When Kitten Kaboodle woke that morning, he had been dreaming of cream cheese. He got up, yawned, stretched, and sat down to scratch his left ear. Cornelius had already gotten up, so Kitten Kaboodle moved over to the warm spot he left when he’d gotten up and flopped down. It was still warm because Cornelius was a very thoughtful person. Kitten Kaboodle curled up for another snooze.

         Kitten Kaboodle was staying with Cornelius Trembles that week in his apartment, because Cornelius had a very bad cold. Kitten Kaboodle had realized it was up to him to take care of his human. His mother had taught him all about looking after humans when she taught him how to look after a bookshop. It would be a very important part of his work, she had told him.

         Kitten Kaboodle made sure to taste Cornelius’ soup when he sat down to eat, so he could make sure it would be good for him. When Cornelius would lay down, Kitten Kaboodle would sit on his chest and purr as hard as he could to help keep Cornelius’ lungs clear. Sometimes, Kitten Kaboodle would very carefully check Cornelius’ mouth and nose to make sure he was still breathing comfortably. Cornelius usually didn’t like that, but Kitten Kaboodle knew it had to be done. Kitten Kaboodle would check Cornelius’ pulse by laying across his throat when he laid down to rest, and he kept him warm by sleeping on his head. And because Cornelius couldn’t get up to wash himself properly, Kitten Kaboodle made sure to groom the hair on his head and on his arms.

         Kitten Kaboodle was a good Nurse Cat.

         But now, Kitten Kaboodle heard a noise he did not often hear. It was coming from the bathroom. Kitten Kaboodle jumped up and hurried to the bathroom to see what was going on. The bathroom door was ajar. Kitten Kaboodle pushed the door open with his nose and peeked around the corner. To his horror, Kitten Kaboodle saw Cornelius Trembles immersing himself in water! On purpose! Cornelius had filled the bathtub with hot water, and he was now laying in it!

         This was worse than when Cornelius walked into the sea! Didn’t he realize that he was getting wet? Didn’t he think that Kitten Kaboodle was doing a good enough job looking after him in his illness?

         Dashing into the bathroom, Kitten Kaboodle jumped up onto the closed toilet seat across from the bathtub.

         “Meow!” said Kitten Kaboodle.

         Cornelius wearily turned his head to look over at Kitten Kaboodle.

         “Hello, Ketzele,” he said. His voice was tired and hoarse.

         “Meow!” said Kitten Kaboodle again. “Meow!”

         Cornelius sighed and coughed.

         “What is it, Ketzele? I can’t play right now; I’m trying to breathe.”

         Kitten Kaboodle was practically dancing on the toilet lid by now. “Meow!” he repeated. “Meow! Meow!”

         Cornelius coughed again and reached over the side of the tub for a kleenex, and blew his nose like a trumpet. And then, Kitten Kaboodle did a Very Brave Thing: he jumped down from the toilet lid, ran to the bathtub, and hopped up onto the rim of the tub, and grabbed Cornelius’ arm with both paws! He continued to meow warnings as he tried to pull Cornelius out of the water.

         But Cornelius only laughed, which started him coughing again, which only convinced Kitten Kaboodle further of the malign properties of the water. Everyone knew that water was for drinking, not soaking in. Kitten Kaboodle began to stalk up and down the edge of the bathtub warning Cornelius to get out of the water. But instead of getting out of the water, Cornelius reached up to pet Kitten Kaboodle, and skritch behind his ears, getting him all wet in the process.

         Kitten Kaboodle fell off the side of the tub onto the floor. He sat there on the bathmat, furiously cleaning himself and meowed for his human to escape from the water while he still could. Didn’t Cornelius realize he was becoming waterlogged? Why wouldn’t Cornelius get out of the water?

         Kitten Kaboodle finished drying himself and jumped back up onto the rim of the bathtub. Fretting, Kitten Kaboodle again paced up and down the length of the tub, trying to convince Cornelius to get out of the tub. Occasionally, Kitten Kaboodle would reach out to grab Cornelius’ hand or bat him on the head to get him to come out.

         Eventually, after what seemed like a very long time to Kitten Kaboodle, Cornelius finally got out of the bath. Finally, he listened to Kitten Kaboodle’s advice! He dried himself thoroughly with a big fluffy towel, returned to his room, and put on his woolen pajamas.

         “Okay, Ketzele,” he said. “I’m out now. Are you happy?”

         “Meow,” said Kitten Kaboodle.

         “Good,” said Cornelius. “And now, I am going back to sleep.”

         Cornelius laid down in bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin. Kitten Kaboodle laid down over Cornelius’ face to help keep him warm.

         Kitten Kaboodle was a good Nurse Cat.