Free The Great Cat Caper by Lauraine Snelling Page A

it, she could come up with a list. But she was getting mad. “So if I come this weekend, I don’t have to come next weekend?”
    “Veelie, honey, you can come both weekends if your mother will let you. You know I always want to see you.”
    Especially if the soccer team needed somebody to hold jackets and cut oranges.
    “Fine.” She bit the words out. “When are you picking me up?”
    A crash sounded in the background. Vee waited for him to yell at the Twin Terrors. Instead, unbelievably, Dad laughed. “Your brothers are so crazy,” he said. “I’ll be by in about forty-five minutes. Make sure you’re ready. Wait for me out front, okay?”
    “Anything you want, Dad.” Vee punched off the phone. When she turned around, she realized Bill was standing there. He looked like a deer caught in headlights.
    “I didn’t know whether I should leave and be distracting or stay and be quiet,” he said. “So you think your curious kitten will let you hold him?”
    “I guess I won’t find out till Monday now,” Vee snapped. Bill’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, Bill. I can’t be here for movie night tonight. I have to go pack.” She stomped up the stairs, threw a few clothes in her gym bag, and stomped into her mother’s room.
    “Dad says I have to go this weekend because the Twin Terrors are getting some stupid award,” she said to her mother’s sleeping body and stomped out to the front steps. Belatedly, she thought about checking her e-mail, but a stomping exit meant she couldn’t go back into the house. In fact, if her mother hadn’t been asleep, she would have been busted on the stomping. Oh yes, this weekend was shaping up to be a real
beetle-y
one.
    As usual, Dad’s forty-five minutes was an hour. When his SUV pulled into the driveway, Vee stood. Her dad motioned from the window. “C’mon, Vee. We’re taking the boys out to dinner to celebrate.”
    “I already ate.” Vee crossed to the passenger side and opened the door, but didn’t get in.
    “What?” he said. “I thought we were done with this. You can sacrifice Dumpster cats for your brothers. They are part of your family now. Get in.”
    “I’m not getting in,” she said and sucked in a breath. Her bravery or stupidity nearly paralyzed her.
    Her dad flung his head back against the tall headrest. His tone, when he spoke, was like he was talking to a small, angry child. “Okay, Vee, what is it you want to talk about that is so important and has to be discussed”—his voice was increasing in volume—”
right now
?”
    “I’ll come this weekend,” she said, standing straight. “And have a good attitude and smile all weekend.”
    “Where’s the ‘but’?” her father asked.
    “I’ll come, but you have to show up at the senior center at 3 p.m. on Monday to watch me work with the curious kitten and see our project. Meet Frank and Nadine. At least
act
interested.”
    Her dad sat quietly, staring out the front of the windshield. He turned to her, and his voice was warm like it used to be when she and he used to watch Saturday morning shows together. “Yes, Vee. I will come see your cat—”
    “Kitten.”
    “Kitten. Monday at 3 p.m. in the senior center.”
    Vee climbed into the SUV and shut the door gently.

Chapter 17

Whaap Attack!
    O n Monday, Vee told herself to forget the previous weekend. Today was the day the curious kitten—and maybe his brother, too—would let Vee pick them up and take them out of the cage. Dad was coming to watch. That was all that was important.
    “Hey, Squadders,” she sang out. Esther, Aneta, and Sunny were clustered around Momma Cat who was sitting on the table, feet tucked underneath her body. Aneta had changed out of her school uniform into a knit shirt and capris and sandals. Vee wondered how late in the year she’d be wearing those sandals. Sunny had her usual T-shirt but had added a very ratty pair of jeans instead of the shorts she’d worn all summer. Esther had new nail polish—a