I couldn’t bear to think about being separated with Kitty and the boys anymore. Even Ms. Dodson would be welcome company at that moment!

I decided to go back down to the animal room to see if I could somehow make myself heard, although I knew, deep inside, that it was pointless.

Kitty would just think I had gone off, distracted by a mysterious spider or something, as I was known to do.

I started down the stairs, dragging my feet, being held down by my despair.

As I reached the squeaky step, I wondered why there was one squeaky step on a giant staircase.

Distracted by my thoughts, I didn’t notice the nail sticking out of the wall.

As I stumble, I grabbed the smooth wooden railing to stop myself. And as I pulled, the railing fell off.

Or at least, that was what it felt like. I turned and saw that only a small section, right above the squeaky step, had torn off.

And below it, a compartment that held a small pocketknife that glittered even in the murkiness.