The Great Cat Caper by Lauraine Snelling Read Free Book Online Page B

“We’ll all do it, won’t we!” She looked at Esther and Aneta, who nodded enthusiastically.
    “Squad bracelets united!” Esther stepped forward and put out her wrist with the leather string and beads the girls had created after their first adventure.
    “Yes! We’ll save the Dumpster cats and find homes for them all!” Sunny touched her wrist to Esther’s. Vee added her bracelet. Aneta followed suit.
    Vee scanned them with a
thank-you
look. How hard could it be to find homes for cats this cute? She’d save the curious kitten and more and still have time to study for the retest.
    “From what I count in and around that Dumpster, that’s six cats,” the mayor said, looking less than impressed. “That’s not much of a project for super-talented Junior Event Planners like you girls. I have an idea.”
    Uh-oh. Simple job. Just a simple service-learning project. Please.
    “Oh, girls! Sissy, I know you’re going to love it.” The mayor threw an arm around her larger sibling. Mrs. Sissy didn’t look like she was going to love anything her shorter, dynamic sister had to say.
    Everyone stepped back to the senior center steps.
    The mayor looked at her sister. “What is your primary goal between now and the end of October?”
    Her sister looked aggrieved. “You know as well as I do. Win the Helpful City Festival contest. Show Oakton has the best volunteers and helpful programs for its citizens.”
    “
I
envision our Helpful City Festival working toward the contest by connecting disparate populations, our youths and our seniors,” the mayor said.
    Vee made a note to look up
disparate.
It sounded scary. “I envision a lot of work,” she muttered. A giggle escaped Sunny. Vee stole another look toward the Dumpster. The curious kitten sat washing its face, watching Vee. Yes, she wanted to give the curious kitten a spot. She did
not
want to become an event in the mayor’s Helpful City Festival.
    The mayor turned to Frank, who was looking at his phone. She nudged him. “Frank, you’d be great to supervise the girls. Sissy,”—she hugged her sister—“you want to win this Helpful City Contest. I just gave you an easy way to be different.” She beamed at everyone, waggled her fingers again, and headed toward her car in the parking lot. “Vee, just zip me an e-mail when you come up with your ideas. I am totally supportive!”
    The girls traded looks. Vee and the curious kitten traded looks.
It is no longer just finding you a spot.
Vee sent the thoughts the kitten’s way. It’s turned into a
beetling
great cat caper.

Chapter 12

Oh No, You’re Not!
    S chool was pretty much a blur the rest of the week with the girls arguing over how to save the cats. Even language arts, which was usually unforgettable. On Friday, at lunch, the kids at the table waved their hands in front of Vee when she looked right through them. C. P. said she had cat fever. One of the kids wanted to know if it was contagious. She remembered
that.
Dumb.
    Soon, however, their saving cats would be complete. As she jogged toward the community center for Operation Catness, her backpack banged against her back.
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
In her head, she recited the plan they’d finally agreed on:
    Operation Catness:
    1. Open the tuna cans.
    2. Catch the curious kitten first then the others.
    3. Give them to Frank and Nadine.
    4. Get home to tutoring.
    5. Make a sign-up sheet for people to adopt the cats.
    6. Be done.
    It would take about an hour and a half to catch the momma cat, the kittens, and the three other grown cats. After the handoff to Nadine and Frank, she would buzz on home and get the math tutoring over with. Then Mom would order pizza, and she, Bill, and Mom would watch a movie during dinner. Then Dad would pick her up for the weekend.
    Maybe on Sunday she could pop over and see the curious kitten at Frank and Nadine’s. Monday, the Squad would have to come up with the additional ideas the mayor would like. She remembered their first