“Kai don’t!” his mother yells from the porch. “It’s a thunderstorm. I don’t want you being struck by lightning.”
Milo points at the tree. “But what if Alfred’s up there?”
“Your cat is much too smart to be in that tree,” Mrs. Nelson answers.
I look around the front yard. “Then where would he be?”
Mrs. Nelson beckons to Kai. “Come back inside. This rain is freezing and you’ll catch a cold.”
Milo moves down the path, calling out to his cat.
“Milo!” his mother calls through cupped hands.
Kai waves her off. “Let him go, Mom.”
Kai follows his brother, ducking low and then treading on the balls of his feet, searching the surrounding area.
I move off the porch, but Mrs. Nelson grabs onto my arm. “Oh no you don’t.”
“I have to help,” I protest.
“No, I need all you kids to come back inside.” She signals to hOh,er kids. “Boys, come back in. Alfie will be hiding somewhere. He won’t hear you over the rain.”
Kai grabs onto Milo’s shoulder, but he nudges him off. Kai gestures to the adjacent houses and Milo nods. The twins then start walking along the street path.
“Boys!” Mrs. Nelson calls, her voice giving out.
I rub the space over my heart. “Milo must be going nuts.”
Mrs. Nelson frowns. “He loves that cat so darn much. I just don’t want them getting hurt out in this weather.”
“I feel like such an idiot.” I clench my fist and hit my thigh. “I didn’t ask if he could go outside.”
Mrs. Nelson strokes my hair. “No one thinks you did this maliciously. Milo’s not angry at you, he’s just worried about his pet.”
Goosebumps sprout over my arms, and when I briskly rub them away, Mrs. Nelson orders me back inside. Knowing better than to argue with her, I retreat. Grandma gives me her most heartbreakingly worried eyes from her armchair.
After what seems like an eternity, Mrs. Nelson returns with the twins. With heightened emotions bouncing off each of them, they hang up their drenched coats.
“Mom, I can’t stay inside,” Milo says with a hitch in his voice. “I can’t leave him alone out there.”
Mrs. Nelson holds the sides of Milo’s face as she talks in a calm and rational tone. “Honey, there’s nothing you can do about it now. Alfie’s not dumb. He’ll come back to the house.”
Milo pulls away. “What if the storm scared him off? He could be anywhere. What if he doesn’t know the way home?”
“Your dad and grandpa are out looking for him now. If they don’t find him, it’ll be because he’s sheltering from the rain.” Mrs. Nelson holds him still, looking into his eyes. “Honey, he’ll be okay.”
Milo chews his bottom lip and gives a slight head shake. “You don’t know that.”
Mrs. Nelson sighs, frowning as her eyes grow glassy. “Oh, honey.”
Milo steps back, frustration breaking his posture. “How am I supposed to go upstairs when I know he’s out there in the storm?”
“Maybe I should go for a drive too?” Kai says, reaching for his keys.
“No. It’s too dark and you won’t see anything through all this rain,” Mrs. Nelson replies.
Kai throws his arms up. “So we just sit here and wait?”
