Willow the lonely kitten Read Online Free PDF Page A

her head. “I don’t think so. But it just doesn’t make any sense.They both seemed so keen on having her … maybe they got tired of her weeing and scratching. She’s so little – she could have frozen to death!” Eva looked at the evidence and rapidly changed her mind about the Shannons. Now she was certain that Animal Magic had sent Willow to the wrong home.
    “It’s true that Julie and Jake have been asking for advice,” Jen acknowledged. “And Willow has been more work than they’d expected.”
    “Which proves that they’re not used to owning a pet, but that they’re willing to learn,” Heidi pointed out. “I don’t think we can condemn them for making one mistake.”
    “A big mistake!” Karl insisted.
    Heidi nodded. “But still, I would rather keep an eye on things and not doanything too hasty. If it turns out that the Shannons are deliberately leaving Willow out overnight, then I’m definitely prepared to have a word with them about how dangerous it could be.”
    Eva and Karl knew that their mum had spoken her last word on the subject. As Heidi returned to the morning’s business, they went to the kennels and admitted how they felt.
    “I know Mum wants to wait and see,” Karl muttered, “but one more night like last night could mean the end for Willow!”
    “Don’t say that!” Eva cried. A picture of the beautiful little kitten shivering in the frosty night entered her head and refused to go away. “Karl, we were wrong about the Shannons. We made a terrible mistake!” Eva felt guilty and angry at the same time.
    Leading Piper out of the kennels, Karl agreed. “So what are we going to do?”
    Eva thought hard. On the one hand, do nothing, as her Mum had suggested. On the other, act in secret and save Willow before it was too late. “I’m going to Swallow Court,” she decided.
    “Just be careful,” Karl warned as he set out with Piper. “Don’t rush over there and do something stupid.”
    “OK, OK,” she muttered. “But I don’t care how I do it, I’m going to find out the truth!”

Chapter Seven
    As Eva set off for Willow’s new home, a light snow began to fall. She looked up at the dark-grey sky, tied her scarf tightly under her chin, then strode on along Main Street.
    “Hi, Eva.” It was Karl’s friend George Stevens who slowed her down. “Tell Karl to come to my house this afternoon. There’s going to be loads more snow. We’re making a massive snowman at the top of Earlswood Avenue.”
    More snow? Eva groaned as she turned into Swallow Court. Normally she’d have been enjoying the snow with George and his mates, but today she was more worried about the sub-zero temperature and the effect it would have on Willow. She walked quickly past Miss Eliot’s house, crossed the street and headed for number 22.
    No car parked outside the house , she thought as she approached the driveway. So at least one of the Shannons must be out. No lights on, so they’re probably both out .
    “Yoo-hoo, Eva!” Miss Eliot had come to her front door and was calling across the road. “Have you come about the kitten?”
    Eva backtracked. “Hi, Miss Eliot. Yes, I was worried about Willow. I told Mum, but she thinks we should wait a while before we do anything.”
    “Really?” The old lady sounded surprised. She bent down to pick up her elderly cat, Tigger, to stop him venturing out of the house. “Why did Heidi think that?”
    Eva frowned and felt embarrassed. “Oh, it’s not because she didn’t believe you, Miss Eliot. But she wants to give the Shannons a second chance.”

    “She does?” Miss Eliot raised her eyebrows.
    “Yes. Mum says it’s possible they left Willow out by mistake.”
    “By mistake! Oh, I don’t think so, dear.” Gentle Miss Eliot suddenly sounded very firm. “If it had been a mistake, they wouldn’t have done it again.”
    “Again?” It was Eva’s turn to sound surprised as she looked anxiously across at number 22.
    “And so soon. Listen, my dear,