Ding-dong! A tiny orange kitten has come to live here. It gets a brand-new basket, a shiny food bowl, and a whole pile of ribboned gift boxes. All for the kitten!
Kitten toys everywhere — a jingly ball, a feather wand, a soft ball of yarn. The kitten pounces and plays all day long. Something starts to feel funny in Саша's tummy.
It's a green, prickly feeling — like a little burr rolling round and round inside. It tickles and pokes and will not sit still. What a strange, scratchy thing.
Humph! Саша hides the kitten's yarn ball under a cushion, then turns away with arms crossed tight. "I'm not looking at you. So there." The kitten pats the cushion, confused.
Саша stomps off to be alone in the bedroom. But the prickly feeling follows right through the door — and the room is so, so quiet. Too quiet, really.
Mew... mew! The little kitten has followed Саша all the way here. It tries to climb the step, slips, tries again, slips again. Its paws are just too small.
Саша gently lifts the kitten up with both hands. It's soft as a mitten and warm as a sunbeam — and it purrs, rrr-rrr, right into Саша's hands.
"I'll teach you!" Саша brings the yarn ball back and shows the kitten how to pounce, roll, and chase. The kitten copies every move. Being the teacher is so much fun!
Whirr! The robot vacuum rolls by! The kitten puffs up its fur and dives straight into Саша's arms. Саша stands tall and brave. "Don't be scared. I've got you."
Somewhere along the way, the prickly feeling has simply disappeared. That night, the kitten curls up on Саша's lap and falls asleep — purr, purr. Саша smiles a warm, quiet smile.
