Magic Kitten: A Puzzle of Paws

by Bentley, Sue

  “Phew! That was way too close!” Rosie turned back and stepped onto the curb.

  She was normal size again!

  Flame looked up at her, his emerald eyes bright. “You were very brave to risk yourself to save me. Thank you, Rosie,” he purred gratefully.

  Rosie kissed the top of his fluffy jet-black head. “I wasn’t really. I just couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you. Besides, you ended up saving us both with your magic!”

  Rosie saw Tinker strolling back into the street. “That silly cat has no road sense. I think we’d better take him home, before he gets into trouble,” she decided.

  Flame mewed in agreement. Rosie put him down, picked up Tinker, and tucked him under one arm. Flame trotted along at her ankles as she turned onto Milton Street. But Rosie’s steps gradually slowed as she remembered how unfriendly Mrs. Galloni had been the first time they’d met.

  “I don’t want to get shouted at again. I’m just going to knock on the door, hand Tinker over, and run for it,” she said to Flame.

  Chapter

  * EIGHT *

  Mrs. Galloni opened the door at once, giving Rosie no time to even catch her breath. Her face broke into a huge smile. “You have found Tinker! I keep him in at night, but the naughty boy ran outside when I was bringing in my laundry! Thank you so much for bringing him home. Come in, my dear. What’s your name?”

  “Rosie. Rosie Swales. I’m going to be living next door to you,” Rosie said a bit warily.

  “Ah, yes, I remember now,” Mrs. Galloni said, her dark eyes sparkling. “I made a mistake the last time we met. I thought you were a bad girl, and I was rude.”

  Rosie put Tinker down and he ran straight into the house.

  Rosie hesitated on the doorstep with Flame invisible at her heels, but then found herself swept into a large bright kitchen. It had yellow walls and a big sideboard with lots of blue-and-white plates and mugs. There was a wildlife calendar pinned to one wall next to a poster of a polar bear.

  “I owe you an apology, Rosie,” Mrs. Galloni said, stroking Tinker, who was rubbing himself against her legs. “I can see you love animals, like me. I am a very silly lady, but I can make it up to you, can’t I?”

  “That’s okay,” Rosie said. She felt herself going a bit pink. “You don’t have to.”

  But Mrs. Galloni insisted that she sit down at the kitchen table. “I can make you a banana milkshake. Do you like chocolate cake, too? I made one this morning.”

  Rosie’s tummy rumbled. It seemed like a long time since dinner and the long walk had made her hungry. “Okay, thank you very much.”

  She put her shoulder bag down. As Mrs. Galloni moved around her kitchen, Flame sat next to Rosie’s ankles.

  Mrs. Galloni brought over the milkshake and cake and then sat down opposite Rosie. “It is lucky for me that you and your parents are at your new house this evening or you would not have seen Tinker. I expect you’re getting ready to move in.”

  “We’re not at the new house. I’m here all by myself,” Rosie said around a mouthful of the delicious cake.

  “Oh. Why is that? Your mama, she tell me that you live across town,” Mrs. Galloni said, looking puzzled.

  “I didn’t mean to come here. I’d planned to catch a bus over to my Gran’s, but I forgot my wallet and so I had to walk,” Rosie told her. “But I got lost and ended up coming here by mistake. And that’s how I saw Tinker in the road . . .” Rosie gulped. Suddenly all the worries of the past two weeks seemed to flood over her.

  “Oh dear. What is the matter?” Mrs. Galloni asked kindly, looking closely at Rosie. “You can tell me.”

  “It’s just that . . . ,” Rosie began, biting her lip, and then it all came bursting out. She told Mrs. Galloni everything. “And I just can’t bear it . . .” As Rosie finished explaining, tears began trickling down her face.

  “I think I understand.” Mrs. Galloni reached for a box of tissues and handed one to Rosie. “Tell me, darling, do your mama and papa know where you are?”

  “No. I didn’t think I’d be this long, so I didn’t leave a note . . .” Rosie sniffled.

  Mrs. Galloni patted her arm gently. “What is your phone number? I will call your parents to tell them you are safe. Then you and I will have a long talk. I think I may be able to help you,” she said mysteriously.

  Rosie didn’t see how anyone could help her, but as Mrs. Galloni went to call her parents, she started to feel better. “She’s really nice once you get to know her, isn’t she?” she whispered to Flame.

  Flame nodded. “I like her. I think she will be a good friend.”

  Left alone in the quiet kitchen with Flame, Rosie gradually became aware of faint noises drifting in through the open door. Her chin came up as she strained to hear them. There were tiny squeaks, whistles, and contented little chatters.

  What could it be?

  She was really tempted to go and have a look. “Do you think Mrs. Galloni would mind if I went into her living room?” she asked Flame, getting up from her chair and wandering across the kitchen.

  There was no answer.

  Rosie turned around. Flame seemed to have disappeared. She came back and looked under her chair and then knelt down to peer under the table, but there was no sign of the tiny black kitten.

  “Flame? Where are you?” she said, beginning to feel worried.

  She had a sudden thought. Picking up her shoulder bag, she slipped her hand inside. “Ah, there you are . . .” Rosie’s fingers brushed against a tightly curled furry little bundle.

  Then she realized that Flame was trembling all over, and his heartbeat fluttered against her fingers. Rosie felt a stir of alarm as she opened the bag wider. A pair of troubled green eyes glowed at her from the dark interior.

  “What’s wrong? Are you sick?” she asked gently.

  “My uncle’s spies are very close,” Flame whined in terror.

  Rosie bit back a gasp. The moment she had been hoping would never come was here. Flame was in terrible danger. Even though she hated to think of losing her friend, she knew she was going to have to be strong.

  “Are . . . are you leaving right now?” she asked.

  Flame shook his head. “I will stay inside here. My enemies may pass me by, and then I will be able to stay.”

  “Right! We’re leaving! I’ll think of somewhere to hide you—” Rosie decided.

  “No, Rosie. It is no use,” Flame interrupted. “Just leave me for a little while.” Flattening his ears, the tiny kitten curled into an even tighter ball.

  “All right.” Rosie stood up. She tucked the bag under Mrs. Galloni’s kitchen chair and then moved away. There was nothing she could do except cross her fingers and toes, and hope like crazy that Flame’s enemies wouldn’t find him.

  Chapter

  * NINE *

  “I have spoken to your parents, Rosie. They were very worried about you, but are relieved to know that you are safe with me. They’re going to drive over and pick you up. I have something to show you while we’re waiting for them. Come with me.”

  Rosie hardly heard Mrs. Galloni, she was so worried about Flame, but she followed her through the living room and into a sunroom.

  It was a large light room, with bright rugs and comfortable seats. As Rosie looked around, she gasped. There were cages, pens, and glass tanks all neatly arranged on wooden shelves. She could see pet mice, guinea pigs, and different breeds of dwarf rabbits. There were brightly colored fish in the tanks, and even what looked like a small snake in one of them.

  Despite herself, Rosie’s eyes grew round with amazement.

  “Well. What do you think?” Mrs. Galloni asked.

  “It’s . . . fantastic. Like animal heaven . . . ,” Rosie gabbled, hardly able to take it in.

  “Good evening!” shrieked a hoarse voice.

  “Oh!” Rosie spotted a large upr
ight cage behind a potted fern. Inside there was a handsome green-and-blue parrot, with a bright red crest.

  “That’s Rufus. I’ve had him for a long time,” Mrs. Galloni said proudly. “He loves to talk.”

  “Pieces of cake! Pieces of cake!” Rufus shrieked.

  “Hello, Rufus. Aren’t you gorgeous?” Rosie said, her eyes shining. She turned back to Mrs. Galloni. “Do you run a pet rescue center or something?”

  Mrs. Galloni smiled. “Not exactly. I just love animals. These are all my pets. They are like my family. If people ask me to take care of a pet or give it a home, I can never say no.”

  Just like me, Rosie thought.

  “I have so many pets now, it’s a big job to look after them all,” Mrs. Galloni said.

  Rosie nodded. “My best friend, Jade, is always complaining because I spend more time with my pets than with her.”

  Mrs. Galloni’s curly dark hair wobbled as she nodded. “My friends say that to me, too!”

  Rosie smiled.

  “I have a wonderful idea,” Mrs. Galloni said thoughtfully. “I have lots of space, as you can see. Would you like to bring your pets to live in my house?”

  Rosie thought she might have to pinch herself to see if she was dreaming. “You’d really have them all in here?”

  “Certainly, but there are some conditions,” Mrs. Galloni said.

  Rosie didn’t care what they were. She felt like she’d agree to almost anything.

  “Although your pets can live here, they would still belong to you, so you would have to buy their food and bedding, and come over every day to look after them,” Mrs. Galloni explained. “And in return, you would help me to look after my pets.”

  Rosie thought the idea was fantastic! “It would be kind of like a pet hotel, wouldn’t it?”

  Mrs. Galloni smiled. “Yes. A pet hotel. What do you say?”

  Rosie didn’t need to think twice. She could keep all her pets, and she’d get to spend time with even more animals. She couldn’t wait to make friends with Mrs. Galloni’s pets, especially Rufus the parrot. “I say, yes please, times ten! Thank you so, so much! I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad. Now I actually want to move!”

  Mrs. Galloni smiled delightedly. “Then it is settled. I’ll leave you here to have a good look around. I’m going to boil the kettle for tea. Your parents should be here soon.”

  “Okay.” Rosie wandered around the sunroom, feeling as if she were walking on air.

  Midge, Podge, her gerbils, stick bugs, and fish were all going to love it in here. Daisy would live next door, with her and Flame . . .

  Flame!

  Rosie’s tummy gave a lurch as she dashed back into the kitchen. She grabbed her bag while Mrs. Galloni’s back was turned, and ran back into the living room with it.

  Her fingers shook as she opened the bag and looked inside. It was empty.

  Had Flame’s enemies found him? Maybe they’d dragged him away to his home world, or worse.

  “Oh no! Flame? Where are you?” Rosie whispered urgently, feeling really scared for him.

  There was a bright white flash and a crackle of sparks from the sunroom.

  Rosie ran inside, her heart pounding.

  On the rug stood a magnificent young white lion. Silver sparks glittered in his fur like thousands of tiny diamonds.

  Prince Flame! He was no longer in disguise as a silky black kitten. Rosie gasped. She had almost forgotten how stunning he was in his true form.

  An older-looking gray lion with a kind, wise face stood next to Prince Flame. And then Rosie knew that Flame was leaving for good.

  “Oh, Flame. I’m really going to miss you,” Rosie said, her voice breaking.

  Prince Flame smiled sadly. “I will miss you, too. You have been a good friend, but now I must go. My enemies are very close.”

  Rosie blinked away tears. She stretched out her hand. Prince Flame lowered his regal head and allowed her to stroke him one last time before he backed away.

  “Be well. Be strong, Rosie,” he said in a deep velvety roar.

  Rosie waved as both big cats began to fade. There was a final spurt of silvery sparks that sprinkled down around Rosie, and then they were gone.

  “Take care, wherever you go, Prince Flame,” she murmured.

  “Rosie!” called her mom’s voice.

  Rosie took a deep breath. She would never forget her wonderful friendship with the magic kitten.

  As she turned to go to her parents, she felt a smile breaking out on her face. “Coming, Mom. I’ve got some amazing news!”

  * About the Author *

  Sue Bentley’s books for children often include animals or fairies. She lives in Northampton, England, and enjoys reading, going to the movies, and sitting watching the frogs and newts in her garden pond. If she hadn’t been a writer, she would probably have been a skydiver or brain surgeon. The main reason she writes is that she can drink pots and pots of tea while she’s typing. She has met and owned many cats, and each one has brought a special sort of magic to her life.