Disappearing Darcy Read online

  We drove in silence for a while. I thought hard, wondering how I could help the Jackson family. I kept thinking about how cute Darcy looked too, in that pink baby hat.

  Then I got an idea. A purr-fect one.

  “We’ll do another fund-raiser!” I said. “All the money we earn can go to the Jacksons. This time, we’ll have a kitty fashion show!”

  Alfreeda looked at me and grinned. “That’s a great idea,” she said. “I love it! I’ll totally help. I’ll draw a bunch of cute clothes the kitties can wear: hats, dresses, coats…”

  “Could you sew them, Grandma Kit?” I asked.

  “I’d be happy to,” she said.

  “Darcy is so laid-back, we can dress him in baby clothes,” Alfreeda went on. “And push him in a stroller during the show.”

  “Well, I think Darcy should wear superhero clothes, don’t you?” I asked. “Since he’s such a hero?”

  Alfreeda was quiet for a moment. “Yeah, you’re right, Tabby Cat,” she said. “Superhero clothes would be perfect for Darcy. He should definitely have a cape.”

  My head was spinning with ideas now. “Grandpa Tom can build a long, fancy catwalk,” I said. “The kitties will walk down it, modeling the clothes. We’ll have music and lights too. Just like in a real fashion show.”

  “We’ll put an ad in the newspaper,” Alfreeda said. “We’ll get the whole town to come. We’ll give the Jacksons front-row seats.”

  “We can start telling people about it at the magic show this afternoon,” I said.

  Grandma Kit grinned. “There’s paper and a pen in my purse, girls,” she said. “You better get started on those clothes.”

  I dug in the purse, found the paper and pen, and handed them to Alfreeda. She began to draw.

  “I hope Joy will be well enough to come,” I said.

  “Oh, I bet she will be,” Grandma Kit said. “This fund-raiser is going to make her so happy. Her parents too.”

  “Nothing feels better than making other people happy,” I said.

  “That’s for sure,” said Alfreeda. “Even a cat knows that.”

  I laughed and watched Alfreeda draw cute kitty fashions the whole way home.

  Is a Ragdoll the Cat for You?

  Hello, it’s me, Tabitha!

  I bet you’d LOVE your own sweet, beautiful ragdoll cat now, right? I totally understand. Ragdolls make great pets for families with kids. Actually, ragdolls are a good fit for almost any home. Here’s why:

  First, ragdolls are friendly. They can get along with all kinds of people and pets, including dogs. Second, ragdolls are calm and gentle. They’re not big jumpers, and they play without sticking out their claws. And third, they’re not hard to train.

  But before you buy or adopt one, there are some important things you should know:

  Ragdolls are long-haired cats that must be brushed every day. Their undercoats mat easily. Matted hair bothers cats. Also, brushing often will keep your ragdoll from getting hairballs. (Cats groom themselves by licking their fur. They swallow hair, which forms a ball in their stomachs. Large hairballs can be deadly for cats.)

  Ragdolls have a high rate of heart problems. It’s important that ragdoll owners plan regular checkups with a veterinarian.

  Ragdolls should be kept indoors. They’re peaceful cats, not born fighters. If another animal attacks them, they won’t fight back. Ragdolls also don’t seem to care about hunting. They’re happy to live inside, where they’re safe.

  All right, cat lovers! That’s all for now… until the next adventure at Tabby Towers!

  Meowingly yours,

  Tabitha Catarina Felinus (Tabby Cat, for short)

  Visit TABBY TOWERS again with these awesome adventures!

  Learn more about the people and cats of Tabby Towers at www.capstonekids.com.

  We promised Alfreeda we’d include the Hound Hotel guests and their super-fun stories here too!

  Learn more about the people and pups of Hound Hotel at www.capstonekids.com.

  About the Author

  Shelley Swanson Sateren has been a freelance writer for thirty years and has written more than forty books for children, both fiction and nonfiction. Besides writing, Shelley has worked as a children’s book editor and in a children’s bookstore. She is also a certified K–6 schoolteacher and has enjoyed employment in several schools. Shelley lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and has two grown sons.

  About the Illustrator

  Deborah Melmon has worked as an illustrator for more than twenty-five years. After graduating from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, she started her career illustrating covers for the Palo Alto Weekly newspaper. Since then, she has produced artwork for more than twenty children’s books. Her artwork can also be found on giftwrap, greeting cards, and fabric. Deborah lives in Menlo Park, California, and shares her studio with an energetic Airedale Terrier named Mack.

  Adventures at Tabby Towers is published by Picture Window Books,

  a Capstone Imprint

  1710 Roe Crest Drive

  North Mankato, Minnesota 56003

  www.mycapstone.com

  Copyright © 2018 Picture Window Books

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available on the Library of Congress website.

  ISBN 978-1-5158-1546-4 (library binding)

  ISBN 978-1-5158-1550-1 (paperback)

  ISBN 978-1-5158-1554-9 (eBook PDF)

  ISBN 978-1-5158-2248-6 (eBook)

  Summary: Separated from his owner, a little girl in need of life-saving surgery, Darcy is one sad ragdoll cat. But the folks at Tabby Towers hope to cheer him up by making him the star in a magic show. All’s well until the disappearing trick really makes Darcy disappear!

  Designer: Heidi Thompson