Free Domino by Ellen Miles Page B

and on his furry belly. Tiny snowflakes stuck to his long white whiskers. He stared right back at Michael and blinked his bright green eyes.
    Thanks for picking me up. The white stuff on the ground is so cold. I don’t know where it came from, but it sure makes it hard for a kitten to get around. I’m freezing!
    “I’m fine,” Michael said as he sat up. “I was just trying to catch this little guy. You almost ran himover.” He put the cat on his shoulder, and the kitten sniffed at his ear with a chilly pink nose.
    “What’s a kitten doing out here?” Jackson asked, shuffling through the snow on his knees to get a better look.
    “Who knows? I’m just glad I saw him before someone bashed into him.”
    “He’s cute,” Jackson said. “But if you’re going to use him as an excuse for losing our bet, forget it. I would have beat you if you hadn’t cut me off.” Jackson stood up. “I’m going again.” He grabbed his sled and headed up the hill.
    The kitten sniffed at Michael’s ear again. “That tickles!” Michael said with a laugh. Then he realized that the kitten was still trembling. “Let’s warm you up.” Michael quickly tucked the kitten inside his down jacket, pulling up his zipper so only the kitten’s head stuck out. He scanned the top of the hill for Mia. Maybe Jackson wasn’t much of a cat person, but Mia would be thrilled to see the kitten. “My sister is going to go crazywhen she sees you.” Michael bit off his right glove and reached inside his jacket to pet the kitten. He scratched under the kitten’s chin. His fur was damp with melted snow. “Hey, what’s this?” Michael’s hand caught on something hard and rough as the kitten snuggled deeper inside his jacket.
    He peeked inside his jacket. “What are you doing with a collar, little guy?” Michael felt a pang of disappointment. Somewhere, deep inside, he had already let himself wonder if this kitten might become part of his family. But now — now he knew that the kitten probably belonged to someone else.
    “Kitty! Kitty!” Michael’s thoughts were interrupted by happy shouts. He looked up to see Mia and Carmen charging through the snow toward him.
    “Oh, my gosh! Jackson told us! Where’s the kitten?” Mia panted, out of breath.
    Michael held the kitten a little closer. “He’s right here. In my jacket.”
    Mia stood on her tiptoes to peek in. She reached up with two snowy purple mittens. “Let me hold him,” she begged.
    Carmen joined them. “Oh, he’s adorable. Can I hold him, too?”
    Michael looked from his sister to her friend. Of course they both wanted to hold the kitten. He could feel a gentle rumble as he scratched the kitten on his throat. The little guy was purring! The kitten started to lick the tiny pink pads on his front paw.
    I like it in here. It’s warm, and this boy seems nice. I’m sure he won’t put me back in the cold white stuff. I feel safe.
    Michael looked down at the kitten and hugged him close again, feeling a sudden sense ofresponsibility. He had rescued this kitten, so it was his job to take care of him — and to find his real family, if he had one.
    “He’s pretty cold now. I think I should keep him in my coat. You guys can hold him when we get home,” Michael said. Mia and Carmen both sighed impatiently.
    “Let’s go now!” Carmen said.
    “We have to wait for Dad. He’ll be here soon. Why don’t you two go down the hill a few more times?”
    Mia and Carmen didn’t seem as excited about sledding now that the kitten was around, but they trudged up the hill. Michael followed them, holding the kitten with one hand and dragging his sled with the other. It wasn’t easy to keep his balance. “We’ll get you home soon. Don’t worry,” Michael told the kitten.
    Jackson was waiting at the top of the hill. “Your dad’s here. He’s talking to my mom. Give him thecat and we can go down at the same time. It’ll be awesome.”
    Michael looked at his dad, who smiled and