Many thanks to Esther Averill
For an album view of the story, please click the first image.
In Captain Tinker’s garden, once upon a time, there was a Cat & Hedgie Club. All the cats and hedgehogs in the neighborhood were members. All but Meow. 
Meow was a small red orphan cat who lived with Captain Tinker. He was kind to Meow. “You and I must always be friends,” he said. But the Captain added gently, “I think a little cat like you should go outdoors some times and play.”
Meow went into the garden. She had often heard the Cat & Hedgie Club singing after dark.
She waited for the Cat & Hedgie Club. Suddenly, a beautiful bunnie began to play the piano and sing. This was Ichigo. Then Mr. President arrived. He was a well-fed cat, and took his place in the center of the yard. Then the others came. 
Meow climbed up a cherry tree and watched everything that happened. The club members were having such a wonderful time. She had not dreamed that cats and hedgehogs could have such fun. Night after night, she watched the club from the cherry tree. Secretly, she wished that maybe, just maybe, one of the hedgehogs would see her. And maybe he would invite her to join them. 
One nigh, a little hedgehog named Nelson did notice Meow. He scampered up her tree. “Hi there, sister,” he said. “You’re the new cat, aren’t you? Wouldn’t you like to join the Cat & Hedgie Club?” Oh, Meow wanted to join them. She wanted ever so much to join them. She started to follow him. Then she froze. 
All the Club members were there. They all seemed to stare at her with their gleaming eyes. They all seemed to say, “And what can you do, little red cat?” Ichigo began to play her favorite concertina on her piano. Rochester Wellington turned the pages of the music for her. The music was so beautiful. Rochester was so handsome. 
It was too much for Meow. She gave a yowl of terror and fled home. Still, every day she looked out the window. She wondered if one of the cats and hedgehogs would come again, and ask her to join. She so wanted to join them. Would they give her a second change? She was so scared. 
“If only I could do something,” thought Meow. When night came and she heard the cats and hedgehogs in the garden, she longed to be with them. “But that will never happen,” she sighed. “They are too clever. What can I do? Nothing.” 
Meow took out her skateboard. “I’ll just go for a little ride,” she thought to herself. As she sped down the sidewalk, she saw Mr. President. She was so embarrassed, she tried to hide. But Mr. President stopped her. “Why Meow, you are so elegant,” he said.
“Elegant? Who? Me?” thought Meow. “But I’m just riding my skateboard.” But Mr. President was amazed at all the tricks that Meow seemed able to do.
Meow was embarrassed. She showed him her skateboard. She showed him other tricks too. Tricks that she had made up herself. The other Cat & Hedgie members heard the excitement They came and watched her, too. 
“May we have a ride, too?” they asked. Sure enough, there was room. The skateboard seemed almost magically to expand. Meow moved to the front of the skateboard, and all the other Cat & Hedgie members climbed on behind her. 
They all held on tight, as Meow scooted them out the driveway. She was the leader, and all the other cats and hedgehogs cheered with delight at her skills. Every one of them seemed to admire the way Meow could swerve so elegantly down the sidewalk. They had never seen such a talented athlete. Captain Tinker watched from the window. He smiled.
Sophie Wore Blue 