Sassafras saw the Thinking Goggles on my head and perked up.
Now I just needed to think. Hmmm. Maybe making a snow angel would help! The cold snow tickled the back of my head as I swooshed my arms and legs back and forth. The first idea that popped into my head cracked me up. I could put Sassafras inside a giant plastic ball. As he walked, the ball would roll and his little paws would never get wet! OK, maybe he wouldn’t go for that. But it did sound pretty fun. “Good one, Thinking Goggles.” I giggled as I finished making a snow angel.
I stood up and brushed myself off, and a tiny bit of snow dust sneaked its way into my boot. I shivered. A second solution popped into my head. “Oooh! I like it!” I exclaimed and then ran for the kitchen door.
I left my boots by the door and ran to scoop up my cat. “Sassafras, I have a plan!” I told him. He purred and bumped his head against mine. “We just need to ask Mom for some help and I think we’ll be all set!”
“Ask me what?” my mom said as she entered the room, leafing through the mail.
“I have a great idea. You know how Sassafras hates the snow?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“I’ll make him little tiny snowshoes! That way he can play in the snow, but his paws will stay dry. I put my Thinking Goggles on, and after the first idea, I remembered that Xander’s dog wears little Velcro snowshoes when his family hikes in the snow.”
“Hmmm.” Mom wrinkled her nose a little. “Do you think he’d wear them?”
I looked deep into Sassafras’ eyes. “Sassafras. If I make you snowshoes so your paws won’t get wet, will you wear them?”
Sassafras looked deep into my eyes. Then he licked my nose.
Mom and I both laughed.
“Can we try making them, Mom? Pleeease?”
“OK, let’s give it a try. But don’t be upset if he won’t wear them.”
“I promise! Do you have any waterproof fabric? And can you help me with the sewing machine, pleeeease?” I smiled sweetly at my mom.
She grinned back and waved for me to follow her. “Let’s see what I’ve got in the hall closet. Thankfully, we won’t need much material—Sassafras has such little paws!”
I set Sassafras down and we both followed Mom.
“Huh,” Mom said as she rummaged through the fabric scraps. “I’m not seeing any waterproof fabric in here. And I only have a little bit of Velcro left.” She held up a tiny square.
“Oooh, Velcro would be perfect, but that’s only enough for one shoe. I don’t think he’d enjoy having to balance on one foot!”
“I have to go to the grocery store anyway. Why don’t we make a list of supplies you need, and I’ll make a quick stop at the fabric store while I’m out?”
“Thanks, Mom!” I gave her a big hug.
We made the list, and Mom left. Sassafras curled up in my lap and I sketched a few different cat snowshoe designs while we waited for her to get back. Then we heard it.
The magic doorbell!