Where Could She Be?
written by: Gabriella Balcom
“I can’t find Mittens, and I looked everywhere.” Ten-year-old Luci sniffled, her lower lip trembling.
“Don’t worry, Honey,” Mama replied. “She probably just wandered off. Cats do that sometimes, but they usually come back pretty soon.”
“But I called and called her… She always comes when I call. Where could she be? What if someone took her away? What if that mean old tomcat hurt her? What if I never see her again?” Tears welled up in the girl’s eyes, and she began sobbing.
“I’m sure she’s fine, Dear.” Her mother hugged her tightly.
Later that day, Mama asked, “Isn’t tomorrow the day your class is exchanging gifts? Have you wrapped the one you’re giving?”
Eyes downcast, her daughter shook her head. “No.”
“Why don’t you do that now? Go get it, okay? I’ll get the Christmas paper, and the scissors, and tape. No, wait. Do you have scissors, don’t you?”
Luci shrugged.
“I’m sure you do,” her mother said. “You were cutting pictures out of those magazines yesterday. Bring them back with you, okay?”
Her daughter sighed. “Okay.”
Once she returned, Mama set everything on the kitchen table. “Do you have anything else you need to wrap, Dear? Like what you made for Grandma?”
“I was going to wrap the blanket I crocheted for Mittens, but she’s gone. What if she never comes back? What if she’s lying somewhere hurt?”
“Oh, Honey…”
The following evening
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Mama said. “You can open a gift if you like. One of the small ones under the tree.”
“I don’t wanna.” Luci’s face crumpled. “Not until Mittens is here.”
“I’m sure she won’t mind you going ahead.”
“But I want her to watch like she always does. And I’m not the only one who’s supposed to get a gift. She’s supposed to, too.”
Christmas day
“Sweetie, I know you’re worried.” Mama sat on the couch by her daughter, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “But this is supposed to be a happy day. A time to think of our blessings. All the good things in our lives.”
“But I can’t be happy. Mittens is gone.”
Her mother sighed and kissed her cheek. “Help me set the table, okay? After you put out the plates and silverware, grab the biscuits while I put out the vegetables. The turkey isn’t done quite yet, but will be very soon.”
“I’m not hungry, Mama.”
“Okay. We’ll wait a little while on the food then.”
Several minutes later, Luci moped in her room, grimacing when she spied the cat bed on the floor near her bed. It was still brand-new, never used because Mittens always slept curled up beside her. She remembered when the cat was an itty-bitty ball of fur and took a shuddering breath, agony welling up inside. Mittens was her best friend. If anything happened to her… Luci couldn’t prevent new tears from sliding down her cheeks.
A faint thump came from the direction of her closet. Could it be a mouse? A rat? She tiptoed that way and yanked open the door. She didn’t hear anything, though. Didn’t see anything, either, but the closet light hadn’t worked for weeks.
Dashing to the kitchen, she rummaged through drawers, looking for a flashlight. She found a couple, finally, but one didn’t work. The second did, and she shone it in the closet, but saw nothing. A rustling sound caught her attention and sounded like it was coming from the far right, behind storage tubs. Directing the light that way, she gasped.
Mittens lay there on the carpet, several small shapes squirming at her side.
“Oh, you had babies!” Luci exclaimed. She counted five. One was a calico like its mother.
The cat mewed softly, stood, and stretched. Coming out, she rubbed against the girl’s legs.
Luci picked her up and snuggled her close. “I love you,” she said. “And I’ve missed you so much.”
After setting Mittens back down, she watched the mother return to the kittens and lie by them, licking one furry body after another. She smiled to hear contented purring.
“They’re beautiful,” she murmured.
Leaving her room, Luci ran toward the kitchen. “Mama,” she yelled. “This is the best Christmas ever.”
The End
- Where Could She Be? - December 22, 2025
- As Thanksgiving Approaches - November 27, 2025
- A Halloween to Remember - October 31, 2025
