Bubba looked at her for a few seconds like he was really thinking about something, and then held up three fingers and said, “Freee, you haff to tell me freee times.” And he smiled a mischievous smile and ran over to his toy chest and started playing with his army men like nothing at all had happened.
Later that afternoon, I was swinging in the hammock in the backyard thinking about what had happened earlier, and how I had the feeling and then the vision of Bubba on the bookcase. I was glad I still had my gift, even if it was stressful sometimes! But something kept nagging at me, and I wasn’t sure what it was.
Then I realized what was bothering me. It was little Henry. Did he know that Bubba was climbing on the bookcase, too? Was he trying to lead me to him and I had the vision at the same time?
I didn’t know for sure, but with a father like big Henry, I knew little Henry probably was not just any ordinary cat. I smiled to myself, thinking about the possibility of having another “special” cat. Thank goodness he wasn’t invisible!
As if I had called his name, he pounced over to the hammock and hopped up into my lap, then licked my hand and curled up and fell asleep, purring.
I whispered, “Little Henry, I think you and I are going to have some adventures together.”
And then I closed my eyes and let the swaying of the hammock drift me off to sleep.
Don’t miss Birdie Mae Hayes’s first adventure!
The Gift
Lately, Birdie Mae Hayes can’t stop feeling like something is about to happen. Then she starts seeing things happen—before they happen! Birdie doesn’t know if she’s ready to take on the responsibility of this “gift.” But one thing’s for sure: life is going to be real interesting from now on!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeri Anne Agee grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in communications. An avid reader and a mother of three, Jeri Anne retired early from the financial industry, and at the age of forty-four, began writing her first children’s book. Her quest to combine her own stories of growing up in the South with a character who is strong, lovable, loyal, and funny resulted in Birdie Mae Hayes. Jeri Anne currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee, with her husband, three children, and four rescue dogs.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Bryan Langdo spent his childhood drawing dragons and ninjas on whatever was around—sketchbooks, math tests, desks. He studied under author/illustrator Robert J. Blake, and then at the Art Students League of New York, where he focused on life drawing and portrait painting. After that he earned a BA in English from Rutgers College. Bryan is the illustrator of over thirty books. His picture book Tornado Slim and the Magic Cowboy Hat won a 2012 Spur Award for Storytelling from Western Writers of America. In addition to his work as an illustrator and writer, he works as an editor for an ESL website and app. Bryan lives in Hopewell, New Jersey, with his wife and two children. When not working, he likes to be in the woods.
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