Once upon a time, there was a boy named Pedro. Pedro was Matthew's best friend! They played together every day. They both loved cars! They would build car tracks in the garden and race their toy cars.
One day, Pedro met Matthew in the garden. He looked sad. “My father has passed away," Pedro said. "He left the windmill to my brother, the mule to my other brother, and a cat to me!”
Matthew was surprised. “A cat? How will you survive with just a cat?"
“I will help!” Matthew said. “We can be strong together!”
But then, the cat interrupted. “I can be very useful,” the cat said. “If you get me a pair of leather boots, I can be even more helpful!"
Matthew and Pedro were excited. They ran to their secret hideout in the garden – a little shed where they kept their toy cars. They had saved many coins in a piggy bank! They used the coins to buy a pair of boots for the cat.
"Do you want to go with me?" the cat asked.
“I will stay with my brothers,” Pedro said. But Matthew never turned down an adventure! “I'll go!” he said.
The cat and Matthew ran off together. They ran past the enchanted forest near Matthew's house in Fort Worth. They ran so fast, it was like Matthew was using his superpower! Matthew could run like a race car! The cat was a good hunter. He caught two hens in the forest!
“I have a plan,” the cat said. “You will understand soon.”
They reached a big castle in the forest. They gave the hens to a servant. “These are gifts from a young man who just moved to the kingdom,” the cat said. The servant was happy to get the hens!
The cat and Matthew went back to the garden and found Pedro. “I gave the hens to the king,” the cat said.
Pedro was confused. “What’s the plan?” he asked Matthew.
Matthew still didn’t understand the plan either.
“Let’s play!” said Pedro.
Matthew and Pedro decided to swim in the pond.
The cat suddenly ran away. “Stay here!” he said. “It’s all part of the plan!”
The cat ran to the king who was riding in a carriage. “Someone stole the clothes of my young master, Matthew!” the cat said.
The king was kind. “Come with me!” he said. “I will get you new clothes.”
Matthew was thankful. He was an energetic boy, and he loved new clothes!
“Are you interested in seeing the lands of my young master, Pedro?” the cat asked the king.
The king was curious. “Yes,” he said.
The cat directed the carriage to a big, dark castle. Pedro was confused, but he and Matthew were excited for the adventure. They played along with the cat’s plan!
The cat entered the castle. A wicked ogre lived there. “What’s a cat doing in my castle?” the ogre roared!
The cat was clever. “I admire your powers!” the cat said. “Can you turn into a lion?”
The ogre wanted to show off his magic. *Poof!* He turned into a lion!
“Can you turn into a mouse?” the cat asked.
The ogre was proud of his powers. *Poof!* He turned into a mouse!
The cat, now a lion, ate the mouse! The castle was now Pedro’s!
Matthew and Pedro were happy. They could play in the castle! Matthew could run like a race car everywhere!
The cat turned back into a cat. “Come on!” he said. “Let’s go back to the king and Pedro!”
The king was amazed by the castle. He was also impressed by how kind Pedro and Matthew were. “I have a daughter!” the king said. “She might like to meet Pedro. They could be a happy couple!”
Pedro and Matthew were happy. They were excited to meet the princess! But they decided to tell the truth.
“The cat helped us get this castle!” said Pedro.
The king laughed. “I am happy to meet such honest and good kids!” he said.
After that, Pedro, Matthew, the cat, and the princess played together every day in the garden. They all loved cars, too!
This truly is a happily ever after!
