We are sharing the next story in our series, Featured Short Stories, written by students in the Creative Writing Club.
Every week, the students in the club work on writing short stories, sometimes from their own ideas, and sometimes from story prompts. This assignment was to practice writing a story blending narration, description and dialogue together.
This week’s story was written by Amy, aged 12. Enjoy!
The Cat in the Library
The bell for after-school dismissal had faded into the hum of distant buses, and Harper was stacking the last of the returned books onto the library’s shelf when she heard it. A soft, rhythmic scraping, like someone dragging a fingernail along wood, mixed with a murmur too low to make out.
She froze, her fingers hovering over a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. The library was supposed to be empty. Mrs. Higgins, the librarian, had left ten minutes earlier, and the only other student, Jack from math class, had went out the door with his backpack slung over one shoulder a few minutes ago.
Harper glanced at the clock: 3:47 PM. The sun slanted through the tall, dusty windows, casting long shadows over the rows of shelves that lined the walls. She walked closer to the bookshelf. The noise came again, louder this time, from the far corner of the floor. It wasn’t scraping now. It was a whisper, like wind through dry leaves.
“Hello?” she called, her voice cracking.
No answer. Her heart thudded against her ribs. Harper wasn’t usually the nervous type. She was the one who’d volunteered to close the library – but there was something about that noise that made her skin prickle. It felt intentional, like someone – or something – was trying to get her attention.
She pulled out her phone, her hands shaking slightly, and texted the only two people she knew would drop everything to investigate: Iris and Lucas.
Harper: URGENT. Library 3rd floor. Mysterious noise. Come quick.
Iris replied within seconds: On my way. Did you check if it’s a rodent? Mrs. Higgins said the exterminator came last week, but I don’t trust him.
Lucas followed: OMG. Is it a ghost? I’ve been saying this library is haunted since 6th grade.
Harper smiled, despite her nerves. Lucas and Iris were her best friends, the only people who wouldn’t laugh at her for being spooked out by a strange noise in an empty library.
Ten minutes later, the elevator dinged, and Harper heard Iris’s sharp knock on the library door.
“Harper? Let us in before Lucas has a panic attack.”
Harper unlocked the door, and Iris stepped in first, her backpack slung over one shoulder, a flashlight app glowing on her phone. Lucas trailed behind her, wearing a neon green hoodie and carrying a plastic sword, the same one he’d used for his Halloween costume last year.
“I come bearing weapons,” he announced, holding up the sword like a knight. “Also, a granola bar. In case we get trapped. Priorities.”
Iris rolled her eyes.
“The only thing we’re trapping is ourselves in a lawsuit if we break something.” She shook her hair out of her face. “Harper, where’s the noise coming from?”
Harper pointed toward the bookshelf. “Over there. It’s been on and off – scraping, whispering. I thought maybe it was a loose window, but the wind’s not that strong today.”
Lucas’s eyes widened.
“Whispering? Told you this place is haunted. Remember when Olivia said she saw a lady in a white dress by the biography section? This is her. She’s here to tell us her tragic backstory. Or steal our homework. Either way, I’m here for it.”
“Or it’s a loose shelf,” Iris said, shining her flashlight toward the corner. “Or a bird that got trapped. Or –”
The noise cut her off. A soft, deliberate scrape, followed by a murmur that sounded almost like a name. Harper leaned forward, straining to hear.
“Did you hear that? It sounded like… help?” Harper asked.
Lucas gasped.
“It’s a ghost! A trapped ghost! We need to free her. Or him. Or them. Pronouns matter, even in the afterlife.”
Iris sighed, but Harper saw the flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
“Let’s go check. Slowly. And Lucas, put the sword down. You’re not fighting a ghost with a plastic toy.”
Lucas reluctantly tucked the sword into his hoodie pocket.
“Fine. But if I get possessed, I’m blaming you two.”
The three of them crept toward the bookshelf, their footsteps soft on the carpet. Iris shone her flashlight over the shelves, illuminating rows of leather-bound books with gold lettering.
“Nothing here,” she said, frowning. “No birds, no loose shelves, no—”
A crash echoed from behind a tall bookshelf at the end of the row. Lucas yelped and jumped behind Harper, grabbing her arm.
“It’s coming for us! I knew it! We should’ve brought holy water. Or pizza. Ghosts like pizza, right?”
“Lucas, shut up,” Iris hissed, but her voice trembled slightly. She inched toward the bookshelf, her flashlight held high.
“Who’s there? This is trespassing. We’re calling the principal.”
A soft whimper answered her. Not a ghostly wail. Something smaller, more desperate. Harper stepped forward, pushing past Iris.
“Hello? Are you okay?”
She rounded the bookshelf, and the flashlight beam fell on a small, fluffy figure huddled in the corner. A tabby cat with matted, dirty fur, its paw stuck in the gap between two floorboards. It looked up at them, its eyes wide and scared, and let out another whimper.
Lucas blinked.
“That’s… not a ghost.”
Iris exhaled, her shoulders slumping.
“It’s a cat. Harper, you texted us for a cat?”
Harper knelt down, her heart softening as the cat rubbed its head against her hand.
“It’s hurt. Look at its paw.”
The cat’s front paw was wedged tightly between two warped floorboards, and there was a small cut on its nose, probably from trying to free itself.
Lucas knelt down beside her, his fear forgotten. “Aww, poor little guy. How’d you get in here, buddy?”
He gently stroked the cat’s back, and the cat purred softly.
Iris knelt down. “Let’s try to get its paw out. Harper, hold the flashlight steady.”
Harper nodded, shining the light on the floorboards. Iris carefully pried the gap open with her fingers, wincing as the cat let out a small yelp.
“Almost there,” she said softly. “You’re okay. We’re not gonna hurt you.”
After a minute of gentle prying, the floorboard shifted, and the cat’s paw slipped free. It shook its paw, then curled up against Harper’s leg, purring loudly.
Lucas grinned.
“Ghost debunked. But hey, this is way better. We have a library cat now. We should name it. How about Bibliophile? Or Spooky? Or—”
“Lucas, we can’t keep it,” Iris said, though she was already petting the cat’s head. “It’s probably a stray. We need to take it to the animal shelter.”
Harper frowned.
“But look at it. It’s so scared. What if it gets hurt again? Or what if it’s someone’s pet?”
Iris bit her lip but nodded.
“I guess you’re right. What are we supposed to do then?”
“How about we go ask –”
Her voice was cut off by a knocking outside the library door. It was their homeroom teacher, Mrs. Henderson. She had on a disappointed look.
“Harper Bennett! What on earth are you doing here this late?” However, when she saw the cat, her tone softened. “Oh, goodness. Is that a cat?”
Harper explained what had happened. The mysterious noise, calling Iris and Lucas, finding the trapped in the closet. Mrs. Henderson listened, nodding slowly. When Harper finished, she sighed, smiling.
“I’ve been hearing strange noises back here for days, but I just thought it was the pipes,” she said. “I never thought to check. Thank you three for investigating. That poor cat must have been so scared.”
“Do you know who he belongs to, Mrs. Henderson?” Iris asked.
Mrs. Henderson shook her head. “I don’t recognize him. Harper, since you found him, would you be willing to take him home? It’s probably a stray. We can’t keep him here.”
Harper’s eyes lit up. She’d been begging her parents for a cat for years, but they’d always said she was too busy with school. But now, with the cat sitting in her lap, purring like a tiny engine, she knew she couldn’t say no.
Lucas cheered.
“Awesome, Harper!” he grinned. “We’re all gonna be cat parents. Spooky the Library Cat. Has a ring to it.”
“I’ll ask my mom,” Harper said. “I’m sure she’ll say yes. He’s too cute to leave here.”
An hour later, Harper walked into her house, Spooky tucked safely in her arms. Her mom, who was cooking dinner, gasped when she saw the cat, but after Harper explained the story – omitting the part where she’d been convinced it was a ghost – her mom smiled, shaking her head.
“Well, how can I say no to that face?” she said, leaning down to pet Spooky. “Welcome home, little guy.”
“So you’re really gonna let me keep it?” Harper asked, astonished.
Her mom shrugged.
“Well, I’ve never liked the idea of a cat in the house, but as long as it stays in your room during the day, I don’t see why not.”
The End
If you have a child who loves writing stories and essays, and you want to encourage them to explore their creativity and their imagination, then we would love to have them join our writing club! Just click on the link to register, and we will be in touch. Creative Writing Club – Registration Form.