Willow the lonely kitten

Chapter One

How do I look?” Eva Harrison asked her friend, Annie Brooks. She stood at Annie’s door, wearing her new Animal Magic sweatshirt. It was bright red, with a small white and gold logo on the front.

“You look … magic!” Annie grinned.

“They came in the post this morning,” Eva explained. “It was Jen’s idea – she had it after I’d been on the Tina O’Neill Show on TV. We’ve all got one!”

“Cool,” Annie sighed.

“Dad says we’re really popular at the moment, and our website is getting loads more hits than usual. We want to order more sweatshirts and sell them. It’ll help raise money for the rescue centre. Hey, Holly, stay down!” Eva turned to her lively Border collie puppy, who was jumping up at Annie. “Oops!”

“Too late!” Annie glanced down at the muddy paw prints on her pink and white dressing gown. “Never mind – it’ll wash off. How are you, Holly? Have you been on a nice walk?” She stroked the lively pup.

“Down by the river,” Eva explained. “I’m doing obedience training with her, so we go out early every morning, before school. Anyway, as today’s Saturday and Mum says we’ll be extra busy, I came to ask if you’d like to help out in Reception.”

Annie’s eyes lit up. “I’ll be there in a flash,” she promised. “Oh, and Eva…”

“Yep?” Already halfway down the Brookses’ driveway, Eva paused.

“Order an Animal Magic sweatshirt for me. I’ll pay with my pocket money.”

“Sure thing,” Eva replied, putting Holly on the lead and dashing off.

Animal Magic Rescue Centre stood next door to Annie’s house on Main Street in Okeham village. It didn’t take long for Eva to settle Holly down in the house and make her way across the yard to Reception, where she found the room already crowded with customers.

“I read about Becks the Yorkshire terrier on your website,” a woman was telling Heidi Harrison. “I’d like to offer her a home.”

Eva’s mum smiled brightly. She was wearing her red sweatshirt under her white vet’s coat. “Can I take your name and a few other details? Becks is very popular – two possible owners have already visited her earlier this week.”

“Here’s Suzi.” Jen, Heidi’s assistant, was
showing another woman a black cat who had come into the centre only the day before. “You can see how she’s licked the fur off her tummy – that’s over-grooming due to stress, I’m afraid.”

“Poor thing!” the woman murmured. “Will the fur grow back eventually?”

“Oh yes –definitely,” Jen assured her.

Quietly, Eva made her way behind the desk to find her brother, Karl, printing out an email.

“Take a look at this,” he said, grinning.

Eva picked up the printout. “Dear Animal Magic,” she read out loud, “Scott and I saw the New Year feature about you on the Tina O’Neill Show and we wanted to write and tell you how Honey, our retriever, is getting along. She’s now fully grown, and is much loved, with a silky-soft golden coat and gorgeous
dark-brown eyes. She loves her walks with Scott in the park at the back of Beech Grove – all thanks to you! With very best wishes, Ruth Penny.”

“What do you think of that?” Karl asked.

“Cool.” Eva blushed and looked up from the email. She remembered Honey so well – how she’d been secretly dumped on their doorstep by the Pennys’ lodger, abandoned in a cardboard box. She put the printout down on the table. “Mum, what job shall I do first?” she asked, breaking into Heidi’s conversation.

“Groom Dougal, please. His new owner is coming to collect him at ten o’clock.”

Eva nodded. “Will you ask Annie to come to the kennels when she arrives?”

“Will do,” Heidi replied.

Escaping from the busy Reception, Eva picked up a dog comb and brush from the
storeroom and hurried on to the kennels. “Hi, Becks, hi, Rocky!” she greeted the yappy Yorkshire terrier and a big,
dark-grey
dog with floppy ears and sad eyes. She went up to Rocky’s door. “Are you wondering how come nobody wants to adopt you?” she murmured. “Becks gets all the attention, doesn’t he? That’s because he’s little and cute.”

Rocky lowered his head and gave a short whine.

“I’m not saying you’re not cute!” Eva insisted. “You are – you’re totally beautiful. But not so many people want to give homes to dogs as big as you.”

Rocky’s long tail wagged slowly. He stared longingly at Eva.

Tearing herself away from him, Eva went along the row of kennels until she came to Dougal.

The long-haired Labrador-cross came quietly to the door. All around, other dogs barked and yapped.

“OK, Dougal, it’s your big day,” Eva explained. She went in and began brushing the soft, cream hair on Dougal’s chest. “We’ll make you look your very best – yes, I know the brush tickles, but you have to stand still and let me groom you!”

“Can I help?” Annie asked, pushing open the door to the kennel unit. She was dressed in jeans, wellies and a sky-blue padded jacket.

Eva nodded. “Dougal’s ticklish. Can you hold his collar while I brush him?”

Together the two girls brushed out every tangle as Dougal wriggled and sighed. When they had finished, he stood up and shook himself.

“You look gorgeous!” Annie laughed.

“I have to take him to Reception,” Eva told her. “You can give Becks a quick brush if you like.”

So Annie unlocked the Yorkie’s kennel and began a pamper session. When Eva came back it was time to take Rocky for his walk.

“See how good he is on the lead.” Eva led Rocky out of a side door and across
the yard. She handed him to Annie and slipped into the house, coming back out with an excited Holly. “I thought Rocky might like some company!” she grinned.

They set off down the narrow footpath to the side of the rescue centre, letting the two dogs off the lead as soon as they reached the riverside. Rocky bounded ahead, with Holly scampering beside him. When they came to the old stone bridge they waited for Eva and Annie.

“Good dogs!” Eva told them. She patted them, then drew a ball out of her jacket pocket. “Watch this, Annie. I’ve taught Holly to fetch.” She threw the ball back along the path.

Holly raced after it and brought it back.

“Woof!” Rocky’s deep bark begged the girls to throw again.

This time Annie threw and it was Rocky who grabbed the ball.

“Rocky’s gorgeous. How come he ended up at Animal Magic?” she asked.

Eva shrugged. “The dog warden in Clifford found him. He was a stray, so they brought him to us.”

There were more throws and chases on the way back, until the girls and the dogs were safely in the Animal Magic yard.

“Do you fancy coming over after lunch and helping in the stables?” Eva asked.

Again, Annie nodded eagerly. “I’ll see you in an hour.”

“See you!” Eva replied, taking Holly inside to clean her paws on a towel and give her a nice dish of fresh, clean water.