Рейчел Уэллс - A Cat Called Alfie

‘He can be such a whirlwind, can’t he?’ Claire said, putting the kettle on and smiling warmly at me. I miaowed in agreement; Jonathan was like a ball of energy and that was one of the reasons we loved him, but the house was always calmer without him. We missed him but we also liked having a bit of peace and quiet, not that I would ever tell Jonathan that.

As Claire got ready for work I decided to go and see my new next door neighbours. I had hardly glimpsed Snowball or any of her family in the month that they’d been here. I’d taken to hanging out quite a bit by the loose fence panel but to no avail. My curiosity was reaching new heights and, not that I would admit it to anyone, I couldn’t get Snowball’s angelic face out of my head. I thought about her almost constantly, and I was in turmoil. I wanted so desperately to see her but I didn’t know why, or even what I would do when I did. As I reached their back garden I crept forward to look into the house. I could see through the patio doors that the family were all at the kitchen table. The woman was wearing some kind of blue uniform, and she looked tired. The boy was slumped over a computer and was also wearing a uniform, but not like the mother. As I watched, the girl entered the room wearing an outfit similar to the boy but with a skirt rather than trousers. I gathered this was a school thing, like Aleksy only for older children. The man was making breakfast but sadly there was no sign of Snowball.

I was mesmerized, watching the scene from a well-placed bush. I wondered if I was a bit like a cat version of a stalker but then stalkers were bad and I had only good intentions. After a while the woman kissed everyone goodbye and made her way out of the room. Then the father passed two boxes to the children and looked as if he was hurrying them out. I couldn’t make out what anyone was saying but suddenly the room was totally empty. I saw my chance.

It might not have been the most sensible thing ever, but before I knew it, certainly before I thought it through, I found myself at the other back door, creeping gently through the cat flap and into the house. As I stood in the kitchen, I wondered what to do next, but then I heard footsteps coming back towards the room. I quickly looked around and spotted an open cupboard. I leapt in it. The cupboard was full of cat food; pouches and boxes of biscuits, the sort Claire favoured.

‘Come on, Snowball,’ I heard the man say. ‘I’ve laid your breakfast out.’ I held my breath as I saw the man’s legs. He walked towards the cupboard I was in so I quickly nestled behind a box, and before I knew what was happening, he pushed the door closed.

I blinked and adjusted to the darkness as I tried not to panic. I was trapped. I had no idea what would happen to me if the family found me in their cupboard and the thought made my heart beat loudly. I could almost hear it jumping out of my chest. I would be amazed if the cupboard wasn’t shaking as much as I was. I crouched, trying to calm myself down, breathing slowly and trying to think positively.

‘That’s a good cat, Snowy, eat your breakfast,’ the man said. I heard her purr, which sounded almost musical. ‘Right then, I’m going to look for work again.’ He paused. ‘Not sure it’s worth it, but I’m going to go upstairs and shut myself in my study, looking for jobs that don’t exist and hoping something comes along to save us.’ I heard his voice, laden with sadness, and wished I could see him, to see what was reflected on his face. ‘Oh, Snowball, why do I feel that you’re the only one who doesn’t blame me?’

Snowball miaowed, gently. She was saying that she supported him.

‘Well, talking to you, as lovely as it is, isn’t going to get my family fixed. I’d better go.’ After a few more moments I heard his footsteps moving away. I breathed again and thought about calling out. I was pretty sure Snowball would be able to open the cupboard, after all I could open them at home if I needed to. I weighed up the risks. On the one hand I would have to face Snowball’s wrath, if she rescued me. On the other hand, I would have to stay in the cupboard and risk being discovered — and as she’d just been fed it could be hours. I decided to risk Snowball as it meant that at least I would get to see her. I miaowed as loudly as I dared.

‘What on earth?’ I heard her say, before I heard her paws padding outside the cupboard. I miaowed again. I could hear her scratching at the door and finally, after what seemed like an eternity, it opened a crack. She put her slender paw in and opened it fully. Finally we were face to face.

‘Thank you,’ I breathed, relief overtaking my fear.

‘You again,’ she hissed. Her beautiful eyes were full of anger.

‘I’m sorry, Snowball. I’m Alfie, in case you’d forgotten. I just wanted to welcome you to the neighbourhood properly and … well … I …’ I really hadn’t thought this through.

‘So you decided to break into my house and crawl into my food cupboard? What kind of maniac are you?’ She looked so angry but so gorgeous at the same time. I almost swooned. I tried to muster all my charm.

‘I just wanted to say hello, as I haven’t seen you since you moved in. I’m just a friendly neighbour and want us to be friends.’

‘I don’t need friends, thank you very much,’ she replied.

‘We all need friends,’ I replied. ‘And from what I can tell, things aren’t easy here.’

‘That is none of your business,’ she replied. This was one frosty cat.

‘I just want to help. Why did you move here?’

‘Alfie, I cannot decide if you are stupid or very stupid. I do not want you to be a friend. I do not want you here. Any problems my family have are our own and we don’t need anyone else interfering.’ She bared her teeth aggressively.

‘I’m not trying to interfere, I just want to be supportive.’

‘You are very stupid, I see. Now leave me in peace before I get really angry.’ Her eyes flashed and she looked as if she might actually attack me. I knew I was beaten. For now.

‘OK, I’ll leave, but you know everyone needs friends, even you, and you know where I am when you need me.’

‘Preferably never in my house again,’ she hissed as I left.

I left her garden straight away and went to find Tiger. Snowball was all miaow and no bite I decided. She might not be welcoming me with open paws now, but I knew she would. I wasn’t a cat to give up easily after all. It suddenly came to me. I would take her a house-warming gift, just like I did for Jonathan. A mouse. No, a bird. A bird was much more of a thoughtful gift, being harder to chase for us cats, and generally prettier. As I spotted Tiger outside her house I grinned. She was a better hunter, so I’d need to get her to help. Now I had a plan, it was only a matter of time before Snowball liked me; and with that wonderful thought, I left to put my plan into action, feeling as if I were floating on air.

I left the bird for Snowball by her cat flap later that day. I waited for ages to give it to her in person, but there was no sign of her around and so I had no choice but to leave it. Tiger had helped me chase it, but I felt bad as I fibbed a bit and told her it was for one of my humans. You see, I was going to tell her who it was for but then when I told her I had been in the cupboard, and had a conversation with Snowball she had been really short with me. Especially when I mentioned again how beautiful I found her. If I didn’t know better I would say that Tiger was jealous … but that made no sense. I tried to tell her that Snowball and her family needed help, but Tiger wouldn’t listen to me. Instead she told me that, for once, perhaps I should stop being such an interfering cat and concentrate on those who actually cared about me. I didn’t fully understand her hostility.