Double Trouble Read online

  “I’ll take care of you, don’t worry.” She bent down quickly and picked Flame up. Her fingers tingled faintly as his fur sparkled, and as the sparks faded they left a warm glow in her hands. “You can come and live with me! My parents won’t mind. We sometimes take in cats and kittens for the local pet shelter.”

  Flame reached up two paws and rested them on her chest. “You must tell no one, Kim,” he purred, a serious look in his eyes.

  “You’ll be my secret,” she promised, cuddling his little body.

  Kim was determined to take care of Flame and keep him safe. He was so gorgeous that she loved him already. Even Mia’s meanness wasn’t going to ruin this vacation now.

  She carried him toward the open kitchen door, where her mom was preparing hot drinks and Bibi was licking her dish clean of cat food. Just then, Mia came into the kitchen and saw Kim. “Where did you get that kitten?” she asked in surprise.

  “I found him behind the shed,” Kim replied. She turned to her mom. “Flame must be a stray. He seems hungry and scared. I’m going to feed him and then I’ll make a bed for him in my bedroom. That’s okay, isn’t it?”

  Her mom smiled. “It looks like you’ve already made your mind up. I like his name.” She pet Flame’s head. “He’s adorable, isn’t he? Just don’t get too attached to him, in case someone comes to claim him. I’ll go and call the pet shelter and say we have him, in case someone reports a lost kitten.”

  “Okay, Mom, thanks,” Kim said. She felt pretty sure that no one was going to claim this particular kitten!

  While her mom went out to use the phone, Kim took a spare dish from a cabinet. She filled it with cat food, and set it on the floor some distance away from Bibi. “There you go, Flame.”

  Flame scampered over to the dish and started munching.

  Bibi stopped licking her lips and froze as she seemed to notice Flame for the first time. She pinned her ears back and glared.

  Kim recognized the warning signs and took a step forward, ready to grab Bibi. Mia just smirked as she looked on.

  But Kim was too late. Bibi charged straight at Flame and wopped him across the head with her big front paw.

  “Yow-owl!” Flame went bowling across the floor and the cat food flew everywhere. He skidded to a halt against the table leg. Scrambling to his feet, Flame gave himself a shake and turned to face Bibi.

  Kim saw big sparkles fizzing all over his silver fur. His whiskers crackled and his eyes glowed like green coals.

  She felt a weird prickling sensation down her spine.

  Flame lifted a paw and sparks sprayed out toward the angry Persian.

  Bibi went stiff all over. Her paws pointed downward and her tail stuck up as straight as a broom. She jerked as if she was trying to run away and started bouncing across the kitchen on tiptoes.

  “Eeek!” she squeaked loudly, her orange eyes rolling around and around as she bobbed up and down like a windup toy. “Eeek! Eeek!”

  Mia, who didn’t seem to have seen the sparks fly from Flame, stared in horror at her pet. “What’s wrong with her? Why’s she squeaking like a mouse?”

  Kim bent down to check that Flame was all right. He nudged her hand with the top of his head to let her know he was fine. “Bibi can’t be like that for much longer or Mom will call the vet and it will be a big mess,” Kim whispered to him urgently.

  Flame frowned, but pointed a paw, so that one big silver spark shot out and hit Bibi on the nose.

  Bibi stopped suddenly. The big Persian flopped onto the floor and lay there blinking in surprise at Flame.

  Mia rushed over to her. She examined her pet and frowned. “She seems fine now, but she must have had some kind of jealous fit. Pedigrees are very highly strung, you know! It’s because of Flame. She doesn’t like him. You’ll have to get rid of that kitten, Kim. It’s only a scrappy little stray anyway!”

  Kim felt herself getting angry. “Highly strung? Bibi’s just a spiteful fleabag! I don’t care if she’s got a pedigree as long as my arm! And Flame’s a lot more than a stray. He’s m …” She only just managed to stop herself in time. “He’s mine!” She had been about to say “magic.” She was going to have to be a lot more careful about keeping Flame’s secret. “Anyway, Mom said Flame could stay and that’s final!” She ran off.

  Mia raced after Kim. “You can’t talk to me like that!” she fumed.

  Just then Mrs. Taylor came back into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” she wanted to know.

  Kim and Mia began talking at the same time.

  After a second or two, Mrs. Taylor held up her hand for silence. “That’s enough, both of you. Bibi seems fine now, Mia. Why don’t you take her for a walk in the garden and calm down? Kim, you’d better feed Flame.”

  Mia tossed her head and glared at Kim. “All right. Come on, Bibi.”

  Bibi sidled past Flame and gave a half-hearted hiss as she dashed after Mia.

  Kim cleared up the spilled cat food and then set more out for Flame. He went straight to the food and began eating, purring loudly in contentment.

  Kim felt a little guilty for giving in to her temper and shouting at Mia. Maybe she’d try and make up with her later. She went and gave her mom a hug to make herself feel better. “Thanks for letting Flame stay, Mom.”

  “Hmm. I might have answered too quickly,” her mom said. “If Bibi’s going to bully Flame, maybe it would be better if we found another place for him to stay.”

  “No!” Kim burst out. “I’ll make sure I keep an eye on them both. Please, Mom. Flame chose me for his friend and I’ve promised him—er, I mean I’ve promised myself—that I’m going to keep him safe.”

  Her mom smiled. “Okay. I just hope there’s no more trouble between those cats.”

  “There won’t be!” Kim declared. I’d bet a week’s allowance that Bibi learned her lesson, she thought.

  Chapter FOUR

  Kim poured hot chocolate into a thermos, put chips and cookies on a tray, and tucked a couple of flashlights under her arm before heading for the backyard. “Come on, Flame.”

  As she and Flame reached the tent, Mia and Bibi came up through the backyard toward her. When Bibi spotted Flame, she stopped in her tracks and then walked around him very slowly, making a big circle of space.

  In cat language, Kim guessed that meant, “I’m not going to give you any more trouble.”

  There was an awkward silence.

  “Have you been exploring?” Kim asked Mia in a friendly voice, still feeling guilty about earlier.

  “Yes. We went to see the sheep in the field that is attached to your garden,” Mia said in a subdued voice. She glanced down at Flame. “He’s pretty cute for a regular kitten, isn’t he? I hope Bibi didn’t hurt him.”

  It seemed that Mia was willing to make up, too.

  “Don’t worry. Flame’s fine,” Kim assured her. She was happy they were talking again but wondered what Mia would say if she knew that Flame was a royal prince! “Is Bibi okay?”

  “Yes, thanks,” Mia said. “Er … Are those chocolate chip cookies? They’re my favorite.”

  “Help yourself. We have so many.” Kim smiled and this time Mia smiled back.

  It was dark inside the tent now, so they ate by their flashlight. Bibi curled up on Mia’s sleeping bag, still keeping a watchful eye on Flame.

  When the food and drinks were finished, Kim tucked Flame in beside her. He yawned and curled up close. “I feel safe here, Kim. Thank you,” he meowed softly, so that only Kim could hear.

  Kim pet the top of his silky head. She loved having Flame with her.

  Mia also lay down and closed her eyes. “Good night, Kim.”

  “Good night, Mia,” Kim said as she turned off the flashlight. She snuggled down into the sleeping bag. “Sweet dreams, Flame,” she whispered.

  She felt him touch her chin lightly with the tip of his little cold nose.

  Kim woke up with a start. It was still pitch black outside. Someone was shaking her arm urgently.

  �
��Mia?” she said sleepily. “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s something outside the tent!” Mia whispered hoarsely. “Listen! Can’t you hear it?”

  Kim listened hard. At first all was quiet and she thought Mia must be imagining things. Then there was a rustling noise and the tent’s walls shook as something brushed against it.

  Kim caught her breath. There was something out there!

  Beside her, Flame gave a low growl.

  “What is it?” Mia said faintly.

  Kim’s fingers trembled as she felt around in the darkness for the flashlight. She switched it on and the beam wobbled all over the place as she pointed the light at the tent flap.

  Suddenly a long, bony head pushed inside the tent. It had no hair and pale staring eyes. A low mournful cry came from it.

  “Aargh!” Mia screeched. “It’s an alien!”

  “No, it’s not. It’s only a sheep!” Kim said, relieved. “You must have left the field gate open, Mia, and they’ve wandered into the garden.”

  But Mia didn’t seem to hear and only screamed even louder. Now Bibi joined in and started to meow. The sheep with its head inside the tent bleated in terror and rolled its eyes in fright before hurriedly backing out.

  The noise everyone was making was deafening. Kim groaned. The whole street was going to wake up at any minute.

  She took a deep breath and yelled, “SHUT UP!”

  Mia stopped screaming abruptly and looked hurt. “There’s no need to shout!”

  But Kim was already crawling toward the tent flap. She stuck her head outside. There were at least twenty big white sheep in the garden, munching on flowers, lettuces, and young carrot tops in her dad’s prized vegetable patch. Her dad was usually really easy-going, but he was really strict about keeping the field gate closed.

  “When Dad sees this, he’s going to go bananas!” Kim shuffled back inside the tent. The only sign of Mia was a big lump halfway down the sleeping bag. Kim shook it urgently. “Mia! Come on. Get up!”

  “Leave me alone!” said a muffled voice.

  “Look, I’m really sorry I shouted at you,” Kim said. She felt desperate. “You’ve got to help get those sheep back into the field or I’m in for a major punishment!”

  “Tough!” Mia said stubbornly.

  Kim didn’t waste any more time. “I’ll just have to do it by myself then,” she whispered to Flame as she crawled out of the tent.

  “I will help,” he meowed beside her.

  Kim ran toward the nearest sheep. “Shooo!” she whispered, flapping her arms at it. But instead of heading toward the field, it ran in circles. The other sheep started running in all directions. Kim threw up her hands in despair. “I’m never going to get the silly things back in.”

  But just then, from the corner of her eye, Kim saw Flame run forward, his coat glowing with silver sparks and his whiskers crackling with electricity. A cloud of tiny silver sparks rose into the air and fell on the sheep like gentle glittery rain.

  Kim watched in amazement as each one of them began to swell. They grew fatter and fatter, until they turned into surprised-looking woolly balloons that floated a few inches off the ground!

  Kim tapped one of them gently and it began drifting down the garden toward the field. Gaining confidence, she ran to each one of them in turn. Soon all the sheep-balloons were floating down the garden and heading back over the fence.

  Kim watched them sink gently down to the grass and turn back into normal-looking sheep.

  “Phew! Thanks, Flame!” she said as she closed the gate.

  “You are welcome!” Flame gave her a whiskery grin.

  “What’s going on out here?” Kim’s dad came running down the lawn in his pajamas. His hair was all messed up and he looked sleepy-eyed and grumpy.

  “Er … it was only a couple of sheep in the garden,” Kim said hurriedly. “One of them stuck its head in the tent. It was really funny. Mia thought it was an alien …” She stopped as her cousin crawled out of the tent with a face like thunder.

  Mia ran straight up to Kim’s dad. “Oh, Uncle Brian! Kim’s been so mean to me. I was really scared, but she didn’t care. She just yelled at me. It’s not my fault she left the gate open!”

  “But, that’s not true …” Kim stared at Mia in shock. “I mean, I did shout at her, but …”

  Mr. Taylor held up his hand for silence. “I’ve told you a hundred times about leaving that gate open. It was up to you to check it. Mia’s a guest, so she can’t be expected to know the house rules.”

  “Yes, I know. But …” Kim burst out.

  “That’s enough, Kimberly,” her dad said sternly. “Next time you lose your temper, try counting to ten, okay?”

  Her dad only used her full name when he was about to explode. Kim gave up.

  “I think it’s best if you both spend the rest of the night indoors,” Mr. Taylor decided.

  Kim and Mia trudged into the house behind him. Kim didn’t trust herself to speak to Mia. She went straight up to her bedroom and flung herself on her bed. Flame jumped up next to her.

  “It’s not fair!” Kim fumed. It didn’t seem to matter how hard she tried to get along with her cousin, they just kept fighting!

  Flame licked her hand with his rough little tongue. “Don’t feel sad,” he meowed.

  As Kim pet his soft fur she started to feel a little bit better. “I’m so glad you’re here, Flame. You’re a real friend.”

  Chapter FIVE

  Kim stared down at her egg on toast. She had dreamed of floating sheep chasing her down a long winding path. All of them had Mia’s face.

  Flame was eating a dish of cat food.

  “Have you and Mia made any plans for today?” her mom asked.

  She shook her head. Mia had asked for breakfast in bed as a special treat. Kim hadn’t spoken to her yet. Mia was probably still sulking.

  Kim’s mom poured herself a cup of tea. “Why don’t you two bike over to see your grandparents?” she suggested. “You know how you love going over there. Mia might enjoy it, too.”

  Mike and Ruth Taylor, Kim’s dad’s parents, lived in a rambling, redbrick house that backed onto the river. They’d recently bought the Sally Ann, an old houseboat, and were enjoying fixing it up.

  Kim felt herself warming to the idea of going to visit them. “Mia could ride my old bike and we could put Flame and Bibi in the baskets. I’ll go and call Gran and tell her we’re coming.”

  Her mom looked happy. “Tell Gran we’ll come along later. We’ll bring a picnic with us.”

  Flame lifted his head to sniff at all the delicious smells of spring as Kim and Mia biked along. They passed trees heavy with pink and white blossoms.

  Mia seemed to have cheered up a bit and on the way Kim told her about the Sally Ann.

  “I love boats,” Mia said. “One of Dad’s friends has an amazing yacht. We sometimes go for a cruise on it.”

  They turned onto an avenue where primroses dotted the bushes. Kim saw a figure come out of a large, redbrick house. She waved. “Gran!”

  “Hello, you two!” Ruth Taylor smiled as Kim and Mia slowed their bikes. They dismounted and wheeled their bikes through the garden gate.

  Kim took Flame out of the basket and went to give her grandmother a hug. “Hi, Gran. This is Flame.”

  “Hello, sweetie.” Her grandmother returned the hug and pet Flame. “What a gorgeous little kitten!”

  Flame purred loudly.

  “Hello, Mia. It’s lovely to see you, too,” Mrs. Taylor said. “And this must be Bibi. She’s a champion, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is,” Mia said, looking pleased.

  “Where’s Granddad?” Kim asked.

  “I’ll give you one guess!” her grandmother said.

  “Working on the boat?” Kim said with a grin.

  Mrs. Taylor took them into the back garden and through private gated woods. The path came out at the riverbank. Kim could hear the faint sound of rushing water from the steep dam in the distance
.

  There was an old houseboat, with peeling red and white paint, tied to a small wooden dock. The name Sally Ann was painted on her bow.

  Mike Taylor was on the deck. He wiped his hand on his overalls and waved an oily rag in the air like a flag. “Ahoy there!” he called.

  “Is that their boat? What an old mess!” Mia said in a piercing whisper.

  “It’s got a stove and a bed and everything inside. I love it,” Kim said, feeling embarrassed by her cousin’s rudeness.

  But Gran just winked at Kim. “So do we! Come and have a look. Watch your head, Mia.”

  Kim ducked and went into the cabin. Gran and Granddad had been hard at work. It smelled of fresh paint and brass polish. There were new lace curtains on the windows and cheerful knitted cushions on the chairs. Even Mia was fascinated by the way the table and bed folded away.

  Flame went right over and curled up on a cushion.

  Kim smiled. Anyone would think he’d lived on a houseboat all his life!

  “I was just about to plant some window boxes before you arrived,” Mrs. Taylor said. “Would you like to help?”

  “We’d love to, wouldn’t we, Mia?” Kim said.

  “Sure,” Mia agreed.

  Gran grabbed some soil and trays of plants and they got to work.

  About ten minutes later, Mia sat back and dusted dirt off her hands. “I’m bored now. I want to do something else,” she declared.

  “Why don’t you go take a look around,” Mrs. Taylor suggested. “The garden is pretty at this time of year.”

  “Okay. See you later,” Mia called as she wandered away with Bibi trotting at her heels.

  Kim helped Gran finish planting the rest of the marigolds and petunias and then stood back to admire the window boxes. “These will look great in a few weeks,” Gran said.

  “Hello! Who is ready for a picnic?” called a voice.

  Kim’s mom and dad had arrived. They carried two baskets that were bursting with delicious food and drinks.

  “Now you’re talking!” said Granddad, coming out of the cabin. “I’ll just go and get cleaned up.”

  Kim, Flame, her parents, and grandparents trooped through the gate to the woods back toward the house.