My Kitten Tigger
by Nicole

"Where is she???

I was in my kitchen about to feed Tigger last Saturday morning when I realized she wasn't running into the kitchen like she always does when I open a can of cat food.

A few days ago was my birthday and I just turned 15 and I got a kitten and I always wanted a kitten. I looked everywhere but I couldn't find my sweet, cuddly kitten. I ran in the living room calling, "Tigger, Tigger." She wasn't there. I ran to my spare room upstairs to see if she was there with the other kittens. I looked everywhere in my house. No Tigger. I was really upset. I knew she had to be in the house because she is always in my room at night.

I live with my aunt so I called her at work immediately. Aunt Cindy's voice sounded worried and concerned. She said, "Are you sure Tigger ran away?"

I knew in my heart Tigger had really run away. All day on Friday I saw Tigger looking out the window. She was looking at a strange cat that I had never seen before. I was worried that she would get out even though she had never ever got out before.

I searched all over my house and even looked outside. I think I looked everywhere. Later that day, my aunt called me back.

She asked, "Did you find her?"

I said, "No, I haven't found Tigger and I have looked everywhere. I asked everyone I saw."

My friend, Whitney, thought she saw Tigger in a tree. I ran to my favorite tree in my backyard and looked up hoping she was there sitting on a limb. I was so excited because I really wanted Tigger to be there. I looked up but my heart was sad when I saw that she was not there. I was so upset.

I went back home and made posters of my kitten to put in our neighborhood. Tigger is black and white. She is a loveable kitten. I sat and thought for a second. Shorty my puppy started to bark. I knew she had an idea in her doggy head. I just sat in my favorite chair and Shorty jumped up in my lap to comfort me. She loves me and I know she could tell how sad I was.

I took Shorty with me to put the pictures of my kitten up on the poles. I looked at Shorty and thought in my mind, Shorty, we have a lot of work to do. I wanted Shorty to go with me. She looked at me and I knew that she understood what I was thinking.

When I saw Whitney again she said, "I saw Tigger go toward your house."

We rushed to our backyard. She was not there. I picked up Shorty and started to cry.

I said, "I am not a good pet owner."

Shorty looked at me and saw my tears. She tilted her head and it looked like she was saying that I am a good pet owner because she is my pet too. I said, "I won't give up I love my Tigger so I will keep looking."

Then Shorty and I looked out the window one more time at the tree. Guess What! I finally found Tigger in another tree! I ran outside to get her. I was never happier to see her. I told her, "I love you." We ran inside and played the rest of the day. I had all my pets in my bed. I was so proud of myself. I always put them on my bed.

Later that day when I wrote in my dairy all my pets were there with me looking like they knew what I was saying or something like that. I was writing that I was glad Tigger was back. I was thinking, If you ever lose any of your pets don't give up and sometime you will find your pet.

The End

May 13, 2004

Hi Nicole,

Thank you for sharing the final draft of your story. I think everyone who has ever loved a pet will understand the many emotions in your story. There is the sadness of missing your pet, the guilt, the fear, and the joy of finding her again. You did a great job of sharing those feelings with your readers.

I loved it when you wrote, "I ran to my favorite tree in the back yard and looked up, hoping she was there, sitting on a limb. I was excited because I really wanted Tigger to be there. I looked up, but my heart was sad when I saw that she was not there." These sentences are perfect. They make the reader feel those emotions with you. They make us feel like we are part of your story!

I also liked how you put Shorty in the story, and I especially liked the line, "I knew she had an idea in her doggy head." How you feel about your pets becomes clear when you write, "Shorty looked at me and saw my tears. She tilted her head and it looked like she was saying that I am a good pet owner…" You did a good job of making us be able to see Shorty, and to feel your pain.

A special moment in the story is when you find Tigger and it says, "I told her, "I love you." This is heartwarming!

I think you should end the story with the part where you are thinking, If you ever lose your pet, don't give up. That is a perfect place to end your story, reassuring your readers that there is always hope!

When you read your story, you should feel proud. You worked hard on the editing, and the rewrites, and you have done a wonderful job! I am looking forward to meeting you soon!

Your Friend,
Lois Szymanski

Patti Weeg
pweeg@comcast.net

May 18, 2004