Every tree looked like a monster with long arms reaching out to grab him. Little Joey looked around trying to find a path back to his home, but nothing looked familiar. The sun had sunk low behind the hills. He zipped his jacket and pulled his hood up over his blond hair. He shivered as he crept through the forest. If only he had not walked away from his older brother, Jonathan. But Jonathan and his friends had been so mean to him, wouldn't let him play ball with them.

Joey walked for a while, and then sat down on a rock. He did not know where he was or in which direction he should walk. He looked to the left and then to the right, but nothing looked familiar. He was all alone and it was almost dark. He rested his head in his hands, as tears filled his eyes. He wanted to go home.

The leaves rustled behind him. Twigs snapped. His heart pounded in his chest. He got down on his knees behind the rock and closed his blue eyes. He did not want to see whatever was coming toward him in the near-darkness. He was not expecting the soft fur that rubbed against his hand.

He opened his eyes slowly and looked down at the purring critter. Suddenly he was not alone. He picked up the furry orange kitten and held him close. He petted the green-eyed kitten until it squirmed to get down. Joey reluctantly put the kitten down on the ground. It meowed and meowed, and then took a few steps away from Joey. "Wait," Joey cried, reaching for the kitten.

But the kitten scampered further away from Joey. Joey hurried after the kitten, but each time he tried to catch him, the kitten bounced away. Joey was so intent on catching the kitten that he did not even notice when he was once again in his own back yard. His mother rushed toward him, scooping both Joey and the little orange kitten into her arms. She hugged them both close and took them into the house. Little Joey was home at last and would soon be tucked safely into bed.