Meg ran downstairs and grabbed the bunch, with its one remaining grape, from the kitchen, then hurried back and dangled it through the hatch.

Elvis stopped singing and raised his crest, then opened his beak and squawked.

Meg groaned. “He expects me to drop it in his mouth!” She waved the grape at Elvis. “You have to fly up and get it!”

Elvis closed his beak and fluttered his wings.

“That’s it!” Meg jiggled the grape again. Elvis flapped his wings faster, and for a moment his feet left the top of the dumbwaiter. He landed again, looking surprised.

“You can do it!” Charlie called.

Elvis flapped his wings faster and faster and faster. . . .

All of a sudden, he took off and flew up the dumbwaiter shaft and out of the hatch!

“Wheep!” whistled the little cockatiel as he soared over the twins’ heads.

“Go, Elvis!” Meg and Charlie cheered.

Meg ran down the hall and dangled the grape in front of her bedroom door.

“Here you go, Elvis! You can keep Buster company,” she told the cockatiel. Meg went into her bedroom and laid the grape on the bottom of Elvis’s open cage. He swooped inside and settled on his perch to nibble the grape, chattering happily. On the other side of the room, Buster’s eyes opened for a moment before he went back to sleep.

Charlie peeked through the door. “Everything’s finally nice and quiet!” he said with a sigh of relief.

Closing Meg’s door gently behind them, the twins tiptoed downstairs. Saffron was still sitting cross-legged on the floor. She had her hands in her lap and her eyes closed.

“Has Matilda had her kittens yet?” Charlie whispered.

Saffron opened her eyes. “These things take time,” she murmured calmly. “All we can do now is wait. . . .” She shut her eyes again.

It was very, very hard to wait. Charlie took all of his cat books into Meg’s room and tried to read everything he could find about kittens, but it was tough to concentrate. Meg watched Elvis as he flew around the room, pausing every so often to perch on the lampshade and whistle.

On the cushion next to Charlie, Buster snored. “That’s the best way to pass the time,” Charlie said, smiling at the little puppy.

Meg nodded. “But I couldn’t sleep right now — I’m too excited!”

“Matilda did it!” Saffron called at last.

“YES!” the twins shouted, running into the hall.

“Wheeeep!” Elvis whistled.

Buster jumped to his feet with an excited bark.

They all tore downstairs and met Mom and Dad on the second-floor landing. A loud purr was coming from inside the dumbwaiter — and a soft chorus of squeaky little meows.

“The kittens have been born!” Saffron confirmed. The flower in her hair was drooping, but she was beaming from ear to ear.

Meg and Charlie peered inside the dumbwaiter.

“Awww!” they breathed.

Five tiny, pink-nosed kittens were snuggled up to Matilda. She was licking them from nose to tail, purring happily. All of the kittens looked completely different! One was a tabby like Matilda, one was orange, one was black with a white marking on its chest, one was cream and gray, and the smallest was covered in black and white splotches. It had one black ear and one white ear, and a stripy black-and-white tail.

“Their eyes are squeezed shut and their ears are all crumply,” Meg whispered.

“That’s because they’re so new,” Charlie explained, his eyes sparkling. “The books say it takes a couple of weeks for their eyes and ears to open.” He could hardly believe his luck. Kittens born at Pet Hotel!

“I’ll make sure they’re all okay,” Dad said, gently scooping up a damp kitten. He dabbed it with a towel and checked it over before putting it back with Matilda.

“Look at their little claws and whiskers,” Meg said adoringly as Dad checked each one carefully. “They’re purr-fect!”

“They are,” Mom agreed with a grin.

“Take a look, Buster!” Meg held on to the puppy’s collar while he snuffled at the new family and wagged his tail.

Just then, Elvis swooped down onto Charlie’s shoulder. “Tuk tuk tuk!” he chirped, fluffing up his crest and flapping his wings with excitement.

“Yes, you have six kitty friends now!” Meg said with a giggle.

Matilda looked up at them and purred contentedly.

“Carmen’s in for a surprise,” Charlie said.

“Five surprises!” joked Meg.

“We should leave Matilda to feed her kittens in peace,” Saffron advised. “She’s worn out by all the excitement.”

“It’s definitely been an exciting day at Pet Hotel!” Charlie agreed as they all tiptoed downstairs.