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Harper dashed to open the front door and then ran out into the garden.“Sammy! Sammy!” she called. She was trying to keep her voice calm and friendly, but she could hear it squeaking with panic. They’d been going to let him out slowly, with someone there watching him and snacks to tempt him back. Now it had all gone wrong. “Sammy, where are you? Mum, can you see him?”

“Not yet,” Mum murmured. “Shhh a minute. Let’s listen for him…”

They stood frozen on the grass, hoping to hear the jingle of the tiny bell on Sammy’s collar or maybe a confused little mew. But there was no sound at all in the garden – only a car growling by on the road outside the fence.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_24]

Sammy had gone a good distance now, he thought. The kitten could tell he was getting much nearer to the flat and no one had tried to stop him making his way there. He would be back home soon and everything would be right again, he was sure. He would stretch out on the sofa by the window and watch the people and the cars passing, safely far away.

But which way next? Slowly, Sammy twitched his whiskers and then sniffed the air. Yes, he needed to head down here. He trotted briskly along the pavement, wondering if Harper would have a bowl of food ready for him when he got to the flat. He was starting to feel very empty, as if he hadn’t eaten for far too long.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_25]

The next road shocked him out of thoughts of dinner, though. It was far bigger than any of the small side roads he’d crossed so far – cars were speeding along in a steady stream, with hardly any gaps between them. The wild roaring frightened him and he couldn’t tell how fast they were moving – they seemed to be far away one moment and then screeching past him the next. How was he ever going to get across that?

It seemed a very long way to the far pavement, but he was almost certain that home was somewhere on the other side of the road. It felt so close, but he wasn’t sure he was brave enough to cross.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

Mum and Ava and Harper searched for Sammy for what felt like hours. They went up and down the street calling for him, while Gran stood on the patio in the back garden shaking a packet of Sammy’s favourite treats. They stopped to grab a quick sandwich for tea, but Harper just tore hers into little bits and nibbled on them. Her throat felt too dry with worry to swallow. Sammy was only a kitten – he was so little! How could he manage out there on his own, when he didn’t even know where he was?

“He’ll probably pop back through the cat flap any minute, Harper,” Gran said. Harper knew that Gran was trying to be comforting, but it didn’t work. How could Sammy come back in through Gran’s cat flap when he’d never even been out of it? He didn’t know Gran’s garden! He didn’t know that this was his home to come back to, Harper thought, trying to sniff back tears. She wasn’t even sure he wanted to come back. He hadn’t liked it here – and he hadn’t loved them enough to want to stay. That was the worst thing of all.

Mum and Harper went searching for Sammy again after tea, while Gran helped Ava get ready for bed. It should have been interesting, getting to walk around the streets close to their new home, and have a look at the playground at the far end of the road, but it was horrible. Especially when every time they passed someone they had to say they’d lost their kitten, and he was very little, and please could they tell Mrs Allinson at number forty-four if they saw him?

“We should do posters,” Harper said miserably. “With your number on, Mum. Then people could just text you if they saw him.”

Mum looked uncertain.“Maybe… I’m hoping that your gran’s right, though, and he’ll come home by himself. He could be really close, just a bit scared and hiding out. Or he might be shut in someone’s garage. Let’s give it till tomorrow to start putting posters up. Your gran’s already rung all the neighbours to ask them to look out for him.” She sighed. “It’s getting dark, Harper. I think we need to get back home.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_26]

Harper slipped her hand into Mum’s. Both their hands felt cold and Mum looked as worried and miserable as she did. If only they hadn’t argued!

I’d have noticed the open window if I hadn’t stomped off upstairs, Harper thought miserably, wishing she could go back and do everything differently.“Do you think hewill come back by himself?” she asked, and Mum hugged her tight.

“I don’t know, sweetie. But I’m hoping. I’m really hoping.”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

As the night darkened, the passing cars blinded the kitten with the glare of their lights and they seemed to roar louder than ever. Sammy stayed tucked away under a bush at the edge of the road. The hissing of the tyres left him feeling shaky and scared, and he didn’t dare face the road. He huddled down in the dust and dry leaves, flinching each time a car passed, until he fell into an uneasy sleep.