「まぁ、なんてこと！なんてこと！」とびしょぬれの子ネコを見つけたお母さんはさけびました。

「よ〜し！みんな待ってなさい！」とアクアはひとりごとをいいました。

「何てことだ。そこの小さい子。きみはいくつだい？」とその年寄りのネコはまゆをひそめてアクアにいいました。

「わ、わたしは生まれて3週間になります。」とアクアはどもりながら答えました。」

「さて、こんな時間にここで何をしているの！お家に帰らなくちゃだめじゃないか。まだまだ子どもっぽい顔をした子ネコだね。町でみんなに笑われてしまうよ！」

「町で？」とそんな言葉を聞いたことがなかったアクアはたずねました。

「そうだよ。大きくて、ネコがいっぱいで、家族もたくさんいるさわがしいところさ。仕事や家を探すのはとてもかんたんなんだよ。」

「そぉ〜か...」とアクアは楽しそうに笑ったかと思うとまゆをしかめました。「町の人はなぜわたしのことをからかうのかしら。」それがなぜなのかアクアが気づいた時にはもう手おくれでした。

「お家に帰りなさい...　町はきみには大きすぎるよ！」年寄りのネコがごわごわのオレンジ色の毛をなでていると突然その緑色の目がキラリッと光ました。「待ちなさい！」

「なぁに？」はずかしい思いをした青い子ネコは少し泣きじゃくっていました。

「おぉ、おぉ、さあ、もう泣かないで...　ほらプレゼントだよ。」

「これは魔法のぼうしなんだよ。みんなのためになる3つのいい行いをすると、望みをかなえてくれるのさ！」

「えぇぇぇ...」アクアはとっさに家族と同じようなつやつやの黒と白の毛になったらいいなと思いました。「ありがとう、おじさん。」

「あぁ、どういたしまして。ところで、子ネコちゃん、きみのお名前は？」

「わたしはアクア。おじさんの名前は？」

「わたしはミスター．ランジ。ジョン　フィッツジェラルド　ランジだよ。」ミスター．ランジはアクアにウィンクするとアクアの頭にぼうしをちょこんとのせてくれました。「じゃぁまたね、子ネコちゃん。町についたらたずねておいで。メープルストリートの583番地に住んでいるからね。」

「はい、そうします。ミスター．ランジ。じゃぁ、すてきな一日を。」

「すてきな一日を」

「わたしはキャリッサ　エイブラムス。エイブラムス未亡人よ。もうがまんできないわ、ねぇ、どうしちゃったのあなたの毛？」

「ごめんなさいね、アクア。わたしはおなかがぺこぺこなの。食べる物が何もないの。」

「ほら、ベーグルがあるわ！」アクアは一口かじりかけのベーグルをおばあちゃんネコにさしだしました。

「あぁ、アクア！わたしに食べ物をわけるほどよゆうがないのに！わたしはだいじょうぶだから！」

「だめだめ。ベーグルをどうぞ。おばあちゃんが食べ物がなくて死んでしまうのなんていやだわ。おねがいです！」とアクアはたのみました。

「あぁ、わかったわ。ありがとう。町についたら、サラ大通りの46番地にある一番きたなくて小さなアパートにわたしが住んでいることをおぼえていてね。じゃあね！」

「さよなら、エイブラムス未亡人。」

「こんにちわ。」とその女の子が答えました。

Once upon a time there was a pretty little kitten. She lived in Faenza, Italy, and she had four older sisters. Her sisters were all black, with white splashes of color on their necks and paws. The sisters were Michelle, Amy, Katie, and Marissa. They were all mean and unfriendly, except for Amy, who was sweet and kind. The youngest kitten was also sweet and kind, but she was a puzzle to her mother, father, and sisters. Her soft fur, instead of being shiny, beautiful, black, and white, was a light blue. Although she was adorable and cute, the youngest was michievious. When she was two weeks old, she fell into a bucket of blue paint the farmer used to paint the old barn. Her coat was permanently stained, and although it was shiny and soft, it was blue!

"Oh, dear!" Mother exclaimed when she saw the dripping kitten, "Oh, my!"

So that kitten was called Aqua after her fur's color. Aqua was the nicest little kitten, but her sisters, all except for Amy, teased and taunted her fur. But eventually, even kind Amy started teasing, too, and poor Aqua was fed up.

"I'll get them!" Aqua muttered to herself. "You guys just wait."

On a warm September day, Aqua left home silently in the night. She was tugging along in a bag a picture of her parents, a warm blanket, a very small can of canned turkey in gravy, and ten dollars from her gramma as a 'I'm glad you were born' present. She hadn't gone far when an old gentleman cat stopped her.

"See here, young one, how old are you?" He frowned at Aqua.

"I-I-I'm three weeks old," Aqua stuttered.

"Well, whaddaya doing out here at this time of night! You go on home. You're a pretty silly-lookin' cat - you'll get laughed at in the City!"

"The-the City?" Aqua asked. She'd never heard of the City.

"Oh, yes," said the man. "A big, bustling place full of cats. Full of families, and real easy to get a job and a house, too."

"Ohhh . . ." Aqua smiled happily, then frowned. "Why'd they make fun of me?" Too late she realized why.

"You go on home . . . the City's too big a place for you!" The old cat rubbed his rough orange fur and suddenly his green eyes lit up. "Wait!"

"What?" The embarrassed blue kitten was crying a little.

"Awww . . . naw, don't cry . . . I have a gift for you."

And the old cat pulled a red velvet hat with yellow streamers and a yellow flower out from behind his back. When he saw Aqua's eyes light up, his eyes twinkled and he spoke.

"This hat is magic. If you do three good - sacrificing, good deeds - you'll be granted any wish you please!"

"Ohhh . . ." Aqua immediately thought of wishing for shiny black and white fur like the rest of her family. "Thank you, sir."

"Ahhh - you're welcome. By the way - what's your name, sweetheart?"

"I-I'm Aqua. Who are you, sir?"

"I'm Mr. Lange - John Fitzgerald Lange." Mr. Lange winked at her and put the cap on Aqua's head. "See you later, darlin'. If you make it to the city, look me up. I'm on 583 Maple Street."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Lange. Good day."

"Good day."

Aqua continued on her journey. She passed a bakery and spent fifty cents on a warm, fresh, cream-cheese-y bagel. She took a bite. Delicious! All of a sudden, she stumbled upon a little old lady cat who was all fur and bones. The cat spoke.

"I'm Carissa Abrams. The Widow Abrams. I can't help but notice your fur, dear. What happened?"

Aqua told her her name and the paint story. Then she noticed Widow Abrams staring hungrily at the bagel. Aqua was very hungry, and was saving her can of turkey for when she had no money at the last minute.

"I'm sorry, dear Aqua, I'm just very hungry. I have no food."

"Here - have my bagel." Aqua held out the bagel with just one bite in it.

"Oh . . .Aqua! You can't afford to give me your food! I'll live!"

"No - please take it. I don't want you to starve. Please!" Aqua begged.

"Oh, dear, alright. Thank you so much. Remember when you get to the City, I live in the dirtiest, littlest apartment on 46 Sara's Boulevard. Bye!"

"Good-bye, Widow Abrams."

Aqua's stomach growled menacingly, but she ignored it. She walked on, soon encountering a young, pretty little girl about her age.

"Hello," the girl said.

The End

Story by: Caroline Grasso, age 10

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Send comments to: Caroline