“Go away, cat. You don’t live here!”

Janie banged her fist on the window, then giggled as the fluffy orange bundle disappeared.  She’d given him a name – Fluff. That’s what he looked like, a big orange ball of fluff. He certainly didn’t look at all like a cat as he scampered away. He was more like a shaggy orange coat. But he was a cat – a cat brave enough to come looking for food.

He’d first appeared not long after the family had moved into their new house. He’d sat on the fence at first, watching and waiting. He kept his distance, and Janie kept hers. She didn’t want to scare him away, so she sat by the window, keeping very still. She was sure he could see her.

Janie really wanted to be friends with this bold new visitor. She liked the way he wasn’t shy about coming close to the house, looking for food and company. But Mum was right. They already had two cats – two lazy, crazy cats. They didn’t need a third.

Closing her eyes and crossing her fingers, Janie silently wished that she and the cat could become friends. When she opened her eyes, there he was. He looked her straight in the eye before running away. She knew he’d be back, he didn’t stay away for long. Maybe he was looking for a friend too.

When they’d moved from their old house to this new town Mum had said, “You’ll be okay, Janie. You’ll make new friends easily. You’re not afraid to make the first move.”

Janie grinned. She knew Mum was right about this too. She was looking forward to starting at her new school.

She gazed out the window again, hoping to catch another glimpse of Fluff. She hoped also that somewhere, not too far away, was a new friend, someone just like her. She watched the tip of his tail disappear around the corner of the house, and smiled.

“Thanks, Fluff,” Janie called after him. “I’m going to be just like you when I start at my new school.  I’m going to find someone who looks like fun, someone I can have adventures with. I’m going to walk right up to them, look them straight in the eye, and say ‘Hi! I’m Janie. Will you be my friend?’”