For Part 1 of this 3-part story, go here.
It was a gray morning when Bad Kitty woke up. He crawled from under the porch and looked at the sky. There were lots of clouds and he could smell the dampness of coming rain mixed in with the salty breeze from the nearby ocean. He looked back at his old house and made a decision.
“If they don’t want me, I don’t want them either.” And Bad Kitty trotted down the street.
Bad Kitty did not know where he was going, but he had a long ago memory of when he was a kitten. He had lived outside before when he was very young and he knew he could find food in the big plastic bins that sat outside people’s houses. He could smell that many of the bins had food in them and he was lucky enough to find a one that was open. He found some bird that tasted like what he had stolen the night before, only it was dry and stale. He ate his fill and kept trotting down the street as raindrops started to fall.
Soon the rain began to pour down and Bad Kitty had to find shelter under a bush. He could no longer remember where his old house was. Even though he did not want to go home, he did not want to be stuck outside either. Several wet days passed and he took shelter wherever he could — under cars, in dry corners of buildings and once even in an old doghouse that only had the faintest smell of dog.
Finally, the sun came out and Bad Kitty wandered past a large asphalt lot with a chain link fence around it. It was afternoon and children were coming out of a gate onto the sidewalk, laughing and playing. Bad Kitty thought maybe he should run and hide, but then he saw a boy with brown hair and a girl who looked a little like him, only smaller. They seemed friendly, so he walked up to them and meowed hello.
“A kitty!” the girl said in a shrill voice.
“Shhh,” said the boy. “You might scare him.”
He held out his hand for Bad Kitty to smell. Bad Kitty sniffed his hand for a moment and then rubbed up against it. He could tell that the boy was kind.
“You said you wanted a kitty for Christmas!” said the girl, just a little less loudly. “Are we going to keep him?”
“I don’t know. We have to ask Mom and Dad,” said the boy.
A white car drove up and stopped by the children. The woman inside opened the door. She had yellow hair, but blue eyes just like the boy’s. Bad Kitty guessed it was the Mom.
“What have you got there, Ryan?” she asked.
The girl answered for him. “It’s a kitty! Can we keep him?”
“She asked me, Emma!” said Ryan, and then added, “He is very friendly.”
The Mom looked at Bad Kitty, and then at Ryan.
“If he’s friendly, maybe he belongs to somebody,” she said. “He could be lost. We can take him home and make flyers to see if someone is missing him.”
“Yay!” said Emma.
“Shhh,” said Ryan as he picked up Bad Kitty. For the first time in a long time, perhaps ever, Bad Kitty felt wanted.
That night, the Mom and Ryan worked together to make a flyer with Bad Kitty’s photo on it. They made a lot of copies and the next day, they posted them for several blocks around the school.
“I hope he doesn’t have a home,” said Emma.
“He does have a home — with us, no matter what,” said Ryan.
But then something happened that upset Emma. She and the Mom were in the kitchen and the Mom was helping her make a sandwich. Emma was holding a slice of turkey and Bad Kitty couldn’t help himself. He jumped up on the counter and took it right out of her hand!
“What a bad kitty!” said Emma as Bad Kitty ran away with the turkey.
“He’s not a bad kitty,” said the Mom. “He just doesn’t know any better. Maybe we can show him that if he waits and does not try to take the turkey, he will get some of his own.”
They tried it and after a couple of days, something amazing happened — it worked! Bad Kitty learned that when he tried to take food, he was not allowed to have any, but when he waited, he got a treat.
“I knew he was a good cat,” said Ryan.
Another day, Bad Kitty needed to stretch his paws, so he began to claw the sofa.
“No, no, no — bad kitty!” said the Dad, who looked like a grown-up version of Ryan. Bad Kitty got scared at his stern voice and ran under the bed.
“Uh-oh,” said the Mom, “I knew we should have gotten him a scratcher. I’ll go to the pet store tomorrow.”
“But we don’t even know if he belongs to somebody,” said the Dad.
“It has been a week and no one has called,” said the Mom. “I am sure he doesn’t belong to anyone.”
But that weekend, the phone did ring.
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Another cliffhanger 😮
We have our paws crossed for a happy ending for “Bad Kitty”
We are enjoying this story!
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure,Tiger and JJ
At least he’s in a good home!
We’re hoping that the Bad Kitty can stay with the family who sees that he isn’t bad at all.
Sparkle, your Mom did really good on this story. This is just terrific. Glad you helped her Sparkle. You all have a great day.
It had taken me 2 weeks just to win her over and (it turns out that playing hard-to-get is her favorite game)……it was 3 years ago tonight that our dear little Rosie came in the house…..forever. I had to hurry to town to buy her some Christmas presents and her own stocking to put them in.
I hope Bad Kitty’s story has a happy ending, too.
Purrs and Merry Christmas to all,
Meowma, Jasmine, Joey, Eddie & Rosie
We are hopin the phone isnt callin about Bad Kitty! Cuz we can guess where he belongs.
BTW, ya got an awardie over at our place, Sparkle…
Your human is very talented Sparkle and we are really enjoying this story in our household. My human is relieved to hear that Bad Kitty is finally in a safe and warm home. Can’t wait till Christmas Eve to find out the ending. Meow and Namaste! ~ Pippy the Feline Yogini
We like this cliffhanger a lot better than the last one. Thinking this story will have a happy ending.
Mom’s heart is in her throat, and now you are going to make us wait until Christmas Eve for the end of the story. You are such a tease, Sparkle. We sure hope “Bad Kitty” doesn’t end up back with the BAD FAMILY. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth & Calista Jo
Gosh this is a very good and exciting story……I keep hoping that poor kitty finds a spot to “land” permanently…..I sure hope Part 3 has a HAPPY ending!!!!
Holiday Hugs, Sam
Okay – not really a sad story (and not a bad kitty either!)
Nooooooo, no no no no no. NO phone ringing. BAD phone!
Sorry, I couldn’t read more sad.
What an exciting story ❗ My paws are crossed that Bad Kitty gets to stay with the nice family. Can’t wait to find out! 🙂 Selleck and His Person, Emily.
we bet there is happy ending with the kids…..every good kitty needs a family like this one 🙂
Ok, so if this isn’t a sad story, why are tears streaming down my cheeks?
“He does have a home – it’s with us no matter what.” …this is my favorite part. What a sweet boy.
xo,
Glogirly
This human called “RyansMom” seems to have been blessed with pawful instinct by Bast. Maybe should be awarded the Felis Felissima Conferment by Santa on 2013-12-25?
Oh no! We hope that Bad Kitty will be staying in this home and not going back to the original one!
Oh noes! We hope the phone isn’t about this kitty! We’re hoping for a very good ending!
I am reallyREALLY really wanting a good ending.
Whoa what a suspenseful story!!
hugs madi your bfff
Oh noes! I hope he gets to stay where he is loved.
Oh noooooo – you big tease. Now we have to wait until Christmas Eve – YIKES! DAt’s a long time to wait. We’re loving the story.
Love the story! Can’t wait until part 3.
I am enjoying this story. I hope the phone call is to say they can keep Bad Kitty (who is not really bad at all.)
Can’t wait to hear what happens next!
ooh! this is a great story, Sparkle! We like part 2 and can’t wait for the conclusion. We sure hope this new family can teach Bad Kitty to be Good and he will get to stay there 🙂
PIp, SMidgen, Minnie, Hollie
Now who could be calling???
hoping this family adopts the kitty!
aaauuuugghhhhh…..we’re hanging on by our clawtips in SUSPENSE!!!
We are really enjoying this story, Sparkle. Can’t wait for the conclusion!
Well, so far things are looking a little better for Bad Kitty. We sure hope part 3 will be even happier…
I am hanging on the edge. Can’t wait for the next part.
Just got around to reading Part 1 and 2 of this story and am loving it. Maybe I should have saved it for Christmas Eve and read it all together.
can’t wait for the next part,xx Speedy
…and the plot thickens. Really – we have to wait? tee hee The story is wonderful.
I really hope the kitty can stay !!
XOXO
We are enjoying your Human’s story-telling, Sparkle. We sure hope that the kitty will be able to stay with the nice family.