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A fat tear splashed on to the keyboard. It was snowing still, just in time for a white Christmas, the first one for years. Everyone was really excited about it, but Jasmine couldn’t care less. Lara had invited her to go and build an igloo in her garden, but Jasmine couldn’t face it. She just kept imagining poor Star, shivering in the middle of a snowstorm, ice dripping off her whiskers. It was the worst Christmas ever. She couldn’t even feel excited about presents.

“Do you think we should call and tell them she’s gone?” Jasmine asked her mum sadly. The Murrays’ email said they’d got her a present, to say thank you for looking after Star so well… She felt so miserably guilty. “They left the number of their hotel, didn’t they?”

“Yes, they did,” said Mum. “But Star’s only been gone one night, and we don’t want to ruin their holiday. There’s nothing they could do. I’m sure she’ll be back by the time they fly home in a few days anyway.”

Jasmine nodded. She supposed Mum was right. It would only make the Murrays really sad, and there was a chance she might still find her…

She’d spent the morning going up and down the street with Dad, peering under bushes and looking behind walls. Jasmine had even asked everyone she knew in the street to look in their sheds and garages, and tell their neighbours. Feeling helpless, she went to put on her coat. She didn’t really think she’d find Star now, but she couldn’t give up. It was Christmas Eve tomorrow. How could she leave Star lost out in the snow at Christmas?

“Are you going out again?” her mum asked worriedly. “Honestly, Jasmine, you’ll freeze! Do you want me to come?”

Jasmine shook her head.“It’s OK. Maybe later.”

She was plodding up the pavement through the snow, which was already turning grey and slushy, when she had a thought. The Murrays’ email had said they’d left some of Star’s favourite salmon cat treats, and Jasmine knew she really did love those ones. She turned into the most adoring little cat ever when you were about to open a packet, weaving round your legs, mewing loudly. Perhaps if Star was hiding out in one of the gardens somewhere – and that was what Jasmine was hoping – she’d come back if she smelled those yummy salmon treats?

Jasmine dashed back home to fetch the Murrays’ keys and scuttled down next door’s path.

Of course she shouldn’t be opening Star’s present before Christmas, Jasmine thought to herself as she ripped open the shiny paper, but this was an emergency.

She was just tearing at the foil pouch with her nails when she heard it. A loud piercing, demanding, very squeaky mew. From upstairs.

Star was here!

Although that didn’t sound quite like Star. Could another cat have got in?

Jasmine crept up the stairs, feeling half-hopeful, half-scared. She wasn’t quite sure what to expect – even if it was Star up there, would she be happy to see her? She’d been so grumpy the day she disappeared.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_26]

The strange mewing continued as Jasmine reached the landing. She opened one of the bedroom doors and peered round. It seemed empty. But then the squeaky mew came again, and she realized that there was another door, over in the corner, almost hidden by the wardrobe. And it was very slightly open.

“Star?” Jasmine whispered nervously.

There was a moment’s silence, and then Jasmine heard a very familiar purr. Star! It was definitely her, and she was purring in welcome. Jasmine wanted to race across the room and hug her, but she told herself to be calm and not get too excited. It was probably her being too enthusiastic that had made Star leave inthe first place. She walked quietly over to the airing cupboard and very gently opened the door.

There was Star, lying curled on a pile of towels and purring delightedly at Jasmine.

And snuggled up next to her were two tiny newborn kittens.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_27]

Chapter Eight

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Star stared up at Jasmine, purring proudly. She was very pleased that Jasmine had found her– she wanted to show off her beautiful babies. And she was absolutely starving – she hadn’t eaten for a whole day now, and she’d been feeding her kittens, too. She had thought about going to find Jasmine, and some food, but she hadn’t wanted to leave her kittens – she knew they needed her. She had hoped and hoped that Jasmine would come, and now she had. She miaowed at Jasmine, who seemed to be holding a food packet.

Jasmine crouched down and poured some salmon treats out into her hand.“Oh, you must be starved, poor Star,” she murmured, gently scattering them in front of Star’s nose, without getting too close to the kittens. She didn’t want to upset Star. Luckily, Star didn’t seem to mind being found, but Jasmine knew she would be very protective of her little ones. Shesat back on her heels, a little way away from the cupboard, and laughed to herself. “I thought I’d been feeding you too much, Star! I thought you were just getting podgy, but you were going to have kittens!”