The sun was shining and smiling, just like every summer holiday in Wraithmoor. But Toothy Boo wasn’t happy. She was looking out at the meadow, where a little boy was running around with his dog.
She wished she could have a pet, too. It wouldn’t even have to be a dog—a cat would do. But it’d have to be a brave one, so it wouldn’t be afraid of her. After all, she is a ghost.
But Dad and Mom weren’t even thinking about having a pet. Although there was no reason they couldn’t have one. Toothy Boo understood that for example Michael Drowndale, the water-sprite boy, could really only have fish. No other animal could manage to live with them underwater. But the Toothy Ghosts could certainly have a pet, since they live pretty much like people.
That day, the Toothy family went for a walk in the woods on the edge of Wraithmoor and the village where people lived. Toothy Boo and Chupchip were only allowed to come here with their parents. It was always an amazing adventure for them. But today, there was something strange mixed in with the sounds of the forest.
“Chupchip, stop whining—you haven’t even walked half the way yet,” Mom scolded him.
“I’m not whining,” Chupchip protested. “You must be hearing some whiny bird.”
“That must be the famous common whiny songbird,” Dad said, trying to sound clever.
“Dad, there’s no such bird,” Toothy Boo whispered.
“Oh, really? Once we find it, I’ll give it a name and then it’ll exist,” decided Dad, and headed toward the sound.
He didn’t have to go far—the squeaking was coming from the edge of the forest. Dad stared at the tree for a moment, to check if there was a bird sitting somewhere, but then he realized the squeaking was coming from the ground.
On the ground in front of Dad there was a small box. And inside that box, something was making those squeaky sounds.
“Oh, so it’s a squeaky box,” Dad said, opened the box, and at that moment let out a yelp as he pulled out a toothy kitten with its teeth clamped onto his finger.
“Aww, that’s adorable,” Toothy Boo cooed. “How did it end up here?”
“It’s sad, but someone probably abandoned it,” said Mom. “Some people can be really mean.”
“It’s a boy,” said Dad, examining the kitten, which was still hanging off his finger with its teeth. “And he loves to cuddle—can you hear him purring?”
“Dad, he can’t really purr with his mouth full. Give him to me,” said Toothy Boo.
Dad freed his finger from the kitten’s toothy mouth and handed him to Toothy Boo, who immediately started cuddling him.
“Shall we keep him?” “Please,” she looked at Dad.
“Of course we will. If that little one doesn’t have anyone,” Dad decided.
“And besides, today is the 8th of August. August 8th, and that’s International Cat Day. It’s only right to help and spoil kitties today,” Mom added, scratching the kitten’s head.
Toothy Boo was beside herself with joy. Surely the good fairy had heard her wish. Only the good fairy seemed to have a strange sense of humor.
When the toothy family got back from their walk, they immediately started getting everything the kitten would need.
“Let’s name him Cuddles,” said Toothy Boo
But no one ever actually called him that. Anyone who came to visit, the kitten would bite right away. On the leg, the ankle, the pants, or even the shoes. Or on the hand, if someone was brave enough to try and pet him. The little tomcat turned into a sort of toothy guard dog, protecting his rescuers. He never hurt them—he knew where his home was and who his family were.
And when the kids shared their best holiday stories in September, Chupchip and Toothy Boo just had to show off.
“We’ve got a new pet. A Shark.”
“What? A Shark?” everyone exclaimed, surprised and a little alarmed at what the toothy family had brought home.
“Oh no, that’s just his name. He’s a tomcat with sharp teeth,” Chupchip quickly explained.
Everyone quickly calmed down, but after that, they all kept an eye out for Shark whenever he happened to wander past the toothy family’s house.