The Kitten Nobody Wanted Read Online Free Page B

couldn’t boss Poppy around. And if Mia grabbed him, he’d only be even more scared. Emily was out of the room, helping her mum put everyone’s coats away, or Mia knew she’d have said something. 
    Poppy sat down on the floor, placing Whiskers on her lap and stroking him. But he was upset now, and he hissed and dug in his claws as he scrambled to get away from the loud, scary girl.
    Poppy squeaked. “Ow, he scratched me!” She jerked her leg, and Whiskers slipped off her lap, landing on the floor with a worried mew.
    “Sshh, sshh…Come here, Whiskers.” Mia stretched out a hand to him gently, and he gladly crept over to her, burrowing into her skirt as she put him on her lap.
    “He didn’t mean to scratch you,” she told Poppy. “He’s just a bit shyer than the other kittens.”
    Poppy nodded. “He’s sweet, but I like the tabby ones more. They’ve got suchcute tricks! Oh, look, that one’s got wool all wrapped round her paws!”

    Mia stroked Whiskers and sighed. He had cute tricks too, like the way his huge whiskers wobbled when he yawned, and the way he always put his front paws in the food bowl, now that the kittens were starting on solid food. It was just that Satin and the tabbies were so much bouncier, everyone always noticed them first.
    “You need to be a bit more friendly,” she whispered to Whiskers. “You won’t find an owner if you keep hiding in your pen. People will be coming to see if they want to take you home, a few weeks from now. You’ve got to show everybody how gorgeous you are.” She smiled,rather sadly. She wanted Whiskers to have a lovely home of his own, but if he stayed at Emily’s, it meant she’d be able to carry on seeing him. Emily’s mum kept saying they were only keeping Satin, but if they couldn’t find a nice owner for Whiskers, she might change her mind…
    Whiskers didn’t know what Mia was saying, but he liked listening to her, and she made him feel safe. He purred, very quietly, and nuzzled her hand.

    “Shall we watch the film in our sleeping bags?” Emily suggested, as she took a bowl of popcorn out of the microwave. “Oh, this smells fab.”
    “Definitely sleeping bags,” Poppy agreed.
    “Can we bring the kittens?” Libby asked hopefully.
    Emily’s mum looked thoughtful. “I suppose for a bit. But they’ll probably want to be back with Silky soon. And after the film, girls, you need to go to sleep! It’s getting late.”
    The girls all nodded angelically, but Emily winked at Mia behind her mum’s back. “I’ve got a secret chocolate supply,” she whispered. “Are you bringing Whiskers?”
    Mia nodded. “If you think he won’t mind. He prefers being in his pen, doesn’t he?”
    Emily shook her head. “Not if it’s you cuddling him.”
    Mia went pink. “Do you think he likes me that much?”
    Emily rolled her eyes. “Of course he does! Come on!”
    Mia went into the living room, and snuggled up in her sleeping bag – even with the heating on high, it was still chilly. Emily’s mum had said they’d better all sleep in a huddle to keep warm, like penguins, and she’d found loads of extra blankets. Whiskers sat on Mia’s tummy, purring quietly to himself. He was happy. He hadn’t been sure about the loud girls, and people grabbing him, but now he had Mia, and she didn’t seem to be going anywhere, like she usually was. He could even put up with the noisy girls if Mia was there too.

    Mia hardly paid attention to the film at all. She was watching Whiskers, snuggled up on her sleeping bag and stroking him gently. His fur was so soft – and he was such a little cat, so different from Sandy.
    As the film went on, the other kittens padded back to the kitchen, looking for Silky and their pen. But Whiskers curled up on top of Mia, and fell fast asleep – and he was still there the next morning.

Chapter Six
    “Oh, Mia!” Dad laughed. “How did you get him to do that?” He’d just arrived to pick Mia up from the sleepover. Libby and