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Elsa sighed and stared vaguely around her room, thinking about getting dressed. It was a bit too early to go visiting anyway. Then she blinked, peering over at her noticeboard, still only half done, with letters and photos scattered around it.“I could write Lilly a letter,” she said, brightening up a bit. “I could write and explain that I didn’t mean to be unfriendly, it was just that I was in the middle of unpacking…” The kitten turned to look at her over his shoulder, yawned hugely, and went back to sleep again.

Elsa rubbed his ears.“Yes, I know it’s not a great excuse. But it’s the best I’ve got…”

[Êàðòèíêà: img_4]

It was all very well deciding to write to Lilly, Elsa discovered, but it didn’t make the letter easy to write. How was she supposed to explain to someone she’d only spoken to for a minute that she was sorry if she’d sounded rude, but she had a really important secret and she wasn’t sure who she could trust? In the end, she wrote:

Dear Lilly,

This is Elsa from next door. I’m sorry I was a bit weird and unfriendly yesterday. I’d really like to talk to you again. I had to go because I was worried about getting all my unpacking done. I’d like to be friends if you would?

From Elsa

Elsa read the note back and sighed. Either Lilly would read her letter and she’d come round so Elsa could talk to her properly – or she’d never want to talk to that odd girl next door ever again. She helpfully took a pile of packing paper that Dad had finished with out to the recycling bin, and nipped next door to stick her envelope through the letter box. She heard itbump on to the floor and crossed her fingers hopefully.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_23]

“How’s your Christmas surprise going?” Dad asked as she came back in. Elsa stared at him blankly for a moment before she remembered her excuse for spending so much time in her room.

“Um … it’s OK,” she murmured. “I’m not sure if you and Sara will like it, though…”

“I’m sure we will.” Dad put his arm round her and kissed the top of her head. “I’m so glad you’re feeling a bit happier, Elsa. I really am.”

Elsa hurried back upstairs to her room feeling guilty. It was great that the mystery in the new house had turned out to be a kitten, but she wished she didn’t have to lie to Dad about it. And when was she going to tell him the truth? She had meant it when she’d told herself she’d show Pepper to Dad “when he wasn’t so busy with the move” but it was hard to see when that was actually going to be.

Pepper came running towards her looking hopeful and Elsa laughed. He danced round her feet, padding at her legs with his front paws and putting on a show of being the hungriest kitten who’d ever lived.

“You probably are hungry,” Elsa sighed, frowning at him. “I guess your mum was feeding you whenever you wanted. Growing kittens need lots of food – and you’re definitely growing. I’m sure you’re bigger than you were yesterday. Plumper round the middle anyway. It’s OK, look, Dad madeus bacon sandwiches as a treat.” She pulled out the half sandwich she’d wrapped in a tissue and hidden in her pocket. “Dad put ketchup on before I could stop him, so I hope you like it.” But the kitten didn’t look worried. His huge gold-green eyes were fixed on the sandwich as if he’d never seen anything so exciting.

Elsa fed it to him slowly, in bits, worried that otherwise he’d wolf down the whole thing and be sick. But just as she was about to hand him the last piece, the kitten turned away from her, his ears twitching.

“What is it?” Elsa whispered. “Can you hear something? It’s probably just Sara next door.”

The kitten was looking towards Elsa’s window, though, as if he thought there was something happening outside. And now that she thought about it, Elsa could hear something – a tapping sound. Maybe a bird hopping about on the roof? She looked out curiously, but couldn’t see anything. Then the tapping sound started again, sharp and distinct. It was coming from the house next door, she realized – from the window. Someone was tapping on the glass.

Elsa opened the window, struggling a bit with the stiff handle, and leaned out to look. The two houses weren’t built exactly the same, so where her window faced out to the garden, and had a little slope of roof underneath it, the next house stuck out further, and there was a window in the side wall instead. There was a piece of paper pressed up against it, and she could see Lilly behind it, peering at her.

I got your note. You were really horrible yesterday! the piece of paper said.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_24]

Elsa flinched. So much for trying to make friends. Then she tore out a piece of paper from the pad on her desk and scribbledI’m really sorry in big letters. She held it out of her window to show Lilly, and then ducked back inside and wrote,Didn’t mean to be on the back.

She looked across at Lilly, still framed in her own window. The other girl didn’t look very impressed. She was chewing her bottom lip and frowning back at Elsa as though she didn’t really know what to say.