Karen’s Problem

When I got off the school bus on Monday morning, Natalie ran to me.

“Hi, Karen,” she said. “Am I still your pet partner? How is Boo-Boo? Have you thought of a costume? Do you need any help? The party is on Friday, you know.”

Uh-oh. I had forgotten all about the promise I made to Natalie.

“Yes, I know,” I replied. “But I am afraid Boo-Boo is having a little problem. You see, he is getting very old. He is too old to come to school.”

“You mean he got old in one week?” asked Natalie.

“No, he was old already. But he got more tired.”

“Does that mean I cannot be your pet partner?” asked Natalie.

She looked very disappointed. Her lip started to quiver as if she were going to cry.

“You can be my partner. I just have to decide which pet to bring,” I replied. “I will let you know very soon, okay?”

“Okay,” said Natalie. “Just let me know before Friday. Mommy said I could buy the pet some special treats.”

Natalie would be very happy if I brought in Pumpkin. Natalie had wanted one of Growly’s kittens. She even took one home. But her parents said she was not allowed to have a kitten and made her bring it back.

Everyone in my class would love Pumpkin. But what if she brought bad luck? That would be terrible. And everyone would blame me for bringing her.

If I told my family I wanted to bring her to school, they might say I was acting like she was my cat and nobody else’s.

And what about Boo-Boo? It might not be respectful to bring Pumpkin to school after I had promised Boo-Boo he could come to the party. Daddy had said it was important to be respectful.

I was starting to wish I could be somebody’s pet partner.

That gave me an idea. At lunchtime I talked to my friends.

“I cannot decide on which pet to bring to school for the party,” I said.

“I thought you were bringing Boo-Boo,” said Nancy.

I told them about my talk with Daddy.

“So I was wondering, Hannie, could I bring Pat the Cat? That would solve my problem,” I said.

“Sure. But I think it would be more fun for everyone to meet Pumpkin. She is such a sweet kitten,” said Hannie. (Hannie and Pumpkin had met the night before.)

I sighed.

“You are right,” I said. “I will think about it some more and let you know if I need Pat the Cat.”

I could not decide what to do. I was glad Mr. Mackey, our art teacher, was coming to our class later. Maybe I would make a paper pet. That would solve everything.