Part 1Cat Knight

I can understand animals.

The day my dad decided to take me on a trip to the wilderness, the stray cats downstairs were holding a meeting.

"The poor kid. She has no idea her dad's getting remarried."

"Worse, the new stepmom is pregnant and doesn't like her. They're planning to take her out to the middle of nowhere and leave her."

"We'll never get any more of her fishy treats. Let's have a little cry."

I already knew.

I just didn't let on.

I just gave them their fishy treats one last time, a thoughtful goodbye.

Suddenly, a little tabby I'd never seen before padded over and sniffed me.

"Human, you want a new dad?" it meowed. "Just say the word, and I'll bring him to you."

* * *

I bought my fishy treats with the lunch money I saved.

Two dollars a day.

Ten dollars a week.

Enough for a ten-pack of treats.

There were six strays living around our apartment building.

But Ginger wasn't one of them.

Ginger was my sister.

When I was three, Mom brought Ginger home. She smiled at me and said, "Annie, you're a big sister now. You have to take good care of Ginger."

Ginger just puffed up her fur and meowed indignantly. "I'm the sister! I'm the boss!"

Everyone loved Ginger at first.

But as soon as Mom got sick and passed away, Dad threw her out.

He hated Ginger.

He hated the way she shed.

He hated her for scratching people and clawing the sofa.

He hated her constant "meowing."

But Ginger wasn't just meowing.

She was talking.

She was saying, "I'm hungry."

"My water bowl is empty."

"I'm so bored, come play with me!"

Just like now. I was crouched down, feeding her. As she ate, she purred, "So yummy, so yummy!" and then asked, "Is your dad taking you on a trip? How long will you be gone?"

Patches, the little calico, swatted her. "It's not a trip, you dummy! He's ditching her! I heard him on the phone in the garage!"

Oreo, the black-and-white kitten, chimed in. "I heard it too! Her stepmom is pregnant, and they're planning to take her deep into the wilderness."

"Oh my gosh! Does that mean we'll never get treats from her again?"

"Let's have a little cry."

The cats erupted into a chorus of worried meows.

Only the tabby I'd never seen before walked over, circling me once before letting out a soft meow. "Human, you want a new dad? My dad needs a daughter. He's the best. If you want him, I'll bring him to you."

A new dad?

But…

"I already have a dad."