Domino Read Online Free

really was a great name for the kitten. He was black and white, just like the tiles, and he was lots of fun. Plus, he had learned his new name quickly. He already came running whenever anyone called him. That morning, the day after the blizzard, he had scrambled into Michael’s room as soon as he’d heard his name.
    Michael had petted him for a while, but now he put the kitten on the floor and rummaged through his drawer. He pushed the black dress socks he never wore to the back and sorted all the sports socks: white ones with blue toes, extra-long whiteones, gray with red-and-black stripes. Michael sighed. His lucky socks with the three green stripes were not in the drawer. He couldn’t remember the last time he had played a game without those socks, and now he couldn’t find them. He had looked everywhere. He had even emptied his gym bag, but no luck.
    Michael grabbed a plain white pair and sat on his bed to put them on. The kitten scampered over to watch. Domino’s eyes were bright as he watched a loose strand of elastic dangle from the hem of one sock. When Michael pulled on the sock, Domino stood on his back legs and batted at the elastic string. Michael reached out and stroked the kitten from head to tail. “Thanks, Domino.” If the kitten was trying to help Michael forget about the missing socks, it worked.
    The lucky socks were really nothing special, except that they had been from Gramps. The day Michael had gotten them, he and Gramps had gone to the basketball court in the park — theone that still had its nets. Michael had worn his new socks and made seventeen free throws in a row.
Swish.
Michael thought it had to be the socks, but Gramps said it was in his genes. “Not jeans like your pants,” Gramps said, “your genes, like your family.” Both Dad and Gramps had played hoops in college.
    Now Domino bit down on the elastic of Michael’s plain white socks and started to back away. The elastic pulled tighter until Domino let go. It sprang back with a snap.
    “Hey, cut that out,” Michael said, rubbing his ankle. Domino looked at Michael and then lowered his head and licked his paw.
    Someone has to teach that string a lesson, and it might as well be me. I don’t think the boy even knows it’s there.
    “You are too cute,” Michael said. He knew Domino’s real family had to be missing him. Theywere probably worried sick. He bet that Domino was missing them, too. “We’ll check with the vet again tomorrow and see if she can help. I promise.” When Michael had called the vet’s office the day before, nobody had heard about a missing kitten. But Dr. Bulford had urged him to bring Domino by as soon as he could, and now that the blizzard was over Mom had made an appointment.
    “Michael, you coming? It’s your game, after all.”
    Michael shook his head. Dad always said that when Michael was running late.
    “Coming!” he called. He stuffed his basketball gear back into his gym bag. Domino trotted after him as he headed toward the door.
    “Have a good game,” Mia said. She looked up from where she was sitting on the floor with a fashion-design craft kit.
    “Aren’t you coming?” Michael asked.
    “Maybe later with Mom. I’m staying here with Domino for now. I’m going to teach him how to sit up for a treat.”
    Michael grabbed his jacket, and Mia kept talking.
    “He’s so smart. I bet I can teach him lots of tricks. Then we can have friends over and he can do a whole cat circus act.”
    Michael took a deep breath as he zipped his jacket. Someone had to remind Mia that they were only fostering Domino. “He already has a family, Mia.” Michael tried to say it as gently as he could.
    Mia didn’t answer. She just glued some sequins on her art project. Michael headed for the door. He didn’t want to make a big deal out of the fact that Domino would probably be leaving soon, but he worried that it was going to become a big deal no matter what.
    Jackson slapped Michael on the shoulder. “It