1 SNUGGLEBUGS

These days my cat Sassafras and I are always desperately hoping we'll hear our barn doorbell. I know most people are excited to hear their doorbell ring. It might mean a present or package delivery, or a friend showing up to play. But our doorbell is even more exciting than that. Because it's a magic doorbell. When it rings, it means there's a magical animal waiting outside our barn. A magical animal who needs our help. My mom's been helping them basically her whole life. And now I get to help, too…

这些天来，我和我的猫Sassafras总是绝望地希望能听到我们谷仓的门铃。 我知道大多数人听到门铃响都很兴奋。 它可能意味着一个礼物或包裹的递送，或者一个朋友出现在一起玩。 但我们家的门铃比那更令人兴奋。 因为这是一个魔法门铃。 当它响的时候，就意味着有一只神奇的动物在我们的谷仓外面等着。 一只需要我们帮助的神奇动物。 我妈妈基本上一辈子都在帮助他们。 现在我也要帮忙了…

"Who is the cutest?" I sang, crouched down low on the floor. "It's you!" I booped one kitten nose. Then I turned. "And it's also you!" I booped a second kitten nose. One kitten flipped into a half somersault and bopped into her sister. They grabbed each other and started rolling. I sighed happily. "Is there anything cuter than floofy, tumbly kittens?" My mom reached down and scooped one of the fluff balls into her lap. "No, Zoey, I don't think there is!" We both laughed. "I love volunteering at the cat shelter." Lavender rubbed her cheek against

“谁最可爱？”我唱着歌，蹲在地板上。 “是你!”我舔了一只小猫的鼻子。 然后我转过身来。“也是你！”我又打了一只小猫鼻子。 一只小猫翻了半个筋斗，跳到她妹妹身上。 他们互相抓住，开始打滚。 我高兴地叹了口气。“还有什么比毛茸茸的小猫更可爱的吗？”妈妈伸手把其中一个绒毛球抱到膝盖上。 “不，佐伊，我认为没有！”我们都笑了。 “我喜欢在猫收容所做志愿者。” 拉文德用脸颊擦了擦

my knee, and I started rubbing her tummy. She flopped to one side, purring loudly. "Just don't forget that it's a job." Mom nodded toward the litter box. "I know, I know." I got up and grabbed the scooper. Little Lavender came trotting after me and bonked her head into my ankle. Mom held up Sage so they faced each other. "Little miss, I just cannot get you to purr." The kitten blinked at her a few times, then curled back up in Mom's lap. I set down the scooper. "Ooh! I know how to make Sage purr! I figured it out last time we were

然后我开始揉她的肚子。 她扑通一声倒在一边，大声地咕噜着。 “别忘了这是一份工作。” 妈妈朝猫砂盆点了点头。 “我知道，我知道。”我起身抓起铲子。 小拉文德小跑着跟在我后面，用头撞了我的脚踝。 妈妈举起塞吉，让他们面对着对方。 “小姑娘，我就是没法让你叫。” 小猫朝妈妈眨了几下眼睛，然后又蜷缩在妈妈的腿上。 我放下铲子。“哦!我知道怎么让塞吉呜呜叫！上次我们在一起的时候我就知道了

here. I can show you!" Mom raised an eyebrow. I squatted back down and picked up the scooper again. "Um, after I finish scooping the litter." Mom smiled and pet Sage under the chin. Sage closed her eyes and sighed. After I closed the lid on the garbage can, I stood up and brushed off my pants. Lavender tumbled into the litter box and sniffed around. "I think Lavender is making sure I did a good job." I laughed. "OK, so I figured out that Sage is pretty tricky. You can't just do one thing she likes and get her to purr. You have to do two things she likes at the same time!"

在这里。我可以展示给你看！”妈妈扬起了眉毛。 我又蹲下来，拿起铲子。 “嗯，在我把垃圾铲完之后。” 妈妈微笑着抚摸着塞吉的下巴。 塞吉闭上眼睛叹了口气。 我盖上垃圾桶的盖子后，站起来把裤子刷掉。 拉文德滚进猫砂盆，四处嗅了嗅。 “我想拉文德是在确保我做得很好。” 我笑了。“好吧，我发现Sage很狡猾。 你不能只做一件她喜欢的事就让她呜呜叫。 你必须同时做她喜欢的两件事！”

Mom nodded. "Interesting. I know she likes these chin rubs—what else do you suggest I try?" I grinned. "Now go for a belly rub with your other hand." Mom kept scratching Sage's chin with her right hand and used her left to give that tiny fluffy kitten belly a good rubbing. Sure enough, within a few seconds we both heard a quiet rumbly purr. "Ta-da!" I raised my hands and smiled.

妈妈点了点头。“有趣。我知道她喜欢这种下巴按摩——你建议我试试别的吗？”我咧嘴笑了笑。 “现在用另一只手揉一下肚子。” 妈妈不停地用右手抓Sage的下巴，用左手给那只毛茸茸的小猫的小肚子好好揉一揉。 果然，几秒钟后，我们都听到了一声低沉的咕噜声。 “哈哈!”我举起双手，微笑着。