<P><B><JC>The Definitive Anthology of Children's Very Short Stories<JC>
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<P><JC>Melissa, by Jacob Oscar<JC>
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<P>Melissa ran through her garden, feet pounding on the stones. A puff of snow dust sprung up after every footfall. She knew he was hiding somewhere. The hedge? The tree? She came to a stop, her breath slightly heavy. 
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<P>A small, but unmistakable crunch came from her left. She spun, ready to pounce.
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<P>But it wasn't him.
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<P>It was the other one. The taller one.
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<P>The one the girls called "Jed."
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<P>She liked Jed. She just didn't like him as much as Tom.
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<P>He leaned down, and picked her up, softly muttering, "Hello there. And what are you after?"
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<P>Melissa leaned up and nuzzled his face, then wrested free and tumbled back to the ground before darting into the bushes.
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<P>Jed watched her go. "What a strange little creature. I wonder if her kittens will be so rambunctious."