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Sammy glanced back at the house one last time, uncertain for a moment, but then he scurried away down the pavement. He could hear cars rumbling by in the distance– and then one coming closer, along the street. He pressed himself back against the garden wall, feeling the buzz of the passing car under his paws. He had been out the front of his old home a few times, but he’d always preferred the network of gardens and alleys at the back of the flat. It felt quieter. Safer. He wasn’t used to cars and now his whiskers were tingling with worry. Perhaps he should go back – it would be easy to jump up to the windowsill and slip inside. Another car rumbled past…

Sammy shook himself impatiently. It didn’t matter. He would stay safely away from the cars. He knew his home was waiting for him and he was on his way to find it.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

Harper lay on her bed with her face buried deep in her pillow. That way she could growl furiously about how unfair Mum was, and how unfair everything was, and how she wanted to go home, andprobably no one could hear her. She kicked her feet against the duvet, drumming them up and down– and then rolled over with a sigh.

Mum had put that duvet on her bed the day they moved. She’d chosen Harper’s favourite cover, with the unicorn kittens. Her fleecy blanket was there too, folded up by her pillow, because Mum knew Harper liked to hold it while she was going to sleep. Mum had made sure the blanket was at the top of a box, ready for Harper on that first night at Gran’shouse.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_22]

Gran… Harper sighed again. Gran really did need them. She’d seemed so happy this week, even though her arm was still painful. She didn’t seem as tired, either. She’d loved having Harper and Ava to chat to at breakfast, telling her all about school.

Maybe Harper had been a bit unfair too?

Mum was so worried about Gran and she’d had to pack their whole flat up, and in between doing all that she was on the phone sorting out changing their address with everyone, and organizing the movers, and letting the school know what was happening. It was a lot. Sammy weeing on the rug wasn’t actually the end of the world, but perhaps it had felt like it was?

Harper sat up, hugging her knees and wondering if she should go downstairs and say sorry to Mum. Someone needed to feed Sammy too– he was probably upset about weeing in the house. Harper went to the door, opening it quietly. She could hear Mum and Gran chatting in the kitchen, and they didn’t sound cross. She would go and give Mum a hug, and apologize.

Mum and Gran both glanced up as Harper came into the kitchen– Gran was smiling, but Mum looked worried and Harper’s stomach twisted inside her.

“I’m sorry, Harper. I shouldn’t have shouted at you,” Mum said.

“I came down to say that!” Harper went to put her arms round Mum’s shoulders and lean against her. “Are you really upset with Sammy? He didn’t mean to…”

“Of course not, it wasn’t his fault. I’m just a bit tired.” Mum sighed. “We should give him his tea, shouldn’t we?”

“I’ll do it.” Harper got the bag of cat food out and looked around, smiling, expecting to hear a thunder of tiny paws as Sammy came running. But there was nothing. He must still be really upset.

Mum was looking out into the hallway too, frowning a little.“Do you think he’s hiding behind the boxes? He probably didn’t like us arguing.”

“I’ll check.” Harper put the food in Sammy’s bowl and then went out into the hallway, wondering if he was down the side of that basket again. But there was no sad kitten face peering back at her. Perhaps he was still in the living room?

There was no smell, Harper noticed when she went in, so that was good. Then suddenly, something cold seemed to squeeze Harper’s insides. The smell had gone because Mum had left the window open. It was still open now, letting in a nice fresh breeze. Harper ran over to it, hoping that somehow it was only just a crack, too narrow for Sammy to wriggle through – but she knew it wasn’t.

“Mum!” she yelled in panic. “Mum, the window’s open!”

“Yes, I know, I had to let some fresh air in,” her mum called back, and then there was a moment of horrified silence and Mum raced down the hall. “Oh no…” she muttered. “I didn’t even think. Sammy! Sammy!” She looked around frantically.

“He isn’t in here.” Harper gulped. “I think he’s gone out of the window, Mum!”

“It’ll be OK.” Mum patted Harper’s arm, but she didn’t sound very sure.

“What’s happened?” Gran came in and Ava hurried down the stairs to see what was going on.

“Sammy’s gone!” Harper turned round from the window. “We left the window open and we were supposed to be keeping him in. We have to go and find him!”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_23]

“He’s probably just exploring the front garden,” Gran said soothingly.