Leapin' Leopards


 
 
 
 
 
 The Magnificent Mulligans: Leapin’ Leopards
 © 2023 Bill Myers. All rights reserved.
 A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188
 Focus on the Family and the accompanying logo and design are federally registered trademarks of Focus on the Family, 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. The Magnificent Mulligans is a trademark of Focus on the Family, 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
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 Cover illustration by Greg Hardin. Cover design by Michael Harrigan.
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 ISBN 978-1-64607-111-1
 ISBN 978-1-68428-552-5 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-68428-553-2 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-68428-551-8 (Apple)
 
 
 Build: 2023-02-03 11:51:49 EPUB 3.0
 
 For Jesse Florea,
 whose commitment to kids over the decades is a stellar example for all of us.
 
 
 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
 —EPHESIANS 4:32
 
 
 Contents
 
 
 
 Cover
 
 
 Title Page
 
 
 Copyright
 
 
 Dedication
 
 
 Epigraph
 
 
 Chapter 1: Just for Starters
 
 
 Chapter 2: Buckle In
 
 
 Chapter 3: The Plot Sickens
 
 
 Chapter 4: “Nice Kitty . . .”
 
 
 Chapter 5: Betrayal!
 
 
 Chapter 6: “Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty . . .”
 
 
 Chapter 7: A Call to Action
 
 
 Chapter 8: As We Forgive Others
 
 
 Chapter 9: Hector in Charge
 
 
 Chapter 10: Fast-Talking
 
 
 Chapter 11: A Too-Public Appearance
 
 
 Chapter 12: Kindness Helps
 
 
 Chapter 13: Arrival
 
 
 Chapter 14: Leapin’ Leopards!
 
 
 Chapter 15: Cheap Words
 
 
 Chapter 16: To the Rescue! (Sort Of)
 
 
 Chapter 17: Plans
 
 
 Chapter 18: A New Arrival
 
 
 Chapter 19: “Uh-oh!”
 
 
 Chapter 20: Wrapping Up
 
 
 Thoughts and Questions
 
 
 
 Landmarks
 
 Cover
 Title Page
 Copyright
 Dedication
 Epigraph
 Thoughts and Questions
 
 
 
 Page List
 
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 1: Just for Starters
 JANELLE WOKE UP, TERRIFIED. This wasn’t that unusual. Janelle was terrified over lots of stuff . . . spiders, hamsters, people. As a little girl, she once called 911 to report that her shadow was following her.
 But this time she had a good reason to be frightened —because she heard something that sounded pretty scary.
 K-CRASH . . . SLAM . . . K-BANG!
 It sounded like the noises people might make when breaking into a house.
 “Jessica!” she whispered to her twin sister, who was sleeping in the bunk above her.
 No answer. Jessica was apparently too busy winning the World Series or Super Bowl or whatever championship she was dreaming about. I guess you could say she was a super jock.
 “Jessica!” Janelle whispered. “Downstairs! A burglar!”
 “That’s nice,” Jessica mumbled. “Put him in the penalty box with the other skaters.”
 Janelle threw off her covers and leaped to the floor, quickly sliding her feet into her slippers. Who knows how many germs come out and sneak around the floor at night?
 “Jessica!”
 “Wha . . . what!?” Now her sister was awake. And she didn’t seem happy about it. How could she be happy when, just moments ago, she’d been climbing the podium to receive a gold medal? But she was awake.
 “Downstairs,” Janelle whispered. “Listen!”
 There was more 
 K-BANG, SLAM, and K-CRASH-ing
 and then a little
 K-TINKL-ing
 thrown in at the end.
 “A burglar!” Jessica whispered.
 “That’s what I’ve been saying. Let’s get Dad!”
 Jessica hopped down from the bed. She stopped. “Wait a minute. He’s in Sacramento. At that adoption agency.”
 K-CRASH . . . SLAM . . . K-BANG
 “Then Mom!” Janelle whispered. “She’ll know what to do!”
 “Right!”
 They started for the door —but not before Jessica grabbed her baseball bat by the dresser.
 “What’s that for?” Janelle asked.
 “With a batting average of .321, it doesn’t hurt to be ready.”
 Janelle rolled her eyes.
 They raced down the hall into their parents’ room, and Janelle switched on the light. “Mom!”
 But Mom wasn’t there.
 “The calving shed,” Jessica said. “Guinevere is giving birth, remember?”
 “Oh, right. Now what do we do?” Janelle whispered.
 Jessica turned back to the hallway. “It’s just you and me, kiddo.”
 “What