Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin Read Free Page B

unlucked my lucky sock.”
    â€œAll right,” Dad said.
    I dashed ahead of him down the aisle.
    I guess No-name thought I wanted to play catch-the-boy.
    She jumped right out of Dad’s arms.
    And she ran right after me and my shoelace.
    â€œHelp!” I cried. “I’m being chased by bad luck!”

10
Leaves Dropping
    I spun around and ran toward the back of the bookstore.
    I saw an open doorway and flew inside.
    I was in a tiny office. A lady sat at a desk, talking on the phone.
    She had a tissue in her hand and a red nose.
    She looked very surprised to see me.
    â€œSweetie, you’re not supposed to be in here,” she said. “This is the office. Are you lost?”
    â€œNo, I’m just looking,” I said, because that’s what my mom always says to store helpers.
    â€œWell, just let me finish up this call, and I’ll see if I can help you,” she said.
    I peeked out the door.
    No-name was waiting for me.
    Her tail swished back and forth like windshield wipers.
    She was plotting how to cross my path.
    I could see it in her shiny green eyes.
    The office lady sneezed.
    â€œYes, I know,” she said into the phone. “She’s a darling kitten, but I’m so allergic. I’m sure someone will take her home on Saturday.”
    I heard footsteps. Dad poked his head in the door.
    â€œRoscoe,” he said. “That cat is not going to give you bad luck. But I will, if you don’t start listening to reason.”
    â€œCan I help you, sir?” the lady asked.
    â€œJust collecting my son,” Dad said.
    He took my hand and pulled me out of the office.
    No-name sat in the aisle, swishing her tail and waiting for her chance to curse me.
    â€œRun, Dad,” I yelled.
    I rushed toward the exit as fast as I could.
    No-name rushed after me.
    Just as I reached the front door, it swung open.
    A boy carrying a strawberry milkshake came in.
    I crashed into him.
    He crashed into me.
    The strawberry milkshake crashed into my T-shirt.
    No-name took one look at the mess and ran the other way.

    I was pink. And milky.
    But I’d outsmarted that bad-luck kitty.
    Â 
    â€œRoscoe, what happened to your white T-shirt?” Mom asked when we got home.
    â€œA strawberry milkshake ran into me,” I said.
    â€œWe stopped by the bookstore so Roscoe could take a guess on the megapumpkin,” Dad said. “I met No-name, by the way, Hazel. She is a very cute kitty. Although Roscoe might not agree with me.”
    â€œCan we have her, Dad? Can we, please ?” Hazel begged. “I could dress her in my doll clothes and name her Bitsy Boo.”
    â€œBitsy Boo? You’ve got to be kidding!” Maxlaughed. “How about Rocky?”

    Hazel shook her head. “Nope. She’s a girl and she needs a girl name.”
    â€œWell, call her what you want. But you can’t dress her in doll clothes,” Max said. “Right, Mom?”
    â€œRight,” said Mom. “Cats generally aren’t in favor of playing dress-up.”
    â€œEverybody,” I said loudly, “we can’t get No-name.”
    â€œWe’re just considering the idea,” Dad said. “We haven’t made a final decision.”
    â€œBut you can’t get her,” I said.
    â€œRoscoe, I told you that black cats are not bad luck,” Mom said.
    I took a big breath. “We can’t get her because I heard the lady in the bookstore office say someone was for sure already taking her home on Saturday. I was sortof eavesdropping.”
    Hazel’s eyes got wide. “Mommy, what’s leaves dropping?” she asked.
    â€œListening to a conversation you’re not supposed to be listening to,” said Mom.
    â€œAre you sure about this, Roscoe?” Dad asked.
    â€œPositive,” I said.
    At least I was pretty sure that’s what the lady said.
    Maybe not exactly sure.
    But kind of sure.
    And besides, I didn’t want my family to