I jump out of my box. “Why are you here again?” I squint at the orange cat. “Scram!”
“Oh, Lolito, are you making friends?” Mami brings the orange cat a second helping. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Let’s call her … Preciosa.”
As I watch Preciosa eat, I notice her hanging belly. I’ve seen cats like this before. Soon after, those cats are surrounded by tiny kittens. Humans love kittens! If Preciosa has kittens and Mami and Papi and Miguel see them, it will definitely be Goodbye, Lolo.
“Okay, you got your food,” I say to Preciosa. “Now go find another family to bother. This one’s mine!”
Preciosa lifts her tail, then turns and trots off.
I have a feeling she’ll be back. I’m nervous just thinking about it.
I duck into the back storeroom to get away from Norberto and his sister yelling about baseball and lottery numbers.
A gray blur scoots past me. I pounce. Then I walk toward Papi carrying my catch and feeling better. Could a kitten show these mice who’s boss? Of course not. As long as I remind Miguel and his parents how great I am at taking care of the mice, I’ll have nothing to worry about.
But when Papi sees me, he frowns. His eyes dart from me to Norberto and back to me again. Then he mumbles, “con permiso,” snatches me up, and plops me outside.
“I don’t want the customers to see,” he says in a cold voice.
I drop the trembling mouse and watch it scurry away. When Papi opens the door again, I hurry inside and squeeze under a low shelf far in the corner. Did Papi plan to leave me outside with the mouse? I don’t know for sure, but I’m not taking any chances.
CHAPTER 18 Miguel
Lolo always greets me after school, but Ican’t find him today. “Mami! Papi! Where’s Lolo?”
My parents look around, shrug, and keep working.
“Tío Diego, have you seen Lolo?”
Tío Diego shakes his head. “Not today, and I even brought him a little something.” He pulls two star-shaped treats out of his pocket. “He almost took one from me the other day,” he says in a whisper. “I think he isn’t so scared of my walker anymore.”
“Miguel, will you get some more cola from the back?” Mami calls.
I look everywhere in the storeroom. No Lolo. I check the bathroom. Nope. I walk back with the soda and check above the fridge again, just in case. But he still isn’t there.
“Lolo! Lolo, where are you?”
I squat and look under all the shelves. There, in the corner, I see a black and white tail swish.
“Lolo! There you are!” I get on my knees and elbows and look him in the eye. “What are you doing there, little guy?”
Lolo creeps out slowly, and I take him in my arms. “Are you okay, Lolo? You’re not sick, are you?”
“Oh, you found him!” Papi puts a hand on my shoulder and smiles at Lolo. “I hope you’re not upset I made you give up your prize, Lolo. But Norberto is terrified of mice, so I didn’t want him to see it.”
I nuzzle Lolo.
“Good boy, Lolito. You’re our mouse-wrangling superhero.”
Lolo licks my ear.
If a little cat like Lolo can be brave, so can I, especially with him by my side. I whisper into Lolo’s ear.
“I’m telling Mami and Papi about art club tonight,” I say. “Ms. Miller is taking the club to the Cloisters museum next week, but I can’t go without a permission slip.”
I put Lolo down, and he climbs back into his box. Before curling up for a nap, he looks at me and blinks.
“I know, Lolo,” I say. “I can do it, especially with you in my corner.”
“Miguelito,” Mami says during dinner. “I forgot to ask about your club yesterday.”
“Yes, hijo, how did it go?” Papi wipes his mouth and watches me like a kid waiting for the start of an action movie.
I keep my eyes on my plate. “Um, it was good.”
I can do this. I can be brave like Lolo and tell my parents the truth. I take a deep breath and open my mouth.
The phone rings before I get a chance to say anything. I have to admit, I’m relieved. I jump up and answer it.
“Miguel, is your mother there?”
