Philip and the Angel (9781452416144) Read online

  “If she doesn’t eat cows, she won’t eat us,” said Philip.

  Emery opened the cage door. The black cat looked around before stepping out.

  “She ate all the food,” said Emery.

  “I’ve got more.” Philip took the can out of his pocket. “Give me the plate.” He scraped out the rest of the food onto the plate and put it near the kittens. The mother cat went over to the two kittens and began licking them. Then she flopped down beside them.

  “When do they open their eyes?” Emery asked.

  Philip didn’t answer. The two kittens had already felt their way to the mother’s stomach and begun to feed themselves.

  “How about water?” Emery said.

  Philip shook himself awake. “Right. We gotta get water. Let’s take care of the other two, and then I’ll talk to Angel. She’ll know what to do. Here, take this.” Philip picked up a spade with a broken handle and handed it to Emery.

  Philip cracked open the door and checked. “Coast is clear.” He and Emery scrambled back into the bushes.

  “Over here,” said Philip, finding a smooth spot of dirt outside the bushes. He dug a hole while Emery kept watch. Philip took a handkerchief from his pocket and picked up the two kittens one-by-one and placed them into the hole. Then he put the handkerchief down on top of them.

  “This is sad,” said Emery.

  Philip’s throat hurt, and he didn’t think he could talk so he motioned for Emery to scrape the dirt back into the hole. They filled the hole and were packing it down when they heard Mrs. Beebe’s voice.

  “Oh, the little doggie is back with a friend. Burying bones are you?” She started cackling with laughter.

  Philip looked at her. “Woof!” he barked angrily.

  The old woman jumped. “Bad dog,” she said. Philip and Emery got to their feet and ran past Angel’s house onto the sidewalk.

  “Woof?” Emery asked. “Why did you ‘woof’ at her?”

  “Never mind. I’m going to get some water and talk to Angel.”

  “I have to go home. It’s getting late.”

  “All right, but meet me tomorrow morning, and I’ll tell you what we have to do.”

  “Come and get me.”

  “I will.”

  Emery crossed the street to his own house. Philip checked on Mrs. Beebe, but she was not in sight.

  “Bad dog,” he grumbled. Next time he would be a bad dog and bite her if he could. He put Mrs. Beebe out of his mind and walked up the pathway to Angel’s door. Philip knew she’d be pleased to hear his report.

  Chapter Ten

  Philip’s report did please Angel. Every day after school from then on, except for Mondays, Philip found Angel on her back patio getting some fresh air. Angel would check on her mother, and when it was safe, she and Philip would slip inside the shed to visit the cats. Emery joined them when he finished taking Hansel for his walk.

  One day while the three children watched the kittens Angel said, “She has a nice family. One boy and one girl.”

  Philip felt too embarrassed to ask Angel how she knew which was a boy and which was a girl, but he didn’t want Angel to think he didn’t know anything so he pointed to the mother cat and said, “Well, yeah, and she’s a female, you know.”

  Emery and Angel both turned to look at Philip, who suddenly realized what he’d said. “Oh.” He blushed. “Well, the mother, yeah. A female. I guess you knew already. Never mind.”

  The three cats all had names by now, given to them by Angel.

  “We’ll call the mother cat Ling Ling. It’s a cute name, don’t you think? We’ll call the black kitten Frisky, because he is, and since the gray one’s the cutest, we’ll call her Angel.” She giggled.

  “Don’t I get to name one?” Philip complained.

  “Sure,” said Angel with a smile. “See the gray one. You can name it Angel.”

  Philip made a face but found he couldn’t make himself argue with Angel. He stayed quiet and let her have her own way.

  The little kittens surprised Philip by how fast they grew. One day when the children went into the shed, they were shocked and pleased to see Frisky with one eye open, the first of the two kittens to see the world. After that things happened quickly. Eyes opened, legs got stronger and soon the kittens were frolicking around the shed. Philip used his allowance to buy food for the mother cat, grateful when Angel pointed out he could get dry food cheaper than wet food and, besides, the mother cat went out “food shopping” on her own anyway.

  When the final day of class ended, Philip and Emery hurried home. What a great day! No more school until September. The glorious vacation seemed to stretch ahead forever. But as they started down their block, Emery said something and Philip got goose bumps.

  “What are you and Angel going to do with the cats?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They’re getting big. They can’t live in the shed forever. Either somebody has to adopt them or they’ll escape and be wild.”

  Suddenly, a big black cloud covered up the sunny warmth of the day. They’d reached Emery’s front door so Philip did not have to respond. He hadn’t known what to answer anyway.

  “I’ll walk Hansel and see you at the shed,” Emery said, heading up his front path.

  Philip walked faster. He had to talk to Angel.

  She sat on her back patio as usual, but Philip noticed at once she looked worried. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “My mother found the kittens.”

  “Oh.” After a moment of quiet Philip asked, “What did she say?”

  “She wondered how they got in the shed, but then she saw the cage and the water bowl and the food. I had to tell her I put them there, but she knew I couldn’t do it by myself. I had to tell her about you and Emery.”

  “What’s she going to do?”

  “I think she’s okay for now. I told her they’d been there for almost a month and didn’t cause any trouble, and they were fun for me. I asked if I could keep them like I always ask for a pet. She said no, I couldn’t have a pet like she always answers. She said I should have told her about them. I told her I was afraid she wouldn’t let me take care of them. She always thinks everything is going to make me sicker.”

  “So it’s okay for now?”

  “For now. But there’s another problem. I have to go to the hospital for one more operation.”

  Philip never knew what to say when Angel started talking about being sick.

  “The doctor says this will probably be the last one. After this one I should be fine. Boy, I hope so. Do you know how many operations I’ve had?”

  Philip shook his head.

  Angel gave him a small smile. “You don’t want to know, but that’s not all. There’s still another problem.” She pointed to the shed.

  “I know. What do we do with the cats? Right? They’re getting big.”

  Angel nodded.

  The two children sat and thought.

  “How about your house?” Angel suggested softly.

  “You know my mother would have a fit.”

  “Emery’s house?”

  “He’s got a dog.”

  “Well, let’s go visit them.”

  They went into the shed. Ling Ling meowed and walked over to Angel. She wound herself around and around in between Angel’s legs.

  “This is how she says hello,” said Angel. Philip could hear sadness in Angel’s voice. When he looked at her, there were tears in her eyes. Angel bent down and started rubbing Ling Ling. Ling Ling rolled over on her back and offered her stomach.

  “She likes tummy rubs,” said Angel.

  “I know. I know,” said Philip. He bent down and picked up Frisky, still small enough to fit in one hand. He played with him a while then gave Angel the kitten equal attention.

  Emery arrived and they sat and watched the kittens play as they discussed the problem of what to do with the cats.

  “We could put an ad in the paper,” said Emery.

  “It mig
ht break up the family,” said Angel. “I think they should all stay together.”

  “Who’s going to take in three cats at once?” Emery asked.

  No one had an answer. They stayed longer than usual with the cats. Finally, they fed them, changed the water, and left.

  The next day, Saturday, Philip came down to breakfast where his parents were talking.

  “I’d seen her once in a while,” his father said. “It’s a shame.”

  “Mrs. Beebe told me about her. She’s unable to go to school. She needs weekly trips to the hospital.”

  Philip’s blood ran cold when he heard his father say, “Well, let’s hope it turns out all right for her.”

  “Who, Mom? What?”

  “The little girl down the street. The one you talk to so much.”

  “What happened?”

  His father answered. “She got very sick last night. The ambulance came and took her to the hospital. She has to have a serious operation.”

  “But she’ll be okay, won’t she? She’ll come home again.”

  “We certainly hope so, Philip,” said his father.

  “Hope so! But why, Dad? Why’d she get so sick? She didn’t do anything. She’s good.”

  Philips parents exchanged glances. “Flipper,” his father tried to explain, “I’m sure she’s a good person, but being sick is not a punishment and being well is not a reward. She’s simply having some awfully bad luck.”

  “But she’ll come home again, won’t she?” Philip repeated. “Won’t she?”

  Before either of his parents could answer, Philip left the room and walked out the front door.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Emery, we have to go visit her,” said Philip excitedly. Philip had gone straight to Emery with the whole story.

  “Visit her in the hospital?” said Emery uncertainly.

  “Yes, in the hospital. She’ll probably be there a while.”

  “But you can catch things in the hospital.”

  “What!”

  “In the hospital you can catch things.”

  “You cannot. Doctors and nurses don’t catch anything.”

  “I’ll prove you can catch things there.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Suppose we went to hospital.”

  “Yeah?”

  “And we got off the elevator.”

  “So?”

  “And you started running down the hall.”

  “And?”

  “Well, if I ran faster than you then I’d catch you.”

  Philip stared at Emery. After a moment Emery gave a shy smile and said, “You looked so worried I thought you might like to hear a joke.”

  “A joke! That’s a joke? You could catch me?”

  “Just a little joke.”

  “A little joke!”

  “I thought you didn’t like it when your mother repeated things you said. Now you’re repeating everything I say.”

  “I did not repeat everything.”

  “You didn’t repeat everything?”

  “No. Everything I said was different.”

  “Everything you said was different?”

  “Emery,” said Philip slowly. “Now you’re repeating everything.”

  “I’m repeating everything?”

  “Emery, stop it!”

  “Okay, okay. Just trying to relax you.”

  “Relax me?”

  “You’re repeating again.”

  Philip took a deep breath. “Emery, I’m relaxed. Okay? Let’s go check on the cats and then see if we can visit the hospital.”

  The cats were fine. Ling Ling nursed her two children and meowed softly when the two boys entered. Before they left, Philip filled the water bowl, and Emery poured some dry food into Ling Ling’s dish.

  “Dad,” Philip shouted as he and Emery burst into his house. “Dad!”

  “In the kitchen, Flipper.”

  Philip led Emery into the kitchen. “Dad, we want to go and visit Angel in the hospital.”

  Philip’s father held a cup of coffee as he looked over the morning newspaper. He folded the newspaper and laid it on the table.

  “Can we, Dad?”

  “Well, I don’t know. I can find out for you, but it’s not likely Angel will be having any visitors for at least a couple of days. She’ll probably have to recover from her operation a little until she feels well enough to see friends.”

  “Can you find out?” Philip asked.

  “Yes, yes. I will, but until I do, you and Emery might as well put your minds to something else. The moment I hear something, I’ll let you know.”

  Philip and Emery left the house, not quite knowing what to do with their time.

  They walked past Angel’s house, not surprised the family car wasn’t in the driveway. The house looked very, very empty.

  They returned to the shed behind Angel’s house and played with the kittens until lunch time. After lunch Philip’s father offered to take them to the movies and the mall for the rest of the afternoon.

  Philip stayed up in his room after dinner until his father called him downstairs.

  “Angel’s mom is home. I called and we can go see her, the mom I mean, if you want.”

  “I want.”

  As he and his father walked down the street to Angel’s house, he could feel his heart thumping. What would Angel’s mother say? Good news. Let it be good news, Philip hoped.

  Angel’s mother welcomed them in.

  “Thank you for calling. Angel seems to be doing fine. Sit, please sit.”

  Mr. Felton refused the soda Angel’s mom offered and said, “Philip and all of us are hopeful your daughter gets well and comes home soon. Philip told me she was scheduled for an operation before she went to the hospital last night."

  “She was. The doctor said last night’s incident simply hurried things along. What they would have done in a week or so, they did last night. Oh, Mr. Felton.” Angel’s mom sniffed loudly. “She was such a tiny baby and has had so many problems, but this should be her final operation. The doctor promised.” Angel’s mom wiped her eyes and laughed and looked at Philip. “And all she said in the ambulance and after the operation was to tell Philip to take care of Angel, Frisky and Ling Ling.”

  “They’re the cats I told you about, Dad.”

  Philip’s father nodded.

  “I told her we couldn’t have those cats. I thought even they would make her sick. Allergies. I don’t know. All of this makes me crazy.” She took a deep breath. “Oh, if she only comes home healthy . . . I’d let her have a hundred cats.”

  Philip had looked down after speaking to his father, but now his head snapped up.

  “What did you say?” he asked.

  “About what?”

  “About Angel having the cats.”

  “Oh, if she would only come home and be well, she can take care of them. They seem to make her happy. I wondered why she was so perky lately.”

  “Do you mean it? Can I tell her? Do you really mean it?”

  Angel’s mom gave Philip a puzzled look.

  “Let me tell her she can keep the cats. Please. Can I?”

  Angel’s mother smiled. “Yes, of course, if you’d like.”

  “When can I visit her? Tomorrow? Will you take me, Dad?”

  “Well, I don’t . . .”

  Angel’s mother interrupted. “The doctor said no visitors until Tuesday. She needs rest. But I can take you Tuesday after school, Philip, if you’d like. I’m sure your father will be at work. I can let Angel know you’re coming. She’ll be happy to see you.”

  “But don’t tell her about the cats. Promise?”

  Angel’s mother smiled. “No, Philip, I won’t tell her. Not a word. Not a single word. I’ll let you be the bearer of the good news.”

  “Thanks. Thanks a lot.”

  Angel’s mother and Philip’s father chatted a few more minutes, but Philip didn’t pay attention. He was busy composing the sentences he would use to tell Angel she could keep t
he cats. He wanted to do it right.

  Chapter Twelve

  Angel’s mother stood next to Philip on Tuesday when he told Angel she’d become the happy owner of Ling Ling, Frisky, and Angel. Angel looked at her mother, who nodded and started to cry. Philip said he had to go and get a drink of water.

  Ten days later when Angel returned home, Ling Ling, Frisky and little Angel were no longer living in the shed, but happily camped in Angel’s living room. Philip and Emery were there, too, to welcome Angel.

  Angel went to the sofa where Frisky lay sprawled and put him in her lap.

  “See all this stuff,” said Philip. “My dad and I went shopping and we got that cat stand. It’s called the Cat-Condo.” Philip pointed to a rug-covered contraption almost as tall as Angel’s mother. It had poles the cats could scratch and boxes and platforms the cats could climb onto to rest. Ling Ling lolled on the highest platform, sleeping. “And we got those three beds.” Three soft, oval beds, one red, one blue, one yellow, were lined up next to the Cat-Condo. Angel curled up in the yellow one.

  “Put Frisky down and follow me,” Philip ordered. He led Angel to the kitchen, Emery tagging along, too. “See, three little food bowls, one big bowl for dry food and one big water bowl.” The small bowls each bore a cat’s name.

  “I don’t know why you put on their names,” said Emery. “They can’t read, you know. They just go and eat.”

  Angel and Philip ignored Emery.

  “We already took them to the vet,” Philip continued. “They got examined. They got shots. We bought some food. They’re all ready for you.”

  “Come back and sit down, honey,” said Angel’s mother.

  Angel looked at Philip and rolled her eyes. “I’m okay, Mom.” They returned to the living room.

  “I know. I know,” Angel’s mother said. “But the doctor said to take it easy until school starts.”

  “You’re going to school this year!” Philip said.

  “I am. What a big thrill.” She laughed.

  “What grade are you going to be in?” Emery asked.

  “Fifth.”

  “Same grade as Emery and me,” said Philip. “Maybe you’ll be in our class. Emery and I have been in the same class since first grade. We’re in the same class again next year. Ms. Jamine’s. She’s okay.”