When Ben reached his block, he heard leaves rustling behind him.
He turned and saw the black kitten looking up at him.
She wiggled her back end and leaped toward Ben's feet.
Ben's first thought was to flee.
Then he realized the kitten wasn't hissing.
She was playing.
"Weird," Ben thought.
"The other night this kitten was attacking me. But now she likes me."
Suddenly Ben realized something.
"It's because I smell like fish! Of course! Cats love fish."
Ben laughed. "Well, sorry, kitten.
I'm not going to smell like this for long. See you later."
He floated away.
The kitten followed him all the way home.
When Ben opened the door, the kitten darted inside.
"Hey!" Ben cried. The kitten ran down the hallway.
"Ahh!" Ben's little brother screamed.
"What's going on?" Ben's mom called from another room.
"Um, nothing, Mom!" Ben went to his room.
The kitten had Sid backed into a corner.
"G-get this kitten away from me!" Sid cried.
The kitten pranced over to Ben and purred.
Sid calmed down.
"Why isn't it attacking—" Sid covered his nose.
"Ugh! You smell like dead fish!"
"That's why the kitten's not attacking me."
The kitten curled up on Ben's bed and went to sleep.
Ben couldn't help smiling.
That night the kitten ran around wildly.
When the sun rose Thursday morning, the kitten was sleeping peacefully.
Ben and Sid were exhausted.
Ben yawned as he pulled on his hoodie.
"We'll figure out what to do with the kitten later," he told Sid.
"Meanwhile don't say anything to Mom or Dad. I have to get to school."
Since talking to Winnie, Ben had decided to work hard in Cooking class.
He was busy grinding grubs when monsters started noticing a strange smell.
"I smell hot sauce," a mummy said.
Ben sniffed.
He and Waldo must have missed some of the sauce when they were cleaning it up the day before.
"I smell it too," Mr. Icky said.
"But nobody should be using that in today's recipe."
He walked around the room.
"Where is it coming from?"
Ben almost told Mr. Icky about yesterday's hot sauce spill.
He stopped himself. "I can't tell Mr. Icky," he thought.
"Waldo and I will be in big trouble for using the cooking equipment without permission."
"Mr. Icky!" Mog said. "That wall is vibrating."
Mr. Icky stared at the wall in surprise. "Huh. You're right."
"I hope the hot sauce isn't causing that," Ben thought.
Mr. Icky slid over to the intercom and pressed a button.
"Principal's office," the office ogre said.
"Please send Mr. Freaky down to the cooking classroom," Mr. Icky said.
A moment later Mr. Freaky hurried into the room, his noses wiggling.
"Don't tell me we have a problem!"
Mr. Icky held up his tentacles.
"I figured I should let you know about that."
He pointed at the vibrating wall.
Mr. Freaky went over for a closer look.
"What's causing it?"
"We don't know," Mr. Icky said.
"There's also a smell. It smells like—"
"Hot sauce," Mr. Freaky said.
He took out a handkerchief and blew his noses.
"I'll have Mr. Bog look into it.
We can't have any problems during the cooking competition tomorrow.
Everything must go perfectly!"
The principal hurried out.
A minute later Mr. Bog came in.
The custodian sniffed and poked the wall.
Then he got down on his hands and knees and looked behind the cabinet.
"I smell hot sauce," he said.
"Maybe I should say something," Ben thought.
Mr. Bog backed out from behind the cabinet.
"I don't know why the wall is vibrating. But I found this stuff."
The custodian placed several items on the counter: a few bat claws, coins, three socks, and a necklace.
"That's it!" Ben thought.
He forgot all about the hot sauce.
"I'll get Winnie a necklace for her birthday!"
After school Ben hurried into Ghoulie's Jewelry Shop.
"Good afternoon, young man," Mrs. Ghoulie said.
"What can I do for you?"
"I want to buy a necklace," Ben said.
"For a special someone?" Mrs. Ghoulie chuckled.
She pulled a sparkly necklace out of the jewelry case.
"This is one of my favorites.
It's three thousand dollars.
But I can give it to you for $2,500."
Ben gulped. "I can't afford that!"
"What's your budget?" Mrs. Ghoulie asked.
Ben took out his wallet and looked inside.
He grinned sheepishly. "I have sixteen dollars."
Mrs. Ghoulie pointed at a small rack at the end of the counter.
"Perhaps you'll find something there."
Ben went over to the rack.
He saw a necklace for fifteen dollars.
It wasn't sparkly, but it had smooth green stones the same color as Winnie's eyes.
"It's the thought that counts," Ben told himself.
He looked back at Mrs. Ghoulie. "I'll take this one."