“I…see,” Kat said flatly. She glanced at me. “I don’t suppose I could get that kind of an order?”

“Er,” I said uncomfortably. I’d meant what I said about not treating her like I owned her—at least at the time I’d said it. But on the other hand, she was my new toy, and I really did want to play with her some.

Melanie saved me. “I got that order ‘cuz we were already best friends. But we hardly know you. Who are you, anyway?”

I held up the catseye. “Daddy bought her for me, in the bazaar.”

“Ooooooh!” Mel looked from the gem over to Kat. “She’s gorgeous.“

“She sure is,” I agreed.

“Have you still got all those clothes your Mom gave you?” Mel asked, looking to my closet. “We could dress her up!”

“That sounds like fun!” I giggled. “Kat, come over here please?”

Kat looked rebellious, then sighed and apparently resigned herself to her fate.

Mel started pulling hangers out of the closet. “I think these should be just about your size—though I don’t know what we can do about the tail…”