A Two-Cat Family

Mew!

I was up in my room doing my homework. I turned and saw Pumpkin in my doorway. She looked so little there.

“Hello, Pumpkin,” I said. “What are you up to?”

Mew!

She leaped into my room. Then she started to go wild. I had crumpled up a piece of paper and thrown it on the floor. Pumpkin pounced on it. She jumped off, then came back and hit it with her paw. The paper rolled under my dresser. That did not stop Pumpkin. She went after it.

When she came out again, she did not have the crumpled paper anymore. She came out with a pair of rolled-up striped socks. (I had been looking for them all weekend.)

Swat! Swat-swat! She batted the socks back and forth between her paws.

I saw a shadow pass by my doorway. It was a Boo-Boo–sized shadow. He must have seen Pumpkin come into my room. Maybe he was jealous and hurt. Maybe he thought that I had invited Pumpkin in and not him.

I ran out to comfort him. But as soon as he saw me, he ran away.

“Poor Boo-Boo. I only wanted to pet you,” I said.

For a moment I was angry with Pumpkin for making Boo-Boo feel bad. But it was not Pumpkin’s fault. She was just a kitten who had come to play. She did not mean to hurt Boo-Boo’s feelings. I went back into my room.

But Pumpkin was finished playing. She darted past me as fast as she had come in. Mew! I guess that was Pumpkin’s way of saying good-bye.

Pumpkin turned up again later. I was in bed reading before going to sleep. (I had borrowed Churchkitten Stories from the school library.)

“Welcome back, Pumpkin,” I said.

She jumped onto my bed and curled up next to me. She had a sweet smell and was soft and warm. I petted her and she started to purr.

Boo-Boo hardly ever lets me pet him. He keeps to himself most of the time. I looked toward the doorway but did not see any shadows.

“Boo-Boo, if you are there, you are going to have to try to understand. We are a two-cat family now. I can love two cats at once, Boo-Boo. Just the way I love Goosie and Moosie. Just the way Mommy and Daddy love Andrew and me,” I said.

Then I thought of something else.

“Hey, Boo-Boo, if you are there, I have something for you to think about. Please think about being friends with Pumpkin,” I said.

I looked at Pumpkin. She was such a friendly kitten. I was sure she would be friends with Boo-Boo if he would let her.

“Please try, Boo-Boo, please,” I said.

Pumpkin snuggled closer to me and closed her eyes. Out of everyone in my family, she had picked me to sleep with.

“Pumpkin, I love you!” I whispered.

Pumpkin opened her eyes and looked at me.

Mew! I guess that was Pumpkin’s way of saying I love you back.