The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret Page B

swinging in the air as his front claws dug desperately into the branch.
    He managed to hang on while he swung one hind foot and then the other far enough up to get a grip.
    When all his paws were back on the branch, he stretched out as low as he could get and waited for his heart to quit racing. That had been close. Too close.
    Pete peered downward, stunned by his narrow escape. The ground seemed so far away that it made him dizzy to look.
    Humans were fond of saying that a cat always lands onall four feet, and most of the time that was true, but if a cat fell by mistake from this height, the cat would be in bad shape, no matter how it landed.
    Pete yearned to stay still, and wait for Mr. Kendrill to bring a ladder from the house, and climb up, and carry him to safety—but he couldn’t stay in the tree and wait to be rescued. He had to help Alex.
    Pete concentrated on feeling his way along the branch, making sure each paw was in a stable spot before he put his weight on it. He finally reached the trunk of the tree, where he was able to turn around. He yelled for help, feeling more secure now that he was off that wiggly branch.
    “Come this way!” he yowled. “Alex is in the burning house!”
    Where were his people? Why didn’t they come looking for him and Alex?
    His cries brought no response, and Pete knew he could not wait any longer to be rescued. Gripping the tree trunk with his paws, he lowered his head and started down the tree face first. Quickly, before he lost his courage, he half slid, half climbed down the tree trunk.
    Six feet above the ground, he let go with his front paws and shoved off with his hind feet, leaping into the tall grass. Even before he landed, his legs were running toward home. Behind him, he heard the car drive off again.
    Pete raced past the rest of the trees, moving faster thanhe had ever run before. He leaped onto the back porch, already shouting for help.
    “Come out!” Pete cried. “Alex needs help!”
    The door opened immediately.
    “Pete’s back,” Mrs. Kendrill said. She called out, “Alex? Alex, come home. Pete’s here!”
    She held the door, but Pete turned and ran down the steps.
    “Pete!” It was Mr. Kendrill this time. “Bad cat! Come back here.”
    “Something isn’t right,” Mrs. Kendrill said. “It’s after eight o’clock. Alex wouldn’t just take off like this in the dark, without telling us.”
    Pete crept back toward the porch, staying far enough away that he could escape a quick lunge toward him.
    Alex’s parents looked at each other for a moment.
    “Let’s catch Pete, since he’s here,” Mr. Kendrill said. “Then we’ll look for Alex. I’m sure he’s just walking around calling the cat, but I’ll feel easier when he’s home.”
    Mrs. Kendrill grabbed a flashlight. “We’ll be back in a minute, Benjie,” she called.
    “I’m coming, too,” Benjie replied as he ran after his parents. “Maybe the red-white-and-blue monster monkeys have kidnapped Alex. They wear costumes to make it look as if they’re patriotic citizens, but underneath they’rewicked and they steal children and turn them into garbage cans. Or maybe the silver snakes from Saturn have come to Earth disguised as ribbons and Alex had one tied on a present, and when he untied it, it bit him and spit poison up his nose.”
    For once, Mr. and Mrs. Kendrill paid no attention to Benjie’s chatter. Instead they followed Pete across the back lot and into the maple grove.
    Firelight flickered beyond the trees.
    “Look!” Mrs. Kendrill said. “There’s another fire! It’s one of the vacant houses.”
    “I’ll go back and call the fire department,” Mr. Kendrill said. “You see if you can catch Pete.”
    “Call the police, too!” Pete screeched. “Rescue Alex! He’s still inside one of the houses.”
    “Good boy,” Mrs. Kendrill said. “Stay still, and let me pick you up.” She moved slowly toward the cat.
    Pete longed to sit quietly while Mrs. Kendrill approached him;