Chapter 1: The Great Escape
Mr. Bubbles rested his chin on one paw and stared through the bars of his cage.
Outside, a breeze moved the trees. A bird hopped along the porch rail. Somewhere beyond the window, a world waited.
He watched from his spot on the little table by the wall.
There were places he had never been. Grass he had never touched. Air he had never sniffed up close.
His nose twitched.
He had seen the world in pieces—from the window, from Sadie’s arms. But tonight, it felt closer. Like it might come to him, if he just waited long enough.
Then the house grew quiet.
The dishes stopped clinking. The lights clicked off, one by one. Footsteps faded.
Everyone was asleep.
But not Mr. Bubbles.
He was wide awake.
And explorers don’t wait.
He turned toward the latch on his cage. He had tried it before. Every night, just a little more. A tap. A pull. A pause. Until tonight.
Click.
The door popped open.
He blinked.
Then—he stepped out.
The table was higher than he thought. He climbed down slowly, gripping the lamp cord with both paws.
The floor stretched out below like a giant field. Or maybe an ocean. Too wide to see all at once.
The house smelled different at night.
He took a step. Then another.
Soft paws. Careful steps.
Something shifted in the dark. Prrrr.
He froze.
Two eyes blinked beneath the chair.
Momo.
The cat.
Her body was still. Only her tail moved—slow and low. Her eyes were round and shining.
Mr. Bubbles squeaked.
“Oh no,” he whispered.
He had to run.
He darted behind the couch. He zipped under the table. He scurried past Momo’s paws.
She leapt. He twisted. She swiped. He ducked.
The rug slipped under her claws. The floor thudded under his feet.
But Mr. Bubbles was too fast.
He shot behind the chair. It was dark there. Safe.
He crouched low and waited.
Momo crept past. Then turned, flicked her tail, and padded back toward her perch by the window.
The room was quiet again.
Mr. Bubbles stayed still.
His tiny chest rose and fell. His paws gripped the floor. His whiskers quivered in the air.
He was small. He was quick. He was brave.
When it was safe, he ran.
Past the table leg. Past the rug. Up the cord. Back to the table.
He reached the cage.
He climbed inside and pulled the latch closed behind him.
Then he crawled into his soft bedding and curled up tight.
“Phew,” he whispered. “That was close.”
He tucked his nose under his paws.
The world was big.
But he had done it.
His first nighttime adventure.