Sally Cat’s kittens had lost their mittens again.
“I lost mine while I was playing tag with my friend Noodles,” said Jennifer.
“I lost mine when I was climbing trees,” said Jason.
“I think I lost mine when I was skating,” said Rosie.
“Well, go look for them,” said Sally Cat. “You must think that I have nothing to do but knit mittens all day.”
The kittens hung their heads and walked away.
Sally Cat went out to the gate to get the mail. There she saw Tillie Cat with her kittens, Roger and Mary.
“What’s wrong, Sally?” asked Tillie.
“My kittens have lost their mittens again,” said Sally.
“My kittens never lose their mittens,” said Tillie.
“Not even when they climb trees?” asked Sally.
“We don’t climb trees,” said Roger. “It’s hard.”
“Don’t they lose their mittens when they run races?” asked Sally.
Mary looked up. “We don’t run races. We get too tired.”
Sally looked at Tillie’s poor, tired, heavy-eyed kittens. Then she thought of her own kittens, always ready for a romp. She could see how they might lose their mittens.
“We must be running along,” Tillie said. “Come, kittens.”
Just then, Rosie, Jason, and Jennifer came running up. “We couldn’t find a single mitten,” said Jennifer. “We are very sorry, Mother.”
“I am going to buy each of you a present,” said Sally.
“What are you going to buy for us, Mother?” cried the kittens as they scampered up to her.
“Your very own knitting needles!” said Sally. “Then you can lose all the mittens you want, because I will teach you how to knit your own.”