Isabella was running as fast as her little feet would let her. She was late and knew her mother and grandmother would be very worried. On top of that, the sky was becoming darker, and Isabella could smell the rain. Isabella had been trying to catch a stray kitten that had been at the school for the past few days. The poor little kitten looked hungry and scared and she wanted to bring it home and take care of it. She loved animals and usually they loved her. Not this one however. She had been trying to get this kitten for the past three days with no luck. Isabella had been so determined that today she would make friends with the kitten that she missed her bus. With the rain coming Isabella was worried about where the kitten would find shelter, but there was nothing she could do about it now, she had to get home.
Home was a big old two story blue house on the edge of town. Isabella loved the big yard with all the flowers, herbs and the creek in the back. With all of the windows, it was always bright and sunny inside. Her grandmother made soaps, lotions and candles, and sold them in town, so there was always a variety of yummy smells. Isabella's room, on the second floor, was big with a giant window and window seat where she could sit and see the whole back yard.
The room was pale green, her favorite color, her mother had let her pick the color and they had spent a whole weekend painting it together. Her mother told her that the color of the room matched Isabella's green eyes and red hair. Then her mother had painted wild flowers and fairies on the walls as a birthday present. Isabella loved everything about her room. Her mother was a wonderful artist and had a small shop in town. Isabella had her fingers crossed that she was still at her shop and not waiting on the front porch with that worried look on her face. She would know soon, she was almost home.
Isabella turned and started up the long driveway to the house. There pacing the length of the long porch was her mother. Isabella knew that�s where her mother would be, and felt a pang of guilt at causing her to worry so much. She quickened her pace and in her mind began explaining why she was so late. Her mother sensing that Isabella was there stopped pacing and ran down the driveway to meet her.
"Isabella where have you been? Why are you so late? I've been so worried!" Before could answer, her mother grabbed her and hugged her tightly.
"Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?"
" I'm fine Mother; I missed my bus and I had to walk home. There's this kitten at school and I was trying to catch it."
Her mother stared down at her with a stern look on her face, but Isabella could tell that she wasn't really mad at her.
"I'm sorry Mother; I didn't mean to worry you. I wasn't paying attention to the time and I missed my bus. I hurried home as fast as I could. I've been giving some of my lunch to the kitten, but it still won't come to me. I was so sure today I could catch it and bring it home."
Her mother didn't say anything, she was scanning the sky.
"Come on Isabella, we need to get into the house; it's going to rai any second now. You can tell me about this kitten later."
Isabella went about doing her chores and homework like she always did. She was wondering what her mother and grandmother would have to say about her bringing home another animal. She couldn't help it, they just seemed to find her and she couldn't ignore them. Some of the animals she had brought home were still here, like Merlin and Arthur, two black cats she had found when they to were kittens. And Maybon the dog that some one had left outside of the local grocery store. Some had gone to other families that would love and care for them. Her mother and grandmother had taught her to love all animals; they told her that all life was sacred, not just people, that all the plants and trees and all the animals , in fact all of the Earth was sacred, and Isabella believed that with her whole heart. There was just no way that she could not help that kitten. She knew that her mother and grandmother would do the same; in fact they had done so many times. Isabella was puzzled about the kitten; she didn't understand why she couldn't get the kitten to come to her. She decided that her mother would know what to do and would ask her when they had their talk. Meanwhile she curled up in her bed with a book and waited for her mother.