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About the Author and Illustrator
Copyright Page
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In memory of: Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo, Jacklyn “Jackie” Jaylen Cazares, Makenna Lee Elrod, Jose Manuel Flores Jr., Eliahna “Ellie” Amaya Garcia, Irma Garcia, Uziyah “Uzi” Garcia, Amerie Jo Garza, Xavier Lopez, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, Tess Marie Mata, Maranda Mathis, Eva Mireles, Alithia Haven Ramirez, Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, Layla Salazar, Jailah Nicole Silguero, Eliahna Torres, Rojelio Torres
—H. E. B.
For all the dreamers, young and old—keep drawing pictures and wishing on stars
—S. F.
CHAPTER 1 Loner Cat
I dig my claws across my belly, behind my neck, under my chin, but the itching won’t stop. My breath clouds the air as I shiver and weave through the park sniffing for greasy bags or scraps of food a human child might have dropped. But today there are no bags, no food, not even a shoe print.
I slide into a cozy ditch behind a puffy bush to warm up. I’ll hunker down here for the night and try to ignore my growling tummy. Maybe tomorrow I’ll snag some food.
I curl up into a tight ball and close my eyes. Then I hear a hiss. I jump up and find myself surrounded by a group of snarling cats.
“What have we here?” the biggest one says.
“This is our spot!” says the one with the missing ear.
Their arched backs and narrowed eyes tell me they aren’t interested in making friends.
Well, neither am I.
I lash my tail and show them my teeth. “I was here first!” I roar. I shuffle to one side and then the other, always keeping my eyes on the mean cats.
They get closer and closer. Then two of them lunge at me.
I take off. Believe me, I’m no coward. I’ve stood my ground many times. But there are five of them and one of me. This is a fight I can’t win.
I run and run and run. I dash under honking cars and through echoing alleys to escape their claws and teeth.
I slow down when I’m sure they’ve stopped chasing me.
Where am I? No cozy bushes. No sturdy trees. No crinkly grass with tasty tips of ice. At least there’s a steamy vent behind that mailbox to warm me up a little. I curl up on it and clutch the tiny holes to keep from being blown away by the wind around me. Then I sigh and lick my lips, trying to remember the last time I ate. This is going to be a long night. I close my eyes.
Suddenly, human hands have me in a tight grip. “Eeow!” I scream.
