Karen's Black Cat

  “I am thinking of dressing as a jack-o’-lantern,” said Hannie. “And I might dress Myrtle up as a ghost. I will throw a white handkerchief over her shell.”

  “I am thinking of being a lion tamer. Boo-Boo will be the lion,” I said. “Or maybe I will be Santa Claus and Boo-Boo can be one of my reindeer.”

  “Excuse me for interrupting,” said Daddy. “But Karen, I must remind you that Boo-Boo is not going to your class party. We will talk more about this later.”

  Oops. I had not told Daddy about my latest party plan. If Hannie and I had been on the bus as usual, Daddy would not have heard me talking. More bad luck.

  Suddenly I realized where all my bad luck was coming from. The black kitten. I knew my family should not have picked that cat. I knew it.

  Down in the Dumps

  When we returned home, Daddy and I went into his office to have our talk.

  “I thought you would be happy,” I said. “I thought it would be a great honor for Boo-Boo to be at the party.”

  “I am sure you meant well,” said Daddy. “But I cannot change my mind about this. I see Boo-Boo growing more tired every day. He needs his routines. He needs peace and quiet. Taking him to the party is out of the question. I thought you understood that.”

  “I do understand — I guess. When I am feeling sick or tired, I just want to stay home in my own bed. I would not want to go to a party either,” I said.

  “Thank you for thinking about this so carefully,” said Daddy.

  “You are welcome.”

  “I want to tell you a story about Boo-Boo I do not think I have told you before,” Daddy went on.

  “Okay,” I replied.

  “It is about the day I got Boo-Boo at the animal shelter. He had been brought in with five other kittens from a farmhouse. The family had all the cats they could handle and wanted to find good homes for these kittens,” said Daddy. “I looked for a long time at the kittens. They were four months old and each one was cuter than the next. Finally I decided on the black kitten. I picked her up, and you know what happened? The gray tiger-striped kitten came along and mewed. He stood up on his hind legs and batted his paws in the air.”

  “Boo-Boo?” I said.

  “He was not Boo-Boo yet, but he was going to be,” said Daddy. “The man working at the shelter said he had never seen the gray kitten act that way before. ‘He must be trying to tell you something,’ the man said. When I put the black kitten down, she ran off to play with her brothers and sisters. But the gray kitten stayed behind. I picked him up. As soon as I did, he snuggled in my arms and went to sleep.”

  “So you did not pick Boo-Boo. Boo-Boo picked you,” I said.

  “That is right. I named him Boo-Boo to remind me that I almost made a boo-boo by leaving him behind,” said Daddy. “Now, how about an afternoon snack? I do not know about you, but I am hungry.”

  “Me too,” I replied.

  “If you go wash up, I will have something good waiting when you get back,” said Daddy.

  I ran upstairs to wash. And to think. I knew Daddy’s decision about Boo-Boo and the party was final. I guess it had been final before, but I had not wanted to listen. I had wanted to have my own way. Bringing Boo-Boo to the party would have been more of a good thing for me than for Boo-Boo or Daddy.

  How could I show Daddy I was sorry? Maybe by not paying any attention to the kitten when we got it. Daddy would see that I did not love the kitten more than I loved Boo-Boo. That would make Boo-Boo happy. And Kristy, too, because I would not be acting bossy. That would make everyone happy. Except me.

  I did not have time to think about all these things. I still had to think about the party. Now I had to start all over again, thinking about what pet to bring.

  I was down in the dumps. But that did not stop me from being hungry. I finished washing and went downstairs for my snack.

  Karen and Boo-Boo

  At dinnertime on Friday, Mrs. Cooper called and spoke to Elizabeth.

  “Your kitten has had all her shots and tests. She is frisky, healthy, and ready for her new home,” Mrs. Cooper said.

  I should have been happy. And I was, mostly. But I was worried too. I was worried that the kitten would not be as nice as everyone thought she was. And if she was nice and I liked her, I worried that I would hurt Daddy’s feelings. Or Boo-Boo’s. I worried that Boo-Boo might think the kitten was taking his place and we did not love him anymore.

  I had enough worries to last all night and right into Saturday morning, when we drove to Mrs. Cooper’s house.

  Mrs. Cooper put our kitten into a travel box with a towel and a toy, and we brought her home.

  “Here, kitty, kitty!” said Emily. “Meow!”

  “It is so exciting to have a new kitten!” said Kristy.

  Kristy had been worried that I would not share the new kitten with the family. But I hardly went near her. I stood back and watched. Boo-Boo was watching too.

  “It is just you and me, Boo-Boo,” I said.

  There was one big difference. Boo-Boo did more than just watch. He hissed at the kitten. The kitten ignored him. I felt sorry for Boo-Boo. I could see he was not happy.

  “Do not worry, Boo-Boo,” I said. “Everyone still loves you. And remember, you are the one I wanted to come to the Halloween party with me, not the kitten. Are you honored?”

  Hsssss!

  Boo-Boo was too busy hissing to be honored. Finally he got tired of hissing and went off to hide.

  I stayed and watched the kitten for awhile. I had to admit she was cute. She had a shiny black coat and big green eyes. And she was very busy doing things.

  First she batted a ball with a bell in it. Ding! Ding! Then she stopped playing with the ball and had a drink of water. We had put a little bowl next to Shannon’s and Scout’s big bowls. (Shannon and Scout were outside. We did not want them around when we brought the kitten home because they might scare her.) The kitten drank from one of the big bowls instead of her little one. She looked very funny. We all stayed close so we could scoop her out if she fell in.

  Everyone in my family took turns picking the kitten up and cuddling her. Even Daddy took a turn holding her.

  “Have you held her yet, Karen?” asked Daddy.

  “No. Maybe later I will. Right now I want to find Boo-Boo,” I said.

  “That is very thoughtful,” said Daddy. “But I just checked on him and he is all right. He is hiding under my bed.”

  Poor Boo-Boo. I felt like hiding with him.

  Pumpkin

  I did not hide under the bed with Boo-Boo. I hid in my room until Nannie called me for lunch.

  We were having our Saturday special. That is when we take the week’s leftovers out of the refrigerator and spread them on the table. It is almost always my favorite meal of the week. But I did not feel much like eating. I could not get Boo-Boo to come near me. And I did not want to be around the new kitten.

  In the kitchen everyone was busy filling their plates. But things seemed awfully quiet.

  “Where is the kitten?” I asked.

  “As soon as we brought out the tuna salad, she jumped up on the table,” said David Michael.

  “So we put her into her box for a nap,” said Kristy. “She is just like a little baby in her crib.”

  “Where were you just before?” asked Charlie. “You missed the action. Before the kitten jumped onto the table, she did a somersault off the couch.”

  “Kitty fall down,” said Emily.

  “I think this kitten belongs in the circus!” said Sam.

  Everyone was having so much fun. I felt left out.

  After lunch, Daddy called for a family meeting to name the kitten. We sat together in the den to make suggestions and take a vote.

  “Maybe we should call her Barnum, or Bailey, since she is such a good acrobat,” said Sam.

  “Kitty,” said Emily.

  “How about Midnight?” said David Michael. “Because she is so black.”

  “These are all good names,??
? said Daddy. “Karen? Do you have any ideas?”

  I usually have an idea a minute. But all I could think of just then was poor Boo-Boo, alone under the bed.

  “Maybe we should call her Boo-Boo Too, in honor of Boo-Boo,” I said.

  “Is that t-o-o, which means also? Or t-w-o, which is the number?” asked Charlie.

  “I was thinking of t-o-o because it is spelled like Boo-Boo,” I said.

  “We have so many good names to choose from now. Should we take our vote?” asked Nannie.

  Everyone agreed it was time. But no one could agree on a name.

  “I think Daddy should choose the name. Whoever agrees with that, say ‘Aye,’ ” I said.

  The ayes won.

  “Thank you for this honor,” said Daddy. “Now, let me think.”

  He thought for a minute, then smiled.

  “Karen, I heard you say the name Pumpkin when we went to Mrs. Cooper’s house last week. I know our kitten is black, not orange. But she is joining our family just in time for Halloween. And I cannot get the name out of my head. So Pumpkin is my choice.”

  “Welcome to the family, Pumpkin!” said Charlie.

  He lifted her out of her box. I was so happy!

  Later, when Daddy was alone in the den, I said, “Thank you for picking the name Pumpkin. I like it even better than Boo-Boo Too.”

  “I thought so. But I appreciate your thinking of Boo-Boo,” said Daddy. “I know he is not your favorite pet, and that is all right. You are being respectful of him, and that is what counts.”

  I felt as though a big fat cat had been lifted from my shoulders. Daddy was not mad at me. I had been nice to Boo-Boo. And the name Daddy picked was Pumpkin. I felt like part of the family again.

  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.

  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.

  Decision Day

  When I woke up on Tuesday morning, Pumpkin was not in my bed. She had probably gone downstairs for her breakfast.

  I washed, got dressed, and headed downstairs too.

  It was decision day. I had to decide which pet I was going to bring to the party and what costumes we would wear.

  Ms. Colman needed to know so she could make up the right name tag.

  I had promised Natalie I would tell her so she and her mom could buy treats.

  I needed to know myself, so I could stop worrying and start looking forward to our party.

  Luckily everyone was in the kitchen at once.

  “Attention, please!” I said. “By now you all know that my class is having a Halloween pet party. I would like to invite Pumpkin to it. I know she is the family’s pet, not just mine. But I would still like to bring her to
school. I promise to take good care of her. Is that okay?”

  Daddy took a vote, and everyone agreed Pumpkin could go to the party. Daddy said he would bring her himself.

  “Thank you very much. Enjoy your breakfast,” I said.

  My announcement was over. And my decision was made.

  I looked for Pumpkin so I could tell her the good news. I found her curled up in her box, snoozing. (Kittens need plenty of rest too.) I decided to tell her the news when I came home from school.

  Then I looked for Boo-Boo. I wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings. I found him curled up under the hall table. But he was not snoozing. His eyes were open.

  “Boo-Boo, you are not going to the party. But I think it is better that way. The truth is, you would not really like a crowded, noisy room full of kids. You do not like being petted much, and that is what everyone would try to do. So I hope you know that you are staying home for your own good and not because I do not want to bring you to school.”

  Boo-Boo flicked his tail. I think he understood.

  On the bus ride to school, I told Hannie that Pumpkin was coming to the party.

  “That will be so much fun!” she said. “What costumes are you going to wear?”

  My last decision was an easy one. I did not even have to think. I picked my all-time favorite Halloween costume. I had the perfect pet to go with it.

  “I am going to be a witch, and Pumpkin will be my black cat!” I said.

  At school I told Ms. Colman that Pumpkin was coming instead of Boo-Boo. She said she would be happy to change the name tag.

  Natalie was thrilled that she would get to meet Pumpkin. After school she was going to buy the best treats she could find.

  And in art class I made a little black witch hat for Pumpkin to wear to the party.

  There were three more days till party time. I could hardly wait.

  The Halloween Party

  When I woke up on Friday morning, I was glad to see the sun shining. I did not want Pumpkin to have to travel in the rain.

  I dressed, ate, then packed up my witch’s costume and Pumpkin’s black hat. (I had brought the hat home to be sure it fit Pumpkin.)