SPRAK!

SPRAK!

A Cup of Cider

Whack! Mark sent the soccer ball sailing down his front lawn.

"Goal!" he cheered with both arms in the air.

As he jogged to fetch his ball, he noticed that his neighbor, Mia, wasn't getting much business at her warm-apple-cider stand.

"Warm cider for sale!" Mia yelled from across the street."Do you want some warm cider, Mark?"

"No, thanks!" Mark called back. Mark didn't really like warm cider.Besides, he was thirsty for a cold drink.

As Mark continued to practice for his big game the next day, he wondered about Mia's regular Saturday morning customers.Where are the kids and joggers and hike riders?Then he remembered that it was a holiday weekend. People are probably out of town.

After nearly an hour of dribbling and kicking, Mark finished his practice.He had glanced at Mia several times, but she never received a customer.Looking at her one last time, he went inside to get fifty cents from his mom.A few moments later, he was at Mia's stand.

"I'll take a cup of cider." Mark handed Mia the money.

"Really?" squealed Mia, dropping the coins into her jar.

"Mia!" her mother called from the front door. "Time to come inside!"

"Okay!" Mia called back to her mother before turning back to her customer."Thanks, Mark." "No sweat."

A Favorite Sweater

Inside her house, Mia's mother was reading the newspaper.

"Oh goodness, it's going to get cold tomorrow night.I'm so glad your father fixed the furnace last weekend."

Mia, still beaming, thought for a moment before turning to her mother.

"Mom, what about all of those people who don't have heat or any warm place to stay at all?"

"What do you mean, dear?" Mia paused for a moment and then pulled off her sweater."Oh, Mamma. I love this sweater. I wear it almost everyday, but it's getting too small.Maybe it's time for it to be another little girl's favorite." Mia's mother smiled.

"I think that's an excellent idea. I'll meet you upstairs with some bags.I'm sure the donation center is open for a few more hours.

A Lost Kitten

Mia and her mother filled two bags with warm clothes and hopped in the car.On the way over to the donation center, Mia's mother slammed on the brakes.

"Mamma! What's wrong?" A small kitten walked slowly in front of the car."Do you think it's lost?" Mia continued. "I haven't seen a house in a while. And this is a busy street.Let's take the kitten to the animal rescue center where it will be safe."Mia's mom jumped out of the car, scooped up the kitten, and placed it on Mia's lap.

"It's so tiny!" said Mia, as she gently stroked the kitten. "And it's shaking!"

A Thank-You Tip

"And who do you belong to, little kitty?"asked the young man from behind the desk at the rescue center. He wore a nametag that read, "Duane."

"We don't know," said Mia. "It was lost on Highway 54," continued Mia's mother.

"You were right to bring it here," Duane said, scooping the kitten from Mia's arms."We'll take good care of it. And I'm sure its owners will check in soon."

Mia and her mother felt relieved that the kitten was safe and off the street.

For the next several hours, Duane bathed, fed, and soothed the kitten.When its owners finally came for their pet, Duane and the kitten were tangled in a ball of yarn.

"Charlie!" A young boy rushed toward the kitten.

"Thank goodness he's safe," sighed the boy's mother."And thank goodness someone found him and brought him here."

After the woman donated some money to the center for the kitten's care, she reached again for her wallet.

"Oh, no, no, no, you don't need to do that," Duane pleaded, shaking his hands in front of her. "I'm a volunteer."

"But I insist," the woman said, "You took such good care of our Charlie." She handed Duane a tip.

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