stuff that was completely wrong about a cat named Frankie Frankie was a guest at Tabby Towers then Alfreeda made my hair stand on end just like the fur on an angry cat I wanted to yell at her Please stop talking about cats You don’t know anything about them And it’s really really annoying Maybe you’re wondering if I really did yell at Alfreeda Well here’s the whole story It was early in the morning in the middle of July I had set my alarm extra early because I couldn’t wait to meet a new guest A Bengal cat named Frankie had arrived at Tabby Towers late
the night before I’d already gone to bed I knew a lot about Bengal cats but I’d never seen one in real life I sprang out of bed and tugged on my leopard-print leggings I put on a clean Tabby Towers T-shirt and my cat-frame glasses Then I brushed my hair and pulled it up into a high ponytail I always wear it sticking up high the way a happy cat holds its tail I hurried down the hallway tiptoeing past my grandparents bedroom Grandma Kit is an early riser like me But Grandpa Tom always sleeps until about lunchtime That’s because he’s nocturnal like cats See cats hunt by instinct at night So Grandpa Tom always stays up very late
with the hotel guests He plays all sorts of predator-prey games with them He makes them feel like they’re hunting or fishing in the wild I flew down the steps hurried through the living room and leaped into the big farmhouse kitchen Our neighbor Winifred Wolfe stood at the sink She runs a dog hotel next door to us She’s a good friend of Grandma Kit’s She’s also Alfreeda’s mother Yes that Alfreeda the girl who won’t be quiet about how great dogs are and how great cats aren’t Mrs Wolfe was busy washing Grandma Kit’s hair Good morning I said Hi Tabitha Grandma Kit said her head in the sink Her voice sounded like it came from the
bottom of a well Good morning Tabby Cat Mrs Wolfe said in her usual cheerful voice We thought we’d get your grandma’s hair cut early before our busy day begins Alfreeda’s mom is the top dog groomer in the county She’s won lots of awards She’s great at cutting people’s hair too Grandma Kit is Frankie here I asked Can I play with him Is it safe to open the hotel door Grandma Kit laughed Yes yes and yes she said The kitties are all safe in their condos Go ahead I hurried through a door beside the
