"Magic the Cat Sets a Boundary"

Age Range: 5-8

[PHOTO ID: A drawing of a young Black girl with braids and beads in her hair. She is wearing a yellow-and-white striped shirt and holding a large, fluffy black cat with yellow eyes. Both are smiling at each other. On each side of them are purple symbols of paw prints and hearts. Above them, the text reads, "Magic the Cat Sets a Boundary." Below them is the author and artist's name, Tessa Denton, spelled in capital letters.]

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Magic was a happy cat. He had a family who loved him very much and always gave him food to eat and water to drink.

Magic had long, black fur that was very soft and fluffy to touch. Unlike humans, cats lick themselves to become clean, and he spent many hours licking his fur to keep it tidy.

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There was a little girl Magic lived with named Jada. Magic loved her very much. Over the years, Magic noticed that, when Jada looked sad, she wanted to pet Magic more than usual. It made the little girl happy.

Magic wanted to do anything to keep Jada happy, so Magic always let her pet him, even if he didn’t want to be pet.

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One day, Jada came home from school feeling sad.

“Magic!” Jada called out. “Magic, where are you?”

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Magic was sleeping on the couch, but he woke up when Jada entered the room and began petting him. Magic blinked sleepily at her, wishing he could keep napping. Eventually, Jada finished.

“Thank you, Magic,” Jada said.

“You’re welcome,” Magic meowed back.

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The next day, Jada was stressed. When she saw Magic eating in the kitchen, Jada immediately scooped Magic into her arms, even though Magic was still hungry. Jada scratched Magic’s chin and behind his ears.

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When Jada looked happier, she kissed Magic’s forehead and set him on the floor.

“Thank you, Magic,” Jada said.

“You’re welcome,” Magic meowed back.

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The day after that, Jada was sitting in the livingroom, feeling lonely.

Magic was playing with a toy mouse.

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Jada crouched beside him to pet him in long strokes down his back. Magic let Jada pet him, but he wished he was playing with his toy.

Eventually, Jada smiled at him.

“Thank you, Magic,” Jada said.

“You’re welcome,” Magic meowed back.

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Another day, Jada wanted to pet Magic again. Magic was in the backyard rolling in the sunlight, and when Jada approached him, he felt a sinking feeling inside. He did not want to be touched right now.

When Jada reached out for him, Magic moved away.

“Magic!” Jada cried. “What are you doing?”

She reached out again, but Magic dodged her hand.

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Jada darted after Magic and grabbed him fast, pulling him off the ground.

“Meow!” Magic yelped. He panicked and, without meaning to, scratched Jada’s arm.

“Ow!” Jada screamed, dropping Magic to clutch at her arm.

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Jada’s mom came running from inside the house to see Jada crying. Magic cowered in the grass.

“What happened?” her mom asked as she pressed a cloth to Jada’s wound.

“Magic scratched me!” Jada said.

“Why?” her mom asked. “He’s usually so gentle.”

“I tried to pet him, and he wouldn’t let me,” Jada explained. “So, I picked him up, and he scratched me for no reason.”

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“I see,” her mom replied. “That’s because Magic was trying to set a boundary.”

“What’s a boundary?” Jada asked.

“A boundary is something that shows where one thing ends and another one starts,” her mom told her. “With your friends, family, and pets, a boundary is a way of telling someone what is okay and what is not. Sometimes, we have to make boundaries with people who don’t treat us kindly.”

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Jada sniffed and looked at Magic. “I just wanted to pet him,” she said, frowning. “I pet him all the time.”

“That’s true,” Jada’s mom said. “But there are times when you love playing jump rope, and times when you don’t like it. Magic feels the same way about being touched. There are times when he loves when you pet him, and times when he doesn’t like it. Does that make sense?”

“I think so,” Jada said. “But I didn’t mean to not be kind.”

“I know, Jada. Sadly, sometimes we hurt people we love. What’s important is that we learn how to love them better afterward.”

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Jada nodded seriously and stood up. She approached Magic, but she didn’t try to touch him. “I’m sorry, Magic,” she said. “I won’t pet you again unless you want me to, okay?”

“Thank you,” Magic meowed back, and meant it.

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A day later, Jada found Magic on the porch, watching a bird.

“Hi, Magic,” Jada said. “Is it okay if I pet you?” As she spoke, she held her hand near Magic’s face.

Magic sniffed her fingers and rubbed his cheek against them.

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Jada understood that this was a cat’s way of saying “yes,” and she rubbed behind Magic’s ears. Magic purred.

Yes, Magic was a very happy cat, and Jada was a very happy girl.