Рейчел Уэллс - A Friend Called Alfie

‘I have no idea who you are, but it’s nice to meet you,’ Oliver said. We all started talking at once. It was like the old days, but of course without Tiger, and I felt almost happy again, actually, genuinely happy. Then a voice interrupted us.

‘So now she’s muscled her way in with all of you,’ George stormed. We all sprang apart and faced George who was angrier than I’ve ever seen him.

‘George, this isn’t like you,’ Nellie said. ‘Snowball is an old friend.’

‘Can’t you see what she’s trying to do? She’s trying to replace Tiger,’ George persisted.

Our cat friends looked shocked, and Snowball appeared devastated as she scrunched up her lovely face.

‘No, George, no I’m not,’ she said quietly. ‘But I’ve lost everyone I cared about and now I’m here and I’m with old friends. And new ones I hope, but that’s all it is.’ She turned to walk away. I was horrified, sad and worried all at the same time, but more than anything I was angry. I had not brought George up to be like this.

‘George, that was rude, and you are going to come with me and we’re going to sort this out once and for all,’ I shouted.

‘Go, lad,’ Rocky said. ‘We love you and we loved Tiger but Snowball was our friend too,’ he said, quietly. I was grateful for his support.

‘Come on,’ I said again and set off, I turned and thankfully George was following me. We caught up with Snowball. ‘Let’s go to mutual ground,’ I said. And the three of us headed to the park.

George sulked the whole way there so Snowball and I remained silent. We arrived at the entrance to the park and headed to one of George’s favourite places, where there was a big climbable tree.

‘So,’ I started, ‘Harold is missing you. He really wants to see you and I know you’re missing him too.’

‘Not my fault,’ he replied. I paused, a little unsure where to go next.

‘George,’ Snowball said, gently. ‘Perhaps it’s time you told me what your problem with me is because I am not trying to replace Tiger. Gosh, I could never replace Tiger,’ she added.

‘I just don’t like you,’ George said, sounding more like a kitten than he was.

‘You don’t know her, son,’ I pointed out.

‘But I know you were my dad’s girlfriend once and now you’re back again and I just don’t like it.’

‘OK, I understand that, but, George, if we’re going to get past this, we need to talk. I have no choice but to live with Harold. Don’t forget that Harold loves you.’

‘But I feel sad. Because of Tiger mum, I loved her so much, and I miss her,’ he mumbled.

‘Oh, George, I know, and your dad misses her too, and all the friends I just saw. Tiger was a wonderful cat, and we were friends, your mum and me, you know.’

‘Really?’ George didn’t sound convinced.

‘Although actually you and Tiger have something in common talking of not liking me,’ Snowball said, with a grin.

‘What?’ George couldn’t help but sound curious.

‘She didn’t like me either at first,’ Snowball said.

‘She really didn’t,’ I added.

‘Really? Why didn’t she like you?’

‘Pretty much the same reason as you don’t like me, because of me and your dad.’

‘But she came to like you?’

‘Yes, we ended up as great friends. She was a wonderful cat.’ Snowball stood up. ‘George, do you like climbing trees?’

‘I love it,’ he said, as he softened to her.

‘Why don’t the two of us go and climb a tree? I can tell you about the time your dad ended up stuck up a tree in my garden.’

George blinked and then tilted his head to one side as if he was thinking. He had heard the story before of course but not from Snowball.

‘OK, and then I’ll decide if I like you. But you can’t make me.’

‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ Snowball grinned and I realised that no one, not even George would be able to resist her for long.

I watched them go off together and they started climbing. I had to stop watching when they got a bit high, because it made me feel funny. My vertigo could kick in even if I was on the ground, it seemed.

I huddled under a bush to keep warm while I waited for them, paws crossed they would come down friends.

They were quiet when they came to find me, which could have meant anything. I stood up and stretched.

‘All OK?’

‘I have decided to be mature and give Snowball a chance. After all it’s not her fault that she had to come back to Edgar Road and like Oliver she’s lost her family, although she didn’t go to the shelter, so we need to be kind and thoughtful about that. And I do miss Harold. And biscuits dunked in tea.’

‘George, you never cease to surprise me with your maturity,’ I said. Apart from when he was immature of course but I didn’t voice that.

‘And I have promised I won’t try to replace Tiger, not that I ever could, but we can all be friends now,’ Snowball said.

‘And I need to see Harold immediately to make sure he knows I still care about him,’ he said. ‘That was bad of me, none of this was Harold’s fault, or Snowball’s actually. Are you coming, Dad?’

I looked at them both, my first love and my favourite cat in the world, my son, and I was so relieved they were getting along. I realised I didn’t need to be there after all.

‘How about the two of you go and you can continue to get to know each other,’ I suggested.

‘Aren’t you worried I might tell more stories about you?’ Snowball asked, with a grin.

‘No.’ I swished my tail. ‘I think the fire brigade rescue was my most humiliating moment.’

‘There was also the time you fell in cow poo,’ she added. Oh no, I’d forgotten about that.

‘Oh you must tell me about that, come on, Snowball, I need to go and see Harold right this minute.’

They trotted off and I felt my heart swell again, I was pretty sure that all would be alright, but I would have to be careful, because George needed to continue to feel secure. That was my priority. I didn’t know how I felt about Snowball at this stage, I remembered all my romantic feelings, they had all returned, but I also knew we were both different cats now. A lot of water had passed under the bridge, and it felt as if we needed to get to know each other again. Which both scared and excited me. But there was plenty of time, I knew that, and I also knew that whatever I did, however I moved forward I would always respect Tiger and also respect George’s feelings. But I also recognised how seeing Snowball again had been a little like a reawakening for me.

I was always so busy worrying about other people and their feelings that I didn’t have much time for my own. When I saw Oliver at the Barkers’, it hit home how much I missed having companionship, so when I saw Snowball and felt how wonderful seeing her made me feel, I realised I was still very much alive, and it was time for me to start living.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

George had agreed to give Snowball a chance, although I felt I should give Snowball a bit of a wide berth for the moment while things were still tender between them.

The children were out with Jonathan and Matt. Pickles was in his bed, George was either with Hana or Harold and Snowball. Claire and I were enjoying the peace and quiet when the doorbell rang. I went with Claire to answer the door and was pleased to see Aleksy on the doorstep, on his own.

‘Hey, Alfie, Claire,’ he said as he came in. He leant down to pet me. Pickles, who had been asleep, appeared.

‘Woof, woof, woof,’ he said, licking Aleksy’s leg.

‘Ughh, Pickles you are a rubbish guard dog.’ He picked him up and petted him as Pickles licked his face. ‘I hear Snowball’s back, I can’t wait to see her,’ he said.