Jen Jen Goes Visiting

This is a children’s’ chapter book for ages 7 to 11 (9 chapters, 7533 words with illustrations).

A valuable lesson is learned about jumping to conclusions and trusting people in this story about a lost Siamese cat:

Jen Jen is Henry's Siamese cat but she's gone missing and no one can find her. Henry's best friend Marcie thinks Henry's unfriendly neighbor Mrs. Buford has taken her.

The story begins when Jen Jen gets out and Henry and his best friend Marcie chase after her. She runs onto Mrs. Buford's porch. Mrs. Buford definitely doesn't like visitors, especially Jen Jen who likes to eat her plants.

Excerpt:

“Who’s out there?” yelled Mrs. Buford as she opened the door and stepped onto the porch.
Henry and Marcie squeezed each others hands as they looked up at Mrs. Buford.

“Oh, it’s you two. What are you doing on my porch?”

They were both speechless but Jen Jen let out a loud meow again. Mrs. Buford’s face suddenly became very angry looking as she turned to where she had heard the meow.

Jen Jen sat calmly at one end of the porch in between two flowerpots. She looked at Mrs. Buford, then turned her head to look at Henry and Marcie, and then turned back again to stare at Mrs. Buford.

Mrs. Buford turned toward Henry and shook her finger at him. “Young man, you keep that creature off of my porch. My flowers and plants are not meant to be her dinner. Don’t you feed her at home?”

“Yes m’am we feed her, but she likes to go out sometimes.”

“Young man, coming to my porch to eat my flowers and plants is not what I consider going out for a visit.” She pointed at Jen Jen. “Take that…...that…...that…...creature home with you.”

“She’s a cat, Mrs. Buford,” added Marcie trying to be helpful.”

Mrs. Buford turned angrily toward Marcie and shook her finger at Marcie. “Young lady I know exactly what she is.”

“Then why do you call her a creature?” Mrs. Buford.

That made Mrs. Buford even angrier. She turned toward Jen Jen, shook her finger at her and shouted. “Get off of my porch. You are not welcome here.”

Jen Jen quickly scampered through the spaces in the porch railing and jumped into the grass.

“And don’t come back here. And stay away from my plants,” Mrs. Buford shouted after her.

“You’re just mean,” said Marcie.

“Mind your manners young lady,” said Mrs. Buford as she turned back again toward Marcie.

“Come on Marcie. We’ve got to get Jen Jen,” said Henry as he ran down the steps after Jen Jen.
…………………
Marcie put her hands on her hips. “Henry do you think she really cares that Mrs. Buford is upset with her. You’re ridiculous. Why are you standing there talking to a cat that way? We have to get her down before Mrs. Buford comes out again.”

“You’d better come down now Jen Jen,” yelled Henry.

Jen Jen just stared at Henry and did not move at all.

“Oh she won’t come down that way,” said Marcie. “She’s a cat. She won’t listen to that.”

Henry turned to Marcie. “Okay smarty pants. How am I going to get her out of the tree?”

“Let me try.” Marcie looked up at Jen Jen and spoke in her sweetest voice. “Oh Jenny, come on down. Henry has some treats for you. Yum Yum. You’d better come down and get these delicious treats that Henry has.”