1. KITTY AND THE MOONLIGHT RESCUE
Chapter
1
Kitty bounded into her mom and dad’s bedroom as gracefully as a cat. She was wearing her stripy pajamas, and her dark hair bobbed around her face as she ran. Flipping head over heels, she landed neatly on the bed.
Her mom smiled.“Slow down, Kitty! It’s nearly bedtime. Aren’t you sleepy yet?”
“No, I’m not tired at all!” Kitty watched her mom take a sleek black superhero outfit out of her wardrobe and put it on.
Kitty’s family had a special secret. Her mom had catlike superpowers, and every night she went on adventures. Her mom could see in the dark, climb walls, and balance on rooftops. Her superpowered senses meant she could always tell when trouble was near. Best of all, she could talk to cats and share their secrets!
Kitty wanted to be a superhero just like her mom one day. She loved playing rescue in the cat outfit her dad had made her. She could leap all the way from the window seat to her bed without touching the floor.
But when she looked out the window at bedtime, there were so many mysterious shadows and odd noises out there. It was safe and snuggly in her room, and the thought of going out into the dark made her shiver. She wasn’t sure if she would ever be ready to be a superhero like her mom. “Why don’t you brush your teeth and wash your face, Kitty?” suggested Mom. Her dad came in, carrying her little brother. “It’s time for you to brush your teeth too, Max. Let’s find your toothbrush.”
Kitty followed them to the bathroom, but Max giggled and scampered away at lightning speed.
Mom caught him and brought him back to the sink.“Be a good boy and do what your dad says, Max.” She looked in the mirror and straightened her superhero mask. “It’s getting late! I really must go.”
“Can you read me a bedtime story first?” asked Kitty.
“I’m sorry, honey.” Mom kissed Kitty on the forehead. “Maybe tomorrow night.”
“I’ll read you a story, Kitty,” said Dad.
Kitty’s shoulders slumped. She knew being a superhero was important, but she wished Mom didn’t always rush off at bedtime. “But I wantMom to tuck me in. I like our bedtime talks.”
“Why don’t we have a little talk now?” Mom took Kitty to her bedroom, and they sat on the window seat together.
It was growing dark outside, and a bright full moon was rising over the rooftops. An owl hooted in the distance.
“Having superpowers is a very special gift,” said Mom, stroking Kitty’s hair. “On a night like this, when the moon comes out, you can feel magic in the air. Then you know it’s the perfect time for an adventure.”
Kitty stared at the darkening sky and shivered. The orange streetlamps were blinking on one by one, but strange shadows lingered at each corner.“It looks creepy out there. I don’t think I could ever be a superhero and go out into the dark like you,” Kitty said.
Mom hugged her tight.“You can choose to be whatever you want to be. But don’t let fear hold you back. You’re braver than you think!”
Kitty hugged her mom.“I will try to be brave! I just wish you didn’t have to go.”
“I know, but there are people out there who might need my help. Tomorrow we’ll have pancakes for breakfast, and I’ll tell you all about it.” Mom smiled and gave her a kiss. “Sleep tight, darling. Remember, I won’t be far away.”
Kitty smiled back.“Night, Mom.” She watched her mom climb out the window and run along the rooftops into the dark.
Dad read Kitty a bedtime story. Then she snuggled down and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Her bed was warm and comfortable, but she didn’t feel ready to go to sleep yet. She wriggled onto her side and stared out the window.
The moon had risen high in the black sky, and shadows flickered on the rooftops. The wind whispered, and Kitty’s heart beat faster. She turned on her bedside lamp and peeped over the top of her blanket.There’s nothing to be scared of, she told herself.
Her mom’s words spun around inside her head:“Don’t let fear hold you back. You’re braver than you think!” Maybe she should put on her cat outfit and see if it made her feel any braver?
Jumping out of bed, she pulled her superhero costume over her head. Then she swung the silky black cape onto her shoulders and tied the ribbon carefully. Last of all, she put on her cat tail and velvety cat ears before turning to look in the mirror. She did a perfect spin, and the cape flew out behind her. She loved the way the cat costume looked, and she did feel a tiny bit braver.
Suddenly there was a scratching noise right outside her window. Kitty turned around, her eyes wide. The scratching grew louder, and then a shrillmeow made her jump. She rushed to the window and peered into the dark.
A sleek black cat with a white stripe on his face and white paws was waiting on the window ledge. Kitty opened the window, and the cat sprang into the room with a flick of his tail.
“Good evening! My name is Figaro.” He smoothed his jet-black whiskers. “I must speak to your mother at once.”
Kitty’s heart skipped. Had she just understood what the cat said? “Hello, I’m Kitty,” she managed.
“Lovely to meet you!” Figaro gave a theatrical bow. “Please take me to your mother, Kitty. There’s an emergency, and I must get her help!”
Kitty’s stomach did a somersault. “I’m sorry—my mom’s already gone out. She left a little while ago.”
Figaro clutched his cheek with one paw.“This is dreadful … but wait!” He stared at Kitty’s cat costume. “You’re a superhero too, so you can save us from this terrible disaster!”
“Oh, I can’t really,” said Kitty. “I wouldn’t know what to do!”
“Youare a superhero, though,” insisted Figaro. “Who will help us if you don’t?”
Kitty looked nervously at the night sky. She’d only been pretending when she had dressed up in the costume, but now this cat believed she reallywas a superhero. How could she tell him that she didn’t dare go out into the dark?
Chapter
2
Kitty looked into the night. The thought of venturing outside made her feel wobbly inside, but how could she explain that to Figaro? He was expecting her to be a brave superhero.“What’s happened?” she asked. “Is somebody hurt?”
Figaro leaped onto Kitty’s bed and flicked his tail impatiently. “There’s an awful noise coming from the clock tower, and the animals in the neighborhood are in great distress! We have no idea what’s making this dreadful racket. You must help!”’
Kitty leaned her head out the window. The clock tower was a long way from her house, but she could hear a terrible, high-pitched howling. It sent a shiver down her back.
“The clock tower is very tall, and the walls are too slippery for any of us to climb. There is panic out on the rooftops tonight, and we need your help.”
Kitty’s stomach lurched. The noise could be anything! Did she really want to go and find out?
Figaro leaped neatly off the bed. He placed his paw on her knee, his face solemn.“Please, Kitty! We need you.”
Kitty gulped. She wanted to help, and there was also a tiny part of her that wanted to see what it was like to have an adventure. She took a deep breath.“I’ll go to the clock tower if you help me find the way.”
Figaro’s whiskers perked up. “Thank you, Kitty! Every cat in Hallam City will be forever grateful.” He skipped to the window, his white paws flashing. “Follow me, and I’ll take you there at once.”
Kitty’s heart pounded as she climbed onto the windowsill. Clouds moved to hide the bright full moon, and the darkness thickened. For a second, Kitty nearly turned back inside. Then she took a deep breath and clambered through the window. She scrambled up from the windowsill and balanced on the roof, her heart racing.
The shadows seemed to stretch toward her. She shivered as she gazed around, trying to spot the places she knew. There on the corner was Mr. Harvey’s shop with all the cards and magazines in the window. Beyond that was the park, with its tall trees and duck pond. The clock tower looked very small in the distance.