Alone in the Night (7 page)

Two days later, the Murrays arrived home. They hurried next door to Jasmine’s house as soon as they’d dropped off their bags.

Jasmine answered the door, hugging her secret to herself and trying not to giggle.

“Come and see!” she told them.

“Is Star asleep on your bed?” Helen asked, as they followed Jasmine upstairs. 

“Not quite,” Jasmine said mysteriously. She led them into her room, and stood back so they could see the scene in her wardrobe.

Star seemed to know she had visitors. She was posed like a queen, and Jasmine was sure she was eyeing the kittens anxiously to make sure they were looking gorgeous, too.

“Goodness!” Helen crouched down to look. “I had no idea she was pregnant!” 

“Nor did we,” Jasmine explained. “She started behaving a bit strangely, and then she disappeared, and… We did wonder if it was because she was really missing you. But actually she was having babies in your airing cupboard! Mum cleaned it up,” she added.

“Clever little Star…” Helen murmured, and Andy shook his head in amazement. “Talk about keeping it quiet. So now we’ve got three cats!”

“You’re so lucky,” Jasmine sighed, and Helen looked at her thoughtfully. Leaving Jasmine to tell Andy the whole story right from the beginning, she beckoned Jasmine’s mum out of the room.

They came back a couple of minutes later, just as Jasmine was describing 
Star arriving at the back door on Christmas morning.

“Your mum’s agreed we’d better let them all stay here for the moment. Star probably won’t want to be moved,” Helen said. “As long as you don’t mind sharing your bedroom, that is?”

“Of course not!” said Jasmine. “What will you do when the kittens are bigger?” she asked. “Will you keep them all?” She wasn’t sure that she wanted to know the answer.

“Well, three cats is rather a lot…” Helen said, smiling at Jasmine’s mum. “I really love the little ginger one – I’ve a feeling he takes after Tiger, that handsome ginger cat down the road.”

Jasmine gulped. They didn’t want the tabby kitten! She couldn’t bear the idea 
of her special little Christmas kitten being unwanted. It was so unfair.

She almost didn’t hear Helen as she went on, “But I’ve had an idea. One way that she could have her own home and stay close to her mum.”

Jasmine looked up, her eyes full of hope. “You mean…”

Helen grinned at her. “Why not?”

Jasmine looked over at her parents. There was no way Mum and Dad would let her. Was there?

Mum smiled. “Would you like to keep her, Jasmine? You know your dad and I have never been keen on having a cat, but Star won me over. She’s so sweet. Your dad really took to having a cat as well – he was so upset when Star was missing. I’d been wondering whether we 
could keep one of the kittens even before Helen asked me,” Mum went on. “You looked after Star so well. Dad and I were really proud of you.”

“And as the kitten practically started her life in your wardrobe, I don’t really think we could say no!” Dad laughed.

Jasmine looked down at the little silvery kitten with new eyes. She could be hers! Star gazed at her lovingly, as though she approved of the idea, too.

“What will you call her, Jasmine?” Mum asked.

Jasmine thought for a moment. Something Christmassy. Then she smiled, remembering Star’s mum’s favourite game. “Tinsel,” she said, reaching out, very gently, to stroke her new cat. 

Lost in the Snow

Lost in the Storm

Alfie all Alone

Sam the Stolen Puppy

Max the Missing Puppy

Sky the Unwanted Kitten

Timmy in Trouble

Ginger the Stray Kitten

Harry the Homeless Puppy

Buttons the Runaway Puppy

Alone in the Night

Ellie the Homesick Puppy

Jess the Lonely Puppy

Misty the Abandoned Kitten

Oscar’s Lonely Christmas

Lucy the Poorly Puppy

Smudge the Stolen Kitten

The Rescued Puppy

The Kitten Nobody Wanted

The Lost Puppy

The Frightened Kitten