Rhubarb The Kitten

By: Hannah Collinge

Chapter 1

The Little Kitten

"That was a good practice everyone, nice backshot Lisa! See ya Monday!" my coach Chrissy said. My name's Maddie Hendrickson. I'm twelve years old and I live in West Bridge. Lisa is my best friend, we've known each other since we were in diapers. She is probably the best girl on my school's seventh grade girls basket ball team (West Bridge Tigers). "Hey Maddie wait up! Let's bike home together!" Lisa shouted. We live a few blocks away from each other.

We walked out to the bike racks, all the other girls get picked up by their parents, not us. Lisa and I got on our bikes and began to pedal home. We passed by West Bridge dog park, the alleyway Lisa has been scared of since we were little, and we were about to

pass the apartments when Lisa stopped. "Do you hear that Maddie?"

"What?"

"Shh... listen" Lisa whispered.

"It sounds like a cat! It's coming from that ditch!" I really love cats!

My mom and dad refuse to get me a pet, I got a goldfish when I was seven, but it died after two days. I moved a few thorn bushes from the ditch, and inside was a little kitten. "Awww," Lisa and I said at the same time. It was really little, only the size of my hand. "It looks really banged up," Lisa said.

"I think,he or she? was abandoned my it's mother, it's eyes are still closed. It could have been born today."

"Thats so sad, you should take her to the shelter!" It was the perfect idea. I 'work' (volunteer) at West Bridge Animal Shelter, I've worked with all sorts of animals. The owner, Carey, will surely be able to help us. "Great idea Lisa, want to come with me?" I asked her. "Sorry I can't, Family Game night, Yay!" she said sarcastically while waving her hands. "That's too bad. Bye Lisa see ya tomorrow!"

"Bye Maddie!" I biked down to the shelter, my breaks squeaked to a stop.

Chapter 2

The Lie

As I walked in the door all the dogs started barking and I went to the back to go find Carey. She was in the back washing buddy a boarder collie brought in a few weeks ago. "Oh hey kiddo, one second let me get all this soap of my hands!" Carey said with a laugh. She washed her hands and put Buddy back in the yard. "So what's up Maddie?" she asked. I grabbed the kitten, which I had wrapped in my coat. "Lisa and I found it in a ditch by the apartment complexes." Carey looked at it. "Well it's a girl, and she was abandoned by her mom I presume. She was probably the runt,"Carey told me. Runts usually don't survive. "Could I take care of her Carey please?" I asked. "Ok I'll give you some care supplies."

Carey gave me some kitten formula, a syringe, and a few other things like that. She almost forgot the litter box! I also got a carrier. I named her Rhubarb because my Granny used to make the best rhubarb pie. Then I began to realize my parents don't allow pets. I am gonna keep it a secret. I shoved all the care items in my backpack and I put Rhubarb in her carrier and hid the carrier in my basketball bag.

I would have to take her up to my room without my parents knowing. I am pretty good at lying. I rode my bike back home. "Hey honey, why were you gone so long?" my mom asked. "Uhh.. I had to stay after practice to work on my...uhh hoops with Chrissy!"

See I can pull off a fib or two!

Chapter 3

Kitten Mischief