Gram

Gram is Ashley’s grandmother. She is her mother’s mother, Mrs. Claire Waterford. She has twinkling blue eyes and always wears Windsong perfume and fresh talcum powder.

She loves to spend time with her granddaughters, Ashley and Kelly. She also loves to watch movies and enjoys taking cooking classes at the university.

Gram drives an old blue Chevrolet that rarely starts the first time she turns the key in the ignition. She usually has to pump the gas pedal furiously before it starts. She calls her car “Old Bessie.” She likes to say “Old Bessie always get me where I want to go…eventually!”

Josh Stewart

Josh Stewart is Ashley Enright’s best friend. He is twelve years old and enjoys drawing comic books featuring superheroes. His father is an archeology professor at the university. Josh and his mother have travelled with his father to different countries while his father conducted archeological digs.

Josh’s favorite lunch at Ella’s Sweet Shop is a cheeseburger, french fries and a chocolate shake. He likes to ride his bicycle and his skateboard. Josh’s latest comic book features the superhero Jupiter Shadow. Ashley thinks it’s funny that all of Josh’s superheroes have the same initials as Josh Stewart!

Josh likes to help Ashley Enright investigate mysteries in Donnybrook, their small town on the coast of Maine. 

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (10 of 10)

“Yippee!” yelled Ashley. “I can’t wait to tell Josh and Kelly and Gram. Where is Kelly?”

Kelly was her six-year-old sister.

“She’s spending the day with your grandmother,” said Ashley’s mother. “They should be home soon.”

Ashley ran inside to call Josh.

“Josh,” she said when he answered the phone. “What did you parents say?”

“They said they thought it was a good idea for me to bring Silver home,” said Josh. “They thought it would teach me about responsibility. What did your parents say?”

“They said that I could have Scout for my very own,” said Ashley. “Josh, we’ll have to go shopping to get all the stuff that cats need.”

“I know,” said Josh. “But, Mrs. Turner said we can’t bring the kittens home for a few weeks until they get a little older.”

“Yes,” said Ashley. “I know that, but it never hurts to be prepared! This will be the start of another great adventure for us!”

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (9 of 10)

“What’s all this?” asked Ashley’s father. “I’m not usually greeted with such an enthusiastic welcome home from my oldest daughter.”

Ashley’s father was a marine biologist who worked for the Powers Institute of Technology, or as he called it “The Pit.”

“Oh, Daddy,” giggled Ashley. “You know I’m always glad to see you!”

“Yes, but not usually this much,” said Ashley’s father as they walked arm in arm into the house. “Would you mind telling me what this is all about?”

At that moment, Ashley’s mother came down the stairs and said, “Oh good, you’re home!”

“Evidently,” said Ashley’s father. “Now would someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Ashley would like to bring home a kitten,” said Ashley’s mother.

“Yes, Daddy,” said Ashley as she quickly related the tale of the Turners’ missing cat that she and Josh located.

“Hmm,” said Ashley’s father. “Well, we have talked about getting a pet. I was thinking more about a goldfish.”

“Oh, Daddy,” said Ashley. “Stop that, you know very well that you can’t play with a goldfish!”

“I know,” said Ashley’s father laughing. “I was just kidding! You really have your heart set on this kitten?”

“Yes,” said Ashley. “She’s tiny and black and I want to name her Scout.”

Ashley’s parents looked at each other and then her mother said, “Well, you know you’d have to take care of her.”

“Oh, absolutely,” said Ashley. “I will always make sure that she has food and water and fresh litter for her litter box.”

“It sounds like you’ve already investigated what to do with a cat,” said Ashley’s father.

“Would you expect anything less from our daughter?” said Ashley’s mother.

“O.k.,” said Ashley’s father. “I guess you can tell the Turner family that we will take a kitten.”

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (8 of 10)

Ashley and Josh left the Turner’s house to ride home on their bicycles. They arrived at Josh’s house first because his house was the first one on Foggy Bottom Road.

“Do you want to come inside, Ashes?” asked Josh.

“Not right now, Josh,” said Ashley. “I’m anxious to get home and tell my parents about Scout. I’ll call you later and tell you what they said.” Ashley rode to her house and couldn’t wait to get inside!

“Mom,” said Ashley calling out. “Where are you?”

“I’m in my office, honey,” said Ashley’s mother. She was a public relations consultant who worked from home for clients in Boston and New York.

Ashley ran up the stairs to her mother’s office.

“Mom,” said Ashley. “Guess what?”

“I’m not going to guess,” laughed her mother. “With you, I never know what it might be!”

 “Well, Josh and I saw a flyer at Ella’s Sweet Shop about a missing cat and we investigated it,” said Ashley.

“Did you find the cat?” asked her mother.

“Did we ever!” exclaimed Ashley. “The cat belonged to the Turner family and we went to their house to look in their basement. Sure enough, there was the missing cat, Patches, with four adorable kittens.”

“Oh no,” said Ashley’s mother. “Now I can guess what’s coming next! You want a kitten, don’t you?”

“Yes,” said Ashley speaking very fast. “She’s all black and the cutest thing I’ve even seen. I’ve already picked out the name Scout for her. Mrs. Turner said that she’d be glad if Josh and I both took kittens so they’d grow up in good homes.”

“I can see you’ve already become attached to this kitten,” said Ashley’s mother. “Well, your father and I have talked about getting a pet. Let me talk it over with him when he gets home.”

Ashley could hardly wait until her father’s car pulled in the driveway. She ran out the front door, gave her father a big hug and a kiss and said, “I’m so glad you’re home.”

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (7 of 10)

“Well,” said Josh. “It looks like this case turned out really well. What are you going to name your kitten?”

 

“Hmm,” said Ashley looking at her kitten’s face. “I think I’ll name her ‘Scout’ after my favorite character in To Kill a Mockingbird. What are you going to name your kitten, Josh?”

 

“Silver,” said Josh.

 

“Oh, like the Lone Ranger’s horse?” asked Ashley.

 

“Whose horse? Duh, the kitten is gray, so I’m going to call him Silver,” said Josh.

 

“You’re SO imaginative, Josh! Well, we’d better get home and ask our parents about having pets,” said Ashley. “I’m so glad that everything turned out so well, Mrs. Turner.”

 

“I am too,” said Mrs. Turner. “Thank you and Josh for helping us find Patches. I hope your parents say “yes” because I’d like to see the kittens grow up in good homes.”

 

“I’m sure they’ll say it’s o.k.,” said Josh.

“As long as we take good care of the kittens,” said Ashley.

 

“That’s not going to be a problem,” said Josh. “Cats pretty much take care of themselves and you don’t have to walk them!”

 

“That’s true,” said Mrs. Turner. “But you do have to feed them and give them water and clean out their litter boxes.”

 

“Oh, that’s no problem,” said Josh.

 

“Yes,” said Ashley. “I can’t wait to take Scout home! Can we visit the kittens in the next few weeks?”

 

“Of course,” said Mrs. Turner. “You two are welcome here any time!”

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (6 of 10)

Patches was lying on a rumpled blanket with four tiny kittens moving around her.

“Mommy,” said Timmy. “Patches has some new friends.”

“Well, Timmy,” said Mrs. Turner. “They’re not friends, they’re her kittens. It looks like Patches is a mommy. Josh, would you and Timmy go upstairs and bring down some food and water for Patches? She must be really hungry!”

Josh and Timmy ran up the stairs.

“Can I hold one of the kittens, Mrs. Turner?” asked Ashley.

“Sure, if Patches will let you,” said Mrs. Turner.

Ashley knelt down and spoke very softly to Patches.

“What a good mother you are,” said Ashley as she reached out to pet Patches.

Patches closed her eyes and purred. After petting her for a while, Ashley said, “Patches, if it’s o.k., I just want to hold this little black kitten.”

She picked up the kitten and started talking softly to it as she held it close to her.

“Hey, Ashes,” said Josh as he came down the stairs with cat food. “That kitten seems to really like you!”

“It sure does,” said Mrs Turner. “How would you and Josh both like to have a kitten?

“Really?” said Ashley and Josh in unison.

“We’ll have to ask our parents for permission,” said Ashley.

“Please, ask them,” said Mrs. Turner. “The kittens will have to stay with Patches for a few weeks, but by then you’ll both be ready for a kitten!”

“Can I have the gray one?” asked Josh.

“Certainly,” said Mrs. Turner. “I never expected Patches to have kittens and we really can’t have five cats in the house. I’m just so glad that you two decided to investigate and found Patches and that two of her kittens will grow up with such good friends!”

“Mrs. Turner,” said Ashley nuzzling the black kitten. “This was our pleasure to investigate, but we really didn’t do anything.”

“Sure you did,” said Mrs. Turner. “If you hadn’t called, we might not have found our Patches and her new family.”

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (5 of 10)

“Sure,” said Ashley. They all went outside and walked to Clay Street. Ashley and Josh walked their bicycles beside them.

“Here we are,” said Mrs. Turner as they entered the two-story colonial house. “The basement is right this way.”

She opened the basement door, turned on the light and went down the stairs. Ashley, Josh and Timmy followed her. They all started calling “Patches, Patches, here kitty!”

Suddenly, Ashley put up her hand and said, “Sshhh, I hear something.”

From the corner of the basement, they heard a soft meow.

“I hear her! I hear Patches!” said Timmy jumping up and down.

“Wait,” said Ashley. “I have a flashlight in my backpack.” She took out the flashlight and shined it in the corner where they heard the sound.

They were surprised when they saw two eyes shining back at them.

They were even more surprised when they saw four more pairs of eyes shining at them.

“Wow,” said Josh. “Look at that! Patches had kittens!”

“You’re right,” said Mrs. Turner as she turned on an overhead light. “It never occurred to me that she was expecting kittens. I just thought we were feeding her too much food!”

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (4 of 10)

Ashley noticed that Timmy was looking down at the table when his mother was telling them about Patches.

“Timmy,” asked Ashley. “Did you see Patches after that?”

“Well, maybe,” admitted Timmy.

“Honey, where did you see her?” asked Mrs. Turner.

“She looked like she was going downstairs to the basement,” said Timmy.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” asked Mrs. Turner.

“Because I’m not supposed to go in the basement. I didn’t think Patches was allowed in there either and I didn’t want her to get in trouble,” said Timmy.

“Is that why you’ve been calling her name by the basement door?” asked Mrs. Turner.

“Yes,” said Timmy quietly. “I was hoping she’d come out, but she didn’t.”

“Mrs. Turner,” said Ashley. “Do you think that Patches could still be in the basement?”

“I guess anything’s possible,” said Mrs. Turner. “We just live around the corner on Clay Street. Would you like to come with us?”

“Sure,” said Ashley. They all went outside and walked to Clay Street. Ashley and Josh walked their bicycles beside them.

Ashley Enright and the Case of the Missing Cat (3 of 10)

The bell above the door jingled as Mrs. Turner entered Ella’s Sweet Shop with her four-year-old son, Timmy.

“Hi, Mrs. Turner,” said Carolanne. “Ashley and Josh are waiting for you over here.” She pointed to the booth by the window.

“Hi, Mrs. Turner,” said Ashley as Mrs. Turner and her son approached the booth. “I’m Ashley and this is my friend, Josh.” She pointed to Josh who nodded his hello.

“Oh,” said Mrs. Turner as she sat down. “Now I know why your name is familiar. I’ve read about you in the newspaper. I’m so glad you’re going to find our cat.”

“We will certainly try, Mrs. Turner,” said Ashley. “Now, can you tell us a little bit about your cat?”

“Sure,” answered Mrs. Turner. “Her name is Patches and she’s two-years-old. She’s always been a house cat and never really liked to go outside. But, she’s been gone for almost three days and I’m really worried about her.”

“Can you please find Patches?” asked Timmy looking back and forth at Ashley and Josh. “I miss her so much.”

“We’ll do our best, Timmy,” said Josh.

“When was the last time you saw her?” asked Ashley.

“It must have been Tuesday night when I was cooking dinner,” said Mrs. Turner. “Patches was in the kitchen meowing and rubbing against my legs. I told her to stop bothering me and to go in the living room. I haven’t seen her since.”