Sarah wanted a puppy for her birthday. She had seen the one she wanted in the pet shop. He was brown and white and had big brown eyes. He licked her hand when she patted him through the cage. She decided she would call him ‘Patches’.

She showed Patches to her father.

‘That’s what I want for my birthday, Daddy,’ she said.

‘I’m sorry, Pumpkin,’ said Daddy. ‘But our house is too small for a dog. There’s just not enough room. A dog needs lots of room to run and jump and play in. We only have a very small garden.’

Sarah was very sad. She really wanted that puppy.

On her birthday, Sarah woke up early. There was a big box on her bed. It was covered in shiny blue paper. It even had a red ribbon with a great big bow.

Her mum and dad came into her room.

‘Happy birthday, darling,’ said her mum and dad. ‘Open your birthday present. We know you wanted a dog, but we think you will like what you have just as much.’

Sarah opened the box and put popped—a little kitten! She was black and white with big yellow eyes. She licked Sarah’s hand and purred when she stroked her. Sarah was very happy.

‘Thank you very much,’ she told her mum and dad. ‘I think I will call her Patches!’