Progressive 01
The Purring Pillow
It was an ordinary Saturday afternoon at Shay and Hanna’s house—ordinary, that is, until Mr. Freckles, their tall, silly, polka-dotted cat, decided it was time for a game of hide-and-seek. Mr. Freckles wasn’t your average cat. For starters, he was taller than most cats, and his fur was yellow and covered in big colored dots that could change colors depending on his mood. Blue for sneaky, green for playful, pink for mischievous, and purple when he was sleepy.
“Alright, you two,” their mom said as she grabbed her keys. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Stay inside, don’t open the door for anyone, and try to keep the house clean. Especially you, Shay.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Shay saluted, though his eyes were already on the snack cabinet.
Mom gave them a look, then glanced at Mr. Freckles. “And no funny business from you either, Mr. Cat,” she warned, wagging her finger. Mr. Freckles responded with a dramatic bow and a loud, “Mee-row!”
As soon as the door closed, Mr. Freckles straightened up and grinned. “Who’s ready for a little game?” he purred, his fur shifting to a playful green. Before Shay or Hanna could answer, he leaped into the air, spinning twice, and disappeared behind the couch.
Shay and Hanna searched everywhere. They peeked under the kitchen table, opened the pantry, and even checked the laundry basket. Not a whisker in sight.
Finally, they heard a suspiciously loud sneeze coming from the closet. “Gotcha!” Shay shouted, flinging the door open.
Mr. Freckles leaped out, his fur turning bright pink as he burst into laughter. “Took you long enough!” he said, twirling in mid-air before dashing off again.
Just when they thought they’d found all his hiding spots, he vanished completely. Then Hanna froze. “Wait... is the pillow purring?”
Sure enough, there he was. Mr. Freckles had curled himself into a giant, yellow-and-purple polka-dotted ball and was snoozing on their mom’s new pillow, purring loudly.
“Mr. Freckles!” Shay whispered urgently. “You can’t sleep there! Mom’s going to be angry if she finds your fur on her bed!”
With a dramatic sneeze, Mr. Freckles woke up, looked at the clock, and gasped. “Oh no, your mom’s almost home!” His dots turned rainbow with panic. “Time to disappear!”
He jumped up and ran out of the house just as they heard their mom’s car in the driveway. Shay and Hanna collapsed into laughter. “That cat is going to get us in so much trouble,” Shay said.
“Totally worth it,” Hanna replied, grinning.
Comprehension Questions
What game did Mr. Freckles want to play?
How did Mr. Freckles show his mood?
Where did Shay and Hanna finally find Mr. Freckles?
Why were the children worried about Mr. Freckles on the pillow?
How did the story end with the children and Mr. Freckles?
Your Thoughts
Would you enjoy having a cat like Mr. Freckles? Why or why not?
Have you ever had to search for something that disappeared or went missing? What happened?
Why is it important to pay attention to clues, like the children did in the story?
