That Furball Puppy and Me Read Online Free

kitty!”

    Mama looked under the bed. I backed up quietly. She didn’t see me. Holding my breath, I didn’t even move.
    She petted Callie another time and walked out, still calling my name. I guess I was safe for now.
    Smells in the house floated into the bedroom. Except for a tiny bit of leftover eggs and bacon, I hadn’t had any breakfast. My tummy growled. How could I get to my food bowl with those short, grabby little people in there? I had to have something to eat. The smells coming from the kitchen were wonderful. They made my mouth water. I had to get to my food bowl.
    I had seen danger before. I had been attacked by a mean rooster when I was a baby. I had looked eye to eye with a
big
rat. I would have to face the …
    Grandkids!

CHAPTER 4
    B ravely I stepped out from under the bed. Taking a deep breath, I held it and listened for any sound of danger. Inch at a time, I crept to the door. The Grandkids were here, somewhere. I stayed close to the wall until I got to the living room. If I was careful, I could hide behind the furniture until I reached the kitchen. That’s where my food bowl was. Just thinking about it made my tummy rumble.
    At the end of the hall I stopped. The tree was in front of me. The bright lights twinkled like little stars. Shiny balls tempted me to bat at them. The long strings dangled and wiggled like mouse tails scampering away in the hay field.
    The people were all at the table. My head tilted to the side and my whiskers twitched. The tablewas
huge.
It was a lot longer than ever before. Maybe Mama watered it like her houseplants to make it grow. Now that it was big, there was room for everyone’s chair. Mama and Daddy were near one end. Four other big kids were sitting with them. The Grandkids sat together at the other end of the table.
    I eased behind the couch. The tree caught my attention again. The temptation was too much. I carefully tapped at the gleaming bauble in front of my eyes. It moved. I tapped it again. It bounced and jiggled at the end of the limb. I couldn’t stop! Each time I batted at the beautiful things, they moved, just like when I chased mice.
    â€œHey, there’s that kitty!”
    Small feet thundered through the living room toward me. Small hands grabbed at me.
    Like a shot, I scampered up the tree!
    â€œOh, my goodness!” Mama screamed.
    The tree began to wobble. I moved higher. The tree swayed. My sharp claws dug at the wood, trying to keep my balance.
    â€œKay, get on the other side, and we’ll get him before he knocks the whole thing over!” Daddy grabbed at the center of the tree.
    Mama was not very gentle when she yanked me out of the decorated limbs. But once in her arms, she rubbed me tenderly and pulled me close to hear my purr.

    â€œLet’s put him in the playroom.”
    â€œI don’t think he has eaten today, Owen. That may be why he is being so wild. Let me get him some turkey scraps. Then he can go back to the playroom.”
    Mama tucked me under one arm as she walked to the kitchen. She placed some yummy meat in my dish. Then she poured this warm brown sauce all over it. The food smelled
wonderful!
I wiggled, struggling to get down. Mama squeezed me tighter under her arm. She took me and my bowl into the playroom and closed the door. I didn’t even try to follow her. I went straight to the yummy-smelling food. It was so good that I kept eating, even after I was full. When I finished, I washed my face and paws. A warm, happy feeling covered my whole body.
    Trouble was, it didn’t last long.
    The door flew open. Out of nowhere, small hands picked me up. Suddenly I was on my back with my feet sticking straight up in the air. The pudgy little hands rubbed my fat tummy.
    â€œBe careful, Kensey.” Mama warned. “Gray isn’t used to children. He has sharp claws and you could get a scratch.”
    The small girl turned me right-side-up and looked me straight in the eye. She rubbed