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Carly the kitten sat in the corner whilst watching her siblings play, the siblings are also cats
Carly loved her brothers and sisters. But sometimes… little things felt very big. If she couldn’t reach a toy— or someone bumped her paw— or she didn’t get her way… Her feelings grew. And grew. And GREW.
In the bright morning garden amid tall grass and unfamiliar bushes, Carlys siblings huddle with worried eyes. Beside them, young Carly sits, tears falling down her ginger face as sunbeams illuminate the lost group.
One sunny morning, Carly's siblings ran outside to explore. "Come on, Carly!" they called. Carly followed them into the big garden. They chased butterflies and climbed trees. Soon they wandered far from home. "Where are we?" asked one sibling. They looked around at the tall grass and strange bushes. "I don't know," said another. The siblings started to worry. They didn't know which way to go. Everything looked the same. They were lost! Carly began to cry.
Under warm midday light in the garden, big ginger Mum emerges from tall grass toward crying Carly. Carlys siblings watch nearby, eyes wide, as Mum lowers her head to nuzzle the tiny kitten beside swaying green blades.
"Stop crying, Carly!" said her siblings. But Carly couldn't stop. She cried louder and louder. Her voice rang through the garden like a bell. Suddenly, they heard a familiar sound. "Meow! Meow!" It was Mum! The big ginger cat came running through the grass. "I heard you, my darlings!" she purred. Mum nuzzled each kitten. "Carly's crying helped me find you," she said warmly. The siblings looked at Carly with new respect. Maybe crying wasn't so bad after all.
Inside the cozy afternoon living room, Mum lies on a soft cushion, curling her large ginger body around smiling Carly and Carlys siblings. Warm window light bathes the huddled family as they purr contentedly in a single gentle embrace.
Mum led all the kittens safely home. "Carly, you're a hero!" said her siblings. "Your loud cries saved us!" Carly smiled through her tears. She felt proud and happy. "I'm sorry we teased you," her siblings said. "Your feelings are special." From that day on, nobody made fun of Carly for crying. Her siblings learned that everyone shows feelings differently. And Carly learned that being herself was perfectly okay. Mum purred and cuddled all her kittens together. They were one happy family.