Whiskers' Birthday

Ellie's cat, Whiskers, is a year older! Now what should she get him for his birthday...?

Ellie rolled over in her bed, squeezing her eyes shut. She didn't want to go to school today. She was six years old, and already disliked school. She felt small paws spring up onto her back and circle, then lay down. Ellie opened her eyes and grinned. It was her cat, Whiskers. He always loved to wake her up for school in the morning. Ellie rolled over and picked up her kitty.

"Good morning, whiskers!" Ellie whispered, tapping the cat's nose lovingly. Ellie got up and started to get ready for school, putting the cat down to roam. In the kitchen, she spotted the calendar. She stopped and stared. Today was Whiskers' birthday! Ellie turned to Whiskers, who had been following her around, making sure she didn't go back to bed.

"Happy birthday!" Ellie squealed, bending down and petting him. Whiskers purred, rubbing his face against Ellie's arm. Ellie giggled, "I need to make you a birthday breakfast!"

Ellie reached up and opened the fridge. She took out a can of tuna and struggled to open it. Then she poured all of it into Whiskers' food bowl, and then took out the whipped cream squirting can and shook it like she'd seen mama do. Then she tried to squirt it into Whiskers' bowl on top of the tuna. It went everywhere, but with her mission accomplished, she pet her cat and continued getting ready for school. Just before leaving for the bus stop, Ella collected the blankets from her bed and laid them across Whiskers' cat bed. Then she smiled, pet her cat one last time, and left for school.

But when Ella came back home, she didn't expect the reaction she got from her mother. The woman's face was red, her brows lowered as she held two things, one in each hand. In her left hand was the can of whipped cream. In the other was a hairy blanket.

"Mind to tell me why you made a mess out of the kitchen and gave your blankets to the cat?" she asked. Ellie nervously smiled, and then saw Whiskers purring at her feet. She picked him up and began stroking his smooth fur.

"It's Whiskers' birthday!" Ellie told her mother. "And look how happy he is!"