"Yeah!" cried David Michael. "I'm It!" Everybody scattered, and David Michael started trying to tag them. Emily was the only one who didn't quite "get" the rules of the game. Whenever David Michael Ragged her, she collapsed in a heap on the ground, giggling and shrieking as if he were tickling her to death.

    "She won't stop wiggling!" complained David Michael to Kristy. "She's supposed to freeze." Kristy told David Michael that Emily was just too young. "C'mon, Emily-bird," she said, scooping her up. "You and I will watch from the porch." The game went on for some time, until the older kids, at least, had had a chance to be It. Then everybody flopped down on the grass, panting. Kristy brought out paper cups and a pitcher of lemonade and passed out some to all the kids.

    Then they began talking about the pet show again. Karen was the one who brought it up. "Which one of you is going to enter Priscilla?" she asked Amanda and Max. (Priscilla is the Delaneys' cat.) Karen's always got her nose in everyone's business. She's kind of like a young Kristy. She's full of energy and good ideas, and sometimes she gets herself into trouble by saying things before she's really thought them out.

    Like this time.

    For a moment, neither Max nor Amanda answered her question. Then they both spoke up at once.

    "Me!" said Max.

    "I am!" said Amanda.

    "She's my cat!" they both said, in perfect unison.

    "Uh-oh," said Kristy to herself. "Trouble." "Priscilla will be the most beautiful cat in the show," said Amanda. "Nobody else around here owns a purebred white Persian that cost four hundred dollars." Amanda has a habit of pointing out how much everything costs. I guess she is kind of stuck-up sometimes - but she's basically a good kid. "And I intend to get first prize with her," she finished.

    Before Max could argue with his sister, Hannie jumped into the battle. "What do you mean, Priscilla is the most beautiful cat around? Pat the cat is prettier than that old dust mop any day! And smarter, too." Pat the cat is Hannie's kitten. All the Papadakises' pets have funny rhyming names. There's Pat the cat, Noodle the poodle, and Myrtle the turtle.