This is a story I wrote when I was in 7th grade, from the prompt "Write from someone else's point of view." My Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Meyer, liked it so much that she had me submit it in a writing contest and it ended up being published in the Anthology of Short Stories by Young Americans, 2004 Edition.
Lucky's LIfe
My name is Lucky. I am a cat. I live in a nice house with my family of five humans. They're all pretty nice to me and don't yell as much as they did when I first came in the house. Let me tell you who is in my family and a bit about them. Let's start with Mom. She is very nice and takes care of me with the rest of the family. Dad takes the family places in that big shiny thing that rolls. (Then I get the house to myself!) Then there are the kids. Veronica (I like to sleep on her bed with all her stuffed animals), Kat (she is my owner), and the little one, Gabe (dun dun dun!).
I like my family or at least get along with them okay, except for Gabe. He is my archenemy. We never get along. he thinks he can scare me, but he doesn't know that I am the bravest little kitty in the world!
Aaahh! What was that? Oh, never mind. That was just The Noise. The Noise is just a lot of little beeps that wake up the humans every morning so they can leave (except for Mom who stays home with me). After a while, the humans leave, and it's just me and Mom. We usually just sit around for most of the day and watch the square thing with moving pictures. Then Mom has to leave and go get the kids. I don't know where they go, but they smell funny when they come home.
My life is perfect! Well, almost. I haven't had any animal friends since I was just a little kitten. But now, I have just uncovered a horrible truth: I am not alone. A week ago, I was sitting in the kitchen eating when I heard Mom and Kat yell. Something small and furry (it looked like a hairball with legs) ran out from under the radiator in the kitchen (I always sit next to it when I eat). I realized what it must have been, a mouse! I, being the brave little kitty I am, dove towards the heater, but could not get my paw far back enough to reach the ugly little thing. So, I gave up and finished my breakfast.
When Dad came downstairs, Gabe said, "Dad! There was a mouse!" He made it sound as though I hadn't put any effort into catching it. Dad said "Stupid cat!" (I've heard that before) and told Mom that he'd have to get some mousetraps. That made me mad. I walked away without rubbing against his legs to say good morning.
I was still upset when everyone had gone to bed that night. I had to prove to them that I am brave and can do whatever I need to. So, I came up with a foolproof plan to catch the little hairball. I snuck downstairs and sat on top of the heater in the dining room. Now, all I had to do was wait. Just when I was going to give up and retreat (go to bed), I saw it. It crept out from under the heater in the kitchen and under the table. I jumped down and caught it by the tail. It gave a little squeak and shivered with fear.
When I looked it in the eye, it said, "Please don't hurt me Miss. I was just trying to get food for my family. I didn't mean to bother you."
Then, I can't believe this, I felt sorry for the little guy. When I asked, he told me his name was Cheddar III.
It sounded important, so I said, "All right. I'll let you go, but you better not let my family see you."
Then I climbed on top of the counter and used my claws to open a bag of bread. I cut the slice into pieces and gave it to him. He thanked me, and we became friends. Cheddar kept his promise and never let my family see him. (If they did see him, I'd be the one begging for food.)
