Read Online Catboy by Eric Walters - Free Book Online Page B

them.
    â€œSee that one there,” I said, “the white cat with the black feet? I call her Miss Mittens. You can probably tell which of the kittens are hers.”
    She had four kittens in her litter, and all of them had at least one black paw.
    â€œIs that a Siamese cat?” Jaime asked, pointing at one.
    â€œI think so, or at least part Siamese,” I said.
    â€œAren’t those really expensive?” she asked.
    â€œI think so, but I guess things happen, cats get lost. There is also a calico cat, a lot of mixes, a Himalayan—”
    â€œThat’s a part of India, in the mountains!” Rupinder said. “Which one is that?”
    â€œIt’s the one with the long gray fur. It must get cold in the mountains,” I said.
    â€œHe is certainly the most beautiful cat,” Rupinder said.
    â€œI know that type of cat,” Mohammad said, pointing out a sleek, thin cat. “It is at least part Abyssinian. They’re from Somalia and the Middle East.”
    â€œI thought he looked like those cats carved onto the walls of the pyramids,” I said. “And if we’re going by nationality, then Alexander should pay particular attention to that grayish blue cat right over there. That one is a Russian Blue.”
    â€œVery nice cat,” Alexander said. He tossed a piece of his lunch at the feet of the Blue. “From one Russian to another. I will give him a Russian name—I will call him Kot.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” Jaime asked.
    â€œIt means cat, because he is a cat,” said Alexander.
    â€œHold on, if Alexander gets to name a cat, we all should get to name one too,” Rupinder said.
    â€œYeah!” Jaime added.
    Mohammad and Devon nodded in agreement.
    â€œYou can all name two if you want,” I said.
    They all cheered and the cats startled before settling back in to eat.
    â€œIf Alexander names the Russian Blue, then I want to name the Himalayan,” Rupinder said.
    â€œAnd Siam is sort of close to China, so the Siamese should be mine to name,” Jaime said.
    â€œSure, of course,” I said.
    â€œAnd Mohammad gets that other cat, but where does that leave me?” Devon asked. “Are there any special types of cats from Jamaica?”
    â€œI’m not sure, but how about we find out the way I found out about all the other cats,” I said.
    â€œHow did you get to know so much about cats?” Jaime asked.
    â€œIt’s like Mr. Spence says, the more you read, the more you know. I’ve been taking books out of the library. Our teacher-librarian, Miss Hobbs, is super helpful. She really likes it when you take out books. She showed me sites on the Internet too. She said reading is reading, whether it’s in a book or on the Internet or on the back of a cereal box.”
    â€œThen I’m reading every morning at breakfast,” Simon said. “Do you think Mr. Spence would let me do a reading journal entry on Cheerios?”
    â€œGive it a try,” I said.
    King leaped forward and chased away a couple of the smaller cats, grabbing their food.
    â€œThat big cat is such a bully,” Devon said. “If Mr. Spence was here, he’d have a talk with him.”
    â€œI call that cat King, because he runs the place.”
    â€œHe’s still a big bully,” Devon said, “and I don’t like him.”
    â€œMe neither,” I admitted.
    â€œIs your favorite cat here?” Simon asked me.
    â€œNo, I don’t see Hunter. I call him that because he’s the best hunter,” I explained to the others. “When I do see him, he often has something that he’s caught. Even if he was here, he probably wouldn’t take our food. He’s too proud.”
    â€œProbably too well fed,” Simon said.
    â€œHe is a very good hunter,” I said.
    We leaned against an old car and watched the cats finish their meal.
    â€œCan we do this again another time?”