This Side of Magic by Debbie Dadey

Author:Debbie Dadey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2009-09-17T04:00:00+00:00

7

“Tell us what’s wrong, Mo,” Penny pleaded.

“We know you can,” Luke added.

Penny and Luke had stopped by Mr. Leery’s house. If anyone could tell them what was going on it was the talking cat. Mo was so restless they took him to Luke’s house, hoping the change of scenery would calm him down. No such luck.

The black cat remained silent. He padded nervously around Luke’s room, jumping from window to bed to desk to bookshelves and back to the window to peer out into the shadows. His big paws scattered papers and books, but the cat didn’t seem to notice. He sat with his nose pressed to the window and his ears perked at attention.

“What’s out there?” Luke said. When he walked across the room to look out the window, Mo went into action as if a ghost had pulled his tail. He leaped onto Luke’s chest. Luke fell back on the bed, the cat perched on his chest like a lion getting ready for the kill.

Mo pulled back his lips and hissed. “Sssstay away from the window.”

Facing the cat’s glistening teeth made Luke’s face go pale. “W–w–why?”

Mo plopped down on Luke’s stomach. “Can’t tell,” Mo said. He glanced out the window again. A single claw escaped and poked Luke in the stomach.

“Um…ouch?” Luke said.

Mo looked back at the boy as if he’d forgotten Luke was there. “Oh. Ssssorry about that.”

“Something is obviously wrong,” Penny said. “Why won’t you tell us?”

“Sssomething is very wrong,” Mo said. “But only Leery is allowed to tell you. Until he gets back, you must stay safe.”

“Safe from what?” Luke asked, finally getting up enough nerve to push Mo off his stomach.

Mo pounced across the room and landed on top of Luke’s desk. “Leery knows. Leery will tell you.”

“But Mr. Leery isn’t here!” Penny screamed at the cat.

“He will be. Soon,” Mo said. “Very soon.”

“How do you know that?” Luke asked. “Mr. Leery said he wouldn’t be home until tomorrow.”

Mo looked at Luke. The cat’s amber eyes were wide and unblinking.

“I know. That’s all,” Mo finally said. Then he went back to looking out the window, his tail lashing from side to side, swiping homework papers to the floor.

The door flew open and Kendall, Luke’s older sister, barged into the room.

“Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?” Luke asked.

Kendall’s eyes grew wide. “I’m going to tell Mom and Dad you have a cat in here.”

“This is not just any cat. It’s Mo,” Penny told her. “We’re taking care of him while Mr. Leery is gone.”

“Why didn’t Mr. Leery ask me?” Kendall said, clearly hurt. “He likes me better than you.”

Luke was glad to have the chance to tease his sister. “I guess not.”

“That’s what you think.” Kendall slammed the door on her way out of Luke’s room.

Mo sprang off the desk and landed right in front of the bedroom door. “Got to go. Now. I hate doorknobs.”

Penny stood in front of the door, her hands on her hips, and met Mo’s eyes with a glare of her own.

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