Chapter Five

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

On Friday Gran was waiting outside school for Rosie as usual. It was spitting with rain, and Rosie was taking a while. She and Millie were among the last few to come out, and Millie had her arm round her friend.

“Rosie’s really upset about Ginger,” she explained to Rosie’s gran.

“I just don’t think I’m ever going to see him again,” Rosie whispered sadly.

“You mustn’t give up!” Millie said firmly.

Millie’s mum had come up and was giving Rosie a concerned look. “Is everything OK, Millie?” she asked, and Millie explained about Ginger being missing.

“Poor little thing,” her mum murmured. “Have you tried putting food out to tempt him, just in case he’s still around?”

Rosie lifted her head.“No! No, we haven’t, we should try that! Can we do that today, Gran? Oh no, I should have saved my sandwiches for him!”

“You could buy some cat treats in the pet shop!” Millie suggested. “Sammy loves those, especially the salmon-flavour ones.”

“Please!” Rosie begged. “I’ll pay you back out of my pocket money, Gran.”

Gran smiled.“I think I can afford some cat treats. Come on then.”

“Oh, I wish I could come with you, but I’ve got dancing,” Millie said. “I’d love to see him. I bet he’ll come out for those cat treats.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_18]

“Thanks for the brilliant idea,” Rosie told her gratefully, and she and Gran set off to the pet shop.

“Call me and let me know if you see him!” Millie yelled after them, and Rosie turned back to wave. Millie had understood at once why she was so upset. She adored her fluffy, white cat, Sammy. He’d been lost for a couple of days last year, and it had been awful.

Rosie chose the salmon treats, like Millie had suggested. Sammy was gorgeous and podgy and liked his food– Ginger was sure to like them, too. Then they walked quickly over to the farm. From a long way down the lane, they could hear banging and the rumbling sounds of big vehicles. Rosie and Gran exchanged a look and speeded up to see what was going on.

The farm looked so different. The builders were knocking down the barn! A huge, yellow digger was thundering past them on the other side of the fence– even Rosie felt scared by how big and loud it was. How would a kitten feel!

“Oh no!” Rosie cried. “That’s where the cats all used to sleep.” She watched as the digger tore at the walls. She clung on to the wire fence, pressing her face against it so hard she could feel the wires marking her forehead, and looked frantically around the building site. She still couldn’t see the kitten.

“He’s not there, is he?” she asked, her voice shaking. “You don’t think he was in the barn, when they – when they started pulling it down…”

Gran stared through the fence at the builders and their machines, and sighed.“I don’t know, Rosie. He could just be hidden away somewhere because he’s frightened. It’s so noisy, he might want to come out, but he doesn’t dare.” She put her arm round Rosie.

“Try the cat treats,” she suggested gently. “Why don’t you scatter a few through the fence? Maybe the smell will tempt him.” She helped Rosie tear open the tough packet. “Goodness, I should think he’d smell that from miles away, they’re very fishy, aren’t they?”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_19]

The treats did smell very strong, and Rosie pushed a few through the mesh of the fence. Then they waited, watching the builders in their bright yellow vests and hard hats as they cleared away the broken pieces of wood that were all that was left of the kitten’s home. But there was no sign of Ginger – no long, white whiskers peeping out from behind a hay bale, no ginger tail flicking round the corner of the farmhouse. He was nowhere to be seen. After ten minutes of waiting and calling, Gran turned to Rosie.

“It’s starting to rain harder, Rosie. We’d better go, but we’ll try again. Maybe your mum will bring you over tomorrow or on Sunday. We won’t give up.”

Rosie nodded, feeling slightly better. She would never give up on Ginger.

Even though he was only across the farmyard, Ginger hadn’t seen them. He was lurking under the abandoned tractor, shuddering each time the digger crashed and clanged through his old home. He had run out as soon as the builders had come into the barn, and had been hiding here ever since. He was wet, cold and hungry, and now he didn’t even have anywhere to sleep!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_20]

As the barn was flattened, Ginger came to a decision. This wasn’t his home any more. It hadn’t been his home since his family had gone – he realized now that his mother wasn’t coming back. He needed to get away, and find somewhere new.

Perhaps he could go and find that nice girl with the sandwiches?

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Rosie’s mum took her back to the farm on Sunday, and they stood by the fence calling for ages.

“Put some more cat treats down,” Mum suggested. “Then at least he’ll have something to eat.”

Suddenly Rosie gasped.“Mum, look!”

“What is it? Have you spotted him? I can’t see anything.” Mum peered through the fence.

“No, that’s it, I can’t see anything, that’s the point! The cat treats I poked through the fence on Friday, they’ve gone!”

“Are you sure?” Mum asked.

“Definitely. I was right here, so they should be just on the other side of the fence. Ginger’s been here, he’s eaten them! Oh, Mum!” Rosie beamed at her, feeling so relieved. She bent down to empty some more cat treats out of the packet.

“Rosie, what’s that?” Rosie looked up to see her mum pointing across the farmyard, down to the side of the farmhouse. “Can you see? It looks like something ginger, by the bins…”

Rosie jumped to her feet. Mum was right. Slipping along the side of the farmhouse was a flash of gingery fur. It had to be him!

But then the creature slunk out further into the yard, sniffing at the piles of wood from the barn. A gingery fox, with a bright-white tail tip.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_21]

“Oh no…” Rosie breathed. It wasn’t very big, but compared to a tiny kitten it was huge. “It might hurt Ginger, and oh, Mum, I bet it was the fox who ate the cat treats!”

Mum sighed and nodded.“I’m afraid it could well have been, yes.”

Sadly, they turned and walked away, Rosie blinking back tears. She had promised herself she wouldn’t give up, but it was starting to look hopeless…

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

That evening, Rosie’s mum was determined to cheer her up. A television programme they both liked was just about to start and Mum hurried upstairs to fetch her.

“Rosie!” she called, opening her bedroom door. “Are you coming downstairs? Oh, Rosie!”

Rosie was sitting huddled on the floor, leaning against her bed.

“Whatever’s the matter?” Mum asked, sitting down on the floor beside her. “You’re crying!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_22]

“I’ll never see him again.” Rosie sniffed. “What if he’s hurt?” she whispered. “He might have been injured when the barn was knocked down. Maybe he got trapped somewhere. Maybe that fox has eaten him!” Tears rolled down Rosie’s cheeks again.

“Ssshh, Rosie, don’t say that.” Mum hugged her close. “I don’t think foxes normally attack cats. You’re imagining the worst, the kitten might be fine. He’s probably just staying hidden because he’s frightened of the builders.” She looked down, stroking Rosie’s red hair. “You really love this kitten, don’t you? You’ve tried so hard to make friends with him – Gran told me how patient you were, trying to get him to like you.”

Rosie’s mum hesitated. “Rosie, you know, we could try adopting one of the other kittens at the rescue centre… What about that pretty little black one?”

Rosie looked up, her eyes horrified and still teary.“We can’t! We can’t, Mum!”

“I mean, if we don’t find Ginger,” her mum explained gently.

Rosie shook her head.“He’s special,” she said in a quiet voice. “I think because he’s ginger too, like me. But it isn’t just that. He seems so bright, and he’s got so much bounce…”

She twisted one of her red curls round her finger, deep in thought. It was true. Gingerwas special. And if she couldn’t have Ginger, she didn’t want another kitten.

Chapter Six

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Ginger had felt so brave when he decided to leave the farm and look for a new home. He had waited until all the people were long gone, and the farm was dark and quiet. He would find somewhere warm and comfortable. Maybe he’d even find that friendly girl with the food.

But he hadn’t realized that the fence went all round the farm. It was very high, and it was pinned down tight to the ground. He couldn’t get out! Scratching and scrabbling at it didn’t work, and when he tried climbing it he fell. At last he had slunk miserably away to find a place to sleep. He’d hidden himself eventually in Mrs Bowen’s log-pile, at the back of the farmhouse. It wasn’t very comfortable, but it felt safe, far away from the builders’ noisy, smelly machines.

Most of the mice seemed to have been scared away by the men, too. He’d almost caught one once, but it had slipped into a hole at the last minute, leaving him worn out and hungrier than ever. It had seemed so easy when his mother did it. He’d found some rather fishy-tasting little round things by the fence over the last couple of days, but they hadn’t filled him up. He’d seen a fox hanging around as well, and he had a feeling it had picked all the best bits out of those bin bags, because there was nothing left.

Now he could feel himself growing weaker. Even though the rain leaked through into his log-pile nest and soaked him, he’d been grateful for it, as at least he wasn’t thirsty. He’d been able to lap the water caught in the old buckets that were lying around the yard. But he needed more than water. He was sure the men had food. He’d smelled it, delicious smells like the sandwiches the girl used to bring him. They had been very good. He had hoped she might come back, but probably she didn’t like the big machines either, he thought, as he drifted into a restless sleep.

Ginger was woken by the smell of ham sandwiches. A builder had stopped for lunch and was sitting on one of the big logs. The smell was irresistible. Ginger uncurled himself and crept out. The sandwiches were in an open box, lying next to the man. There was just one left, and out of it trailed a piece of wonderful pink ham. He had to have it. Ginger looked up at the man. He was staring across the yard, chewing slowly. He wouldn’t notice, would he?

Ginger darted a paw into the box, hooking the bread with his claws.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_23]

“Hey! Get out of it, you!” The man swiped at him with his hand! Ginger shot away in terror, without even a morsel of bread to show for it. He raced up the tree that had been left standing in a corner of the yard by the fence, and crouched flat on one of the branches, quivering with terror. No one had ever tried to hit him before. He looked down fearfully, digging his claws into the bark. He had never climbed a tree before either, but instinct had taken him to the safest place. The man hadn’t followed him.

Ginger stayed there for hours, too scared to move. By the middle of the afternoon, he felt it might be safe to come down from the tree. It wasn’t as easy as going up had been. He hadn’t reallythought about going up, he’d just done it. He looked down from his branch – the ground seemed so far away… He was stuck!

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Rosie only got through school that day because Millie kept nudging her, reminding her that Mrs Wilkinson was watching. Rosie would manage to listen or concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing for about five minutes, before she started thinking about Ginger again.

Millie was coming back to Gran’s for tea today, and they were planning to look for Ginger together. Rosie was glad – Millie was so enthusiastic about looking for him. Rosie had been disappointed so many times, it was hard to keep her hopes up.

Millie jogged ahead as they came up to the farm.“Wow! It really is a building site. Oh, Rosie, poor Ginger. He must be really scared with all those people around, and those great big diggers. It’s so noisy!”

Rosie nodded sadly and looked wearily through the fence into the farmyard. It looked so different now, with the barn gone and the yard covered in piles of rubble. She wasn’t expecting to see anything. But what was that in the big tree over there? Rosie peered through the wire fence and grabbed Millie’s sleeve.

“Millie! Gran! Look! Is that a cat in the tree? On that branch, there. No, no, there, look!”

A flash of ginger fur showed among the yellowing leaves. It was hard to see if it was a cat, butsomething was moving.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_24]

“You could be right…” Millie murmured doubtfully. “I can’t quite see.”

Gran was squinting through the fence at the tree.“I can’t tell either…”

“I am right! I know I am!” Rosie looked at them eagerly. “He’s there, he really is. Yes, I can see his stripes! Oh, I can’t believe it, I’d almost given up. Ginger! Ginger! I don’t think he can hear me, with all this noise.” She frowned. “Oh, Gran, he must be so scared with all this going on. We have to get him out, we just have to!”

She dashed along the fence to the gate, with Millie racing after her, and shouted to one of the men walking by.“Hey! Excuse me! Over here, please listen!”

But the man just walked past, trundling a wheelbarrow. He didn’t even look at Rosie and Millie. Rosie rattled the gate, but no one seemed to hear her, the site was too noisy.

Gran came up, looking anxious.“Rosie, calm down!”

“I can’t make anyone listen!” Rosie looked at her wildly. “They have to let us in so we can go and get him!”

Gran pulled them gently away from the gate.“Girls, come back, it’s a building site, I don’t think they’ll let us go in. Sshh, look, that man’s coming out. We’ll ask him.” Gran smiled politely at the builder, who was giving them a curious look.

“Excuse me, but have you seen a ginger kitten around at all? He used to live on the farm, and he’s disappeared. We think we might have just seen him in that tree.”

The builder shook his head. He didn’t look very interested. “No cats, sorry,” he said, starting to shut the gate.

“Heis there!” Rosie cried. “We’ve just seen him, we know he’s there. You’ve knocked down his home, you might’ve hurt him! You have to let us find him!”

The builder looked confused, and Gran hugged Rosie tight.“Calm down, Rosie. Look, I’m sorry, the girls are very worried about the kitten. We really do think we saw him a minute ago. Could you please just keep an eye out for him?” She pulled an old till receipt out of her bag and scribbled on it. “This is my phone number. If you could call us if you see him, we’d be so grateful.”

The man took the note and stuffed it into the pocket of his reflective vest. Then he locked the gate, and walked off. Rosie watched him go, tears running down her nose. She was pretty sure he’d never look at the note again.

Gran shepherded Rosie and Millie away from the gate. She was worried the builders might get annoyed and tell them to stop hanging around.

From high up in the tree, Ginger had heard the voices. It was the girl! The one with the food, who did the stroking. She’d come back for him. He was sure that was why she was there. He tried desperately to scrabble down the tree trunk.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_25]

But now she was going! She couldn’t have seen him. He mewed frantically,please wait! But no one heard him. He took a flying leap from halfway down the tree trunk, and raced over to the fence.

Come back! Come back! I’m here!

But it was too late.

Chapter Seven

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

When they got back to Gran’s house, she made Millie and Rosie sit down and have a glass of juice.

“You mustn’t get so het up, Rosie!” Gran said. “You can’t help that kitten if you’re shouting at people and getting into trouble, can you?”

Rosie sighed and shook her head. Gran was right.“I just don’t think he was even listening, Gran,” she said sadly. “That’s why I was so cross. That man just said no cats, without even thinking about it!”

“But you saw him, Rosie!” Millie put in. “He’s still there, that’s really good news! That was your ginger kitten, wasn’t it?”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_26]

Rosie smiled at last.“I’m sure, really sure. It was his lovely stripy fur, I could see it through the leaves. He was up in that tree, I know he was. I wish he’d heard me, but it was just so noisy. I bet he would have come down, to see if I had sandwiches again.” She frowned. “I hope he wasn’t stuck, that tree’s enormous.”

“Well, all we can do is go again tomorrow. As long as we’re back in time for your mum to pick you up, I don’t mind how long we stay. If we’re there when the builders have gone and it’s quiet, then it’ll be easier.” Gran smiled. “If he’s there, we’ll find him.”

“Couldn’t we go back now?” Rosie pleaded. “I’m not sure I can wait until tomorrow…”

Gran shook her head.“It’s getting late now and you both still need to have your tea. We can go straight after school tomorrow.”

“OK,” Rosie sighed.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Ginger sat by the fence and howled. She’d been here, and he’d missed her! He scratched desperately at the fence, hoping to chase after the girl, but it didn’t budge at all. He was still trapped.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_27]

He trailed sadly back to the woodpile, avoiding the builders. At least she had come back. Maybe she’d come again tomorrow?

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

Rosie raced along the lane, hardly hearing Gran calling to her to slow down. She was desperate to get to the farm, and see if Ginger was still there. At last she reached the fence by the tree, where Ginger had been yesterday. She wound her fingers through the wire, gazing hopefully up at the tree. There was no glint of ginger fur. Rosie sighed. Still, she couldn’t expect him to be in exactly the same place he was yesterday, that would be silly.

He’s there, she told herself firmly.You just need to look.

Rosie tiptoed along the fence, trying to peer through. The awful thing was, Ginger might be asleep somewhere, just out of sight! She could miss him so easily.

Suddenly Rosie gasped. It was as though all her breath had disappeared. He was there! Keeping so still that she hadn’t spotted him. He was crouched under the massive wheel of the old tractor, where she used to sit to tempt him with sandwiches. His ears were laid back, and he was watching the builders. Rosie’s heart thudded miserably as she saw how thin he was getting.

Rosie crouched down by the fence.“Ginger!” she whispered, not wanting to scare him, but of course he didn’t hear her. She tried again, a little louder, and his ears twitched.

“Ginger!” Rosie waved to him as well this time, and she saw his eyes widen. He’d seen her! He stood up slowly, cautiously, and crept across the yard towards her, moving one paw at a time and glancing around fearfully.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_28]

Rosie’s eyes filled with tears as she saw how scared he was. “Hey, Ginger!” she whispered gently, as he stopped a metre or so from the fence.

He stood hesitantly, staring at her, and gave a very small mew. Had the girl come back for him?

“Oh, Ginger, I’m so glad to see you!” Rosie murmured. “Are you all right? You look OK, just really thin.” She giggled. “I don’t know why I’m asking you all these questions, it isn’t as if you can answer…” Very slowly, Rosie reached into her school bag. “Look, I’ve got yourfavourite…” She opened up her lunch box, pulling out the sandwiches she’d saved. “Yummy ham, Ginger, come and see!”

Ginger ran towards her. Shehad come back! And she’d brought food. He was still nervous, but she’d always been so gentle, and the food just smelled too good to resist. Although he was half wild, he’d been used to Rosie feeding him from when he was quite tiny, and he’d missed her. He sat on the other side of the fence and meowed hopefully.

“Here you go, it’s OK,” Rosie said, laughing and posting pieces of sandwich through the fence. Ginger gobbled them down eagerly. “You look like you haven’t eaten for a week,” Rosie told him. Her eyes widened. “Actually, itis a week, isn’t it? You must be starved. Here, have some more.”

“Rosie, I can’t believe you’ve already found him! I won’t come closer in case I frighten him off, all right? I’ll just stay back here.” Gran leaned against the fence on the other side of the lane, watching Rosie and the kitten.

Ginger finished the sandwich, and sniffed the ground, looking for crumbs. The sandwich had helped, but he still felt hungry. He wondered if the girl had any more. He looked at her uncertainly, and edged forward, closer and closer still. At last he was right up against the fence, sniffing at Rosie’s fingers. He even licked them, in case she tasted of ham, but she didn’t.

Rosie giggled– his tongue was tickly – and scratched him behind the ears. She could only just reach – the holes in the fence were too small for her whole hand to go through. “How are we going to get you out?” Rosie muttered, as she stroked Ginger’s head with one finger.

He ducked his head shyly, rubbing himself against the wire. It was warm and sunny, he had been fed, and now someone he liked was fussing over him. He closed his eyes, and started to purr, very quietly, his tiny chest buzzing.

Rosie could feel him trembling with the purr as he leaned against the wire, letting her stroke him all over. She almost felt like purring herself, and a huge smile spread over her face.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_29]

“He’s purring!” she hissed to Gran in a loud whisper. Rosie was just starting to wonder if she should call to a nearby builder, and ask him to pick Ginger up and bring him out to her. It wouldn’t take him long, and they couldn’twant a kitten getting in their way…

Then the man tripped and dropped the bucket he was carrying. It hit the ground with a huge clang. Ginger leaped into the air in fright, and Rosie jumped, her heart thumping.

Ginger had disappeared, streaking across the yard in a panic, and Rosie looked anxiously around for him, clinging sadly on to the wire fence. He had trusted her– he’d actually been enjoying her stroking him, and now all that good work was for nothing! She sighed hopelessly. Ginger was so nervous. It wasn’t his fault, but he was never going to let one of the builders pick him up. He’d run away from the girls from the rescue centre, and that was before he’d had a week of scary builders invading his home.

Ginger would let her feed him, and stroke him. But she was on one side of the fence, and he was on the other. How was she ever going to get him out?

Chapter Eight

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

“Oh, Rosie, he was so close!” Gran came hurrying over, her face stricken. “That was such bad luck. He really seemed to be trusting you.” She shook her head. “I just can’t believe how patient you’ve been with him. You deserve to have him, Rosie, you really do.”

Rosie gave her a grateful hug.

“Well, what are we going to do now?” Gran wondered. “How on earth are we going to get him out? He’s too frightened to let anyone pick him up – you might just about be able to do it, but those builders can’t let you go on to the site, even if they want to. If you hurt yourself, they could be in real trouble. I suppose we’re just going to have to call the rescue centre and get them to do it.”

Rosie nodded.“I hadn’t thought of the rescue centre people coming back. They’d probably have to use a net or a cage or something, wouldn’t they?” She shuddered. “I suppose it’s better than staying where he is, it’s really dangerous here. But he’ll be terrified and he might run away from them again… Oh, Gran, there’s got to be a better way!” She sat down on the grassy verge, thinking hard. “Well, I can’t go in, so he’s got to come out, hasn’t he? But I just don’t see how – this fence is like a prison, even for a cat.”

Gran sighed.“I’ve a feeling we’re going to be here for a while, aren’t we?” She patted Rosie on the shoulder. “You stay here and watch for him, I’ll nip home and make us some sandwiches. I won’t be long.” Rosie looked up suddenly. “Don’t worry, Rosie, I’ll bring some more ham for Gingeras well. But if we do catch that kitten, he’s going to have to learn to like something other than the best ham…”

Rosie watched her walk slowly off down the lane. She was so lucky having Gran. For a start, if Gran didn’t have her after school, she’d never even have met Ginger. But mostly because Gran was never in a rush. She didn’t mind spending an hour sitting outside a building site, watching for a kitten. That was pretty special.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_30]

Rosie turned back to the fence and stared at it hopelessly. If only she could climb over it! The builders were starting to leave now. Once they’d gone, no one would see… But the fence was so high, and Gran would be really upset with her. She’d trusted Rosie to be sensible, leaving her here. Rosie couldn’t let her down.

Rosie shook the fence, making it rattle. It was even taller than the one at school, round the playing field. Then she stopped, and stared at the fence thoughtfully. The one at school had holes in, where people had leaned on it over the years, and one place where some of the boys in the year above had decided to dig a tunnel underneath while they were bored in lunch break. She couldn’t getover the fence, but maybe she could getunder it. Or at least the kitten could…

She crouched down again and peered at the base of the fence. It ran along the ground, and it was held tightly between posts, so there were no gaps– yet. Rosie started to hunt for a likely place. Oh! Yes, here, a couple of posts along… Something had already done half the job for her. Maybe that fox they’d seen before. Whatever it was had scrabbled a hole a few centimetres deep under the fence before it gave up.

Rosie lifted the fence carefully. She was pretty sure that Ginger could fit under there, but she’d better dig it out a bit more, just to be certain. Rosie found a big stone and started to scrape the earth away as fast as she could, looking up every so often to check for Ginger.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_7]

The farm was quiet. Ginger’s ears and whiskers stopped their panicky twitching at last, and he poked his nose out from under the black tarpaulin where he’d dashed after that huge bang.

No noise of diggers, no rumbling wheels, no men shouting. They had gone. It should be safe now. He slid out, still listening carefully. There was an odd scritch-scratching noise coming from across the yard. It wasn’t the men. Was it that fox who’d been stealing from his bins? He’d seen it again the other night.

There was no smell now, so it couldn’t be a fox. He padded slowly out into the yard, following the noise. It sounded like something was digging under the fence, maybe itwas that fox. The fur rose up on Ginger’s back. The sooner he got out of here, the better. He crept round the back of the tractor, and darted a quick look over at the fence.

It was her! The girl! She was still there! The noise hadn’t scared her away. And she was digging under the fence. Was she trying to come in?

Ginger gave a hopeful mew, and crept across the yard towards her, glancing round occasionally, just in case.

Rosie dropped the stone.“Ginger!” She sat up on her heels eagerly, catching hold of the fence to look through the wire, and Ginger paused, scared by the sudden movement. “Oh, I’m sorry…” She edged back on her knees, leaving a little space between herself and the fence. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Ginger. I was just so glad to see you! Look!” Rosie dug the last tiny handful of fishy cat treats out of the packet that she’d been keeping in her school bag, and scattered them for Ginger – on her side of the fence.

“Come on, Ginger… Please…”

The tiny kitten sniffed thoughtfully. The smell was familiar. Those strange round things he’d found before! They were from the girl, too? Well, he preferred ham sandwiches, but he wouldn’t complain. Still, he had to climb under the fence to get them.

He padded closer, peering through the hole. It seemed big enough. And he’d been hoping to find the girl, and a way out. Now she had made him one. Ginger stared up at Rosie, his big green eyes hopeful, and almost trusting. He would do it.

Rosie stared back, her eyes hopeful too, and pleading, desperate for him to trust her.“Hey, little one,” she whispered. “Come on…”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_31]

Ginger crouched down, and started to wriggle under the fence, the wire just skimming the fur on his back. He popped out the other side, shook himself and sneezed from the dust. Then he eyed the cat treats, eagerly.

“Go on, they’re for you!” Rosie reassured him, and Ginger gobbled them down, a curious expression on his face. Such an odd flavour. But he could get used to it. He licked his whiskers to make sure he hadn’t missed anything, and looked up at Rosie. Then he put one tiny paw on her knee, and mewed.

More?

“Are you still hungry?” Rosie smiled. “You could come back to Gran’s with me… She’s making ham sandwiches, your favourite.” She stood up, very slowly, and stepped backwards. “You coming? Hmmm? Coming, Ginger?”

And Ginger stepped out after her, his tail waving, following her home.

11. ALONE IN THE NIGHT

Chapter One

“Jasmine! Hurry up! You’re going to be late for school!” Jasmine’s mum glanced at her watch – and then at all the other children wearing the same uniform as her daughter, who were streaming past the end of their road.

Jasmine looked up.“Oh, but, I was just saying hello to Tiger, Mum!” The marmalade tabby cat sitting on the wall ducked his head so Jasmine could rub his ears. Then he stood up and leaned over to bump the side of his head against her chin. Jasmine had read lots of books about cats and knew that he wasn’t just being cute. He was rubbing his scent glands on her. It was pretty cute, too, though. All the cats in the street loved Jasmine – which is why it always took her so long to get to school.

“Jasmine, we left the house ten minutes ago and we haven’t even got past next door!” Her mum sighed. “You’re going to belate.”

“Sorry, Mum.” Jasmine smiled at her apologetically. “Let’s run!”

She was just picking up her school bag when she stopped again.“Oh, Mum, look! In next door’s window!” She pointed across the garden.

“Oh, a kitten.”

“Mum! Agorgeous kitten! I haven’t seen her before. Did you know the new people next door had a kitten?”

The kitten was tiny, perched right in the middle of the big window sill, which made her look tinier still. Jasmine could just about make out her beautiful stripy brown tabby markings.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_3]

“No, I didn’t,” Mum said, leading her away. Jasmine walked backwards, still staring at the kitten, who stared back. “You know we haven’t really said any more than a quick hello while they were unpacking.”

“Poor little kitten. They must have left her all alone while they’ve gone to work,” Jasmine said sadly.

“Oh, Jasmine! Cats don’t mind being on their own,” her mum laughed. “Besides, how do you even know that kitten’s a she? It could be a boy.”

“She just looked like a she,” Jasmine said. “And cats do get lonely, Mum, especially when they’re only babies.”

“I’m sure they’ll play with her when they get home,” Mum comforted her. “Now run!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

Jasmine turned out to be right– the kitten was a girl. Her mum invited Helen, the new lady next door, round for coffee, and found out all about her beautiful cat.

“She’s called Star,” Jasmine told her best friend Lara, as they walked home from school together. “She’s got such cute tabby stripes; she’s really gorgeous.” Jasmine sighed. “She looks exactly my dream cat – you know, the one I’d really like to have for my own some day.”

“Oh, you’re so lucky having her next door. She might come into your garden,” Lara said enviously. “Do you know how old she is?”

“Nearly three months. They were given her by a friend whose cat had kittens. They were a bit worried she’d be upset by the move, but she doesn’t mind. Except she’s desperate to go out!”

“Can’t they let her out?” Lara asked.

“Not until she’s had all her vaccinations in a couple of weeks’ time,” Jasmine explained. “See you tomorrow!” she called, as they got to her gate.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_5]

Over the next few weeks, Jasmine watched for Star every time she walked past the house next door and always waved hello. Sometimes, if she was sitting on the window sill, the little cat would stand up on her back legs and scrabble hopefully at the glass with her paws, as though she hoped she might be able to slip through and come out for Jasmine to stroke her. Jasmine wished she could, too.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

Star finished her wash and looked thoughtfully round the garden. She still wasn’t very used to being outside. In fact, today was the first day that her owners had left her in the house with the cat flap unlocked. She’d been allowed out all on her own a few times over the weekend, and they’d put out big bowls of cat crunchies to make sure she came back. Of course she had! She loved her house, and her basket, and her food bowls, and her people. Exploring was fun too, that was all.

She headed to the end of the garden. The brambles there were fascinating, full of nests and tunnels and hidey-holes. When she’d finally finished investigating and wriggled out again, her eyes were sparkling with excitement. She licked the fur round her mouth thoughtfully, trying to get rid of the rather strange taste of beetle. Beetles looked delicious, like walking cat crunchies, but they didn’t taste good.

Star sat down in the middle of the lawn, closing her eyes for a moment and feeling the warm autumn sunshine on her fur. Then she went and rolled around in a pile of dried leaves. When she’d got bored of that game, she stretched out her front paws and then her back paws, and looked for something to do next. There was a snail moving very slowly along a leaf just next to her, and she watched that for a little while, but she’d learned from the beetle, and didn’t try to eat it.