Рейчел Уэллс - A Cat Called Alfie

As Jonathan explained the visit to the others, I wondered what on earth the police were doing at Snowball’s house. I was sure that there was nothing bad about Snowball and her family, but it seemed as though there was no convincing the Goodwins.

‘The thing is that he was a bit odd when I went around,’ Jonathan said. ‘I hate to think Vic is right about anything, but I just don’t know.’

‘And we did send round a plant, and not a word,’ Claire replied. ‘I mean if it was me I would drop round to say thank you at least.’

‘They do seem to be a bit strange. I saw the kids the other day, well teenagers really,’ Polly continued. ‘But I haven’t caught a glimpse of the parents.’

‘Although it does sound as if the Goodwins are on a bit of a witch hunt,’ big Tomasz pointed out.

‘You know what they’re like. Anyway, the upshot is that whether that family are drug barons, gangsters or even just perfectly normal people, they’re making our lives a misery because we have to go to another meeting. I almost want to evict them on that basis,’ Jonathan mused.

‘Just don’t go,’ Franceska suggested. I loved how sensible she was but also so naive. She escaped the Goodwins when she lived here, so she had no idea how awful they were.

‘We can’t not go, it’s not an option,’ Matt said.

‘Luckily, boys, it’s your turn to go, so Jonathan and Matt, all I can say is have fun,’ Polly laughed.

‘And I won’t wait up,’ Claire finished with a wink.

‘I have to warn her,’ I said to Tiger.

‘Oh, Alfie, if only you paid half as much attention to your real friends, rather than to someone who doesn’t seem to have a nice word for you.’

‘I know, but you know as well as I do what unhappiness can do. Look at how I fixed things for Aleksy. I need to do the same for Snowball, or at least try to. I’m pretty sure her family’s unhappiness is the reason she is so prickly after all. So if I can help her family, I can help her.’

I tried to snuggle up to Tiger, but she moved away from me. She wasn’t a happy kitty. She had wanted us to go and play with the other cats but I couldn’t. After all, my neighbours were in trouble with the Goodwins and I wanted to give Snowball the chance to do something about it.

‘Look, Tiger, I’ll go over there, and try to get her attention then I’ll come and join the rest of you. I’m sorry but you know what I’m like and a cat’s got to do what a cat’s got to do.’ I gave her my most endearing look as she stalked off. But she looked back at me and I knew that she would forgive me, yet again. Eventually.

After Tiger stalked off I made my way to Snowball’s back garden. I didn’t exactly have a plan, but I was hoping that it would come to me when I got there. Although of course I was determined not to be so stupid as to get stuck in any cupboards today. The weather was damp and threatened rain. I felt this in my back legs especially. It was funny but my injury seemed to be affected by the weather. I felt a dull ache in my leg as I prepared to gently jump over the back fence and into Snowball’s garden.

I let my thoughts wander to earlier this morning. We had been up early and as I bounded downstairs eager for breakfast, I saw something on our doormat. I miaowed to draw Claire’s attention to it. It was a white envelope with their names written on it. Claire opened it and pulled out a card. Later when Jonathan came down, ready for work she showed him.

‘So they sent a thank you for the plant after all,’ he said, giving the note a quick glance.

‘Yes but, darling, it just says, “Thank you for the plant it was a very kind thought, from Tim, Karen, Daisy and Christopher.” Not much really.’

‘At least they have manners. Strange they didn’t ring the doorbell to say hello when they dropped it off though. We went to bed quite late last night, and you were up early so they must have put it through the letterbox either incredibly late or very early.’

‘Which is weird, Jonathan. I hate to give any credence to the Goodwins but it is strange.’

‘Maybe,’ Jonathan said, taking a sip of coffee and buttering a piece of toast, ‘they seem to be nocturnal. Like bats. Like Batman.’ His eyes were wide.

‘You’re saying Batman lives next door?’ Claire raised her eyebrows exasperated.

‘A whole bat family. By day they’re mild-mannered, by night they turn into bats and clean up the evil streets around Edgar Road.’

‘You’re as insane as the Goodwins.’

‘But it is a good theory for me to bring up at the meeting tonight. That will throw them off,’ he chuckled.

‘Almost makes me want to come along.’ Claire kissed the top of his head.

‘You still can you know,’ he replied.

‘I said almost.’

As I jumped down onto their lawn, I stopped short; the girl, who I now believed was called Daisy, stood in the garden smoking a cigarette and looking at her mobile phone. I stood still, unsure what my next move should be, when she turned and screamed.

‘God, you startled me,’ she said, but didn’t sound angry. She bent down and looked at my tag. ‘Hello, Alfie. You are a very pretty cat.’ I tilted my head to one side and blinked in greeting. I would have preferred being called handsome but I would take pretty. I purred as she put out the cigarette and stroked me. Then she sat down on the back step, looking pensive. This was my chance, I thought as I rubbed up against her legs. She was wearing school uniform and as it was late morning I wondered why she wasn’t at school. I glanced through the patio doors, but the house looked deserted.

‘Oh boy,’ she said stroking me. ‘I wish I knew what to do.’ I nestled into her, knowing that she needed to talk and I needed to listen. ‘I’m bunking off school, which I’ve never done before. But then I was forced to leave my old school when we moved here and I’m in the middle of my exams! I mean I know what happened meant we had to move but that doesn’t make it any easier.’ She let out a huge sigh.

I miaowed softly, urging her to go on as she wasn’t exactly making anything clear to me.

‘I know I shouldn’t blame Dad, but Chris is miserable, Mum’s working herself into the ground, and it wasn’t his fault but still … we’re all suffering. How can life change so drastically, so quickly? I’ll never understand that.’

I miaowed again, I totally understood that one. After all, I’d been there. My situation had brought me to Edgar Road, and I hadn’t wanted life to change when it did either.

‘I wish I could feel better about it. I just feel so angry about everything all the time.’ She pulled gently at my fur in the nicest way. Lucky Snowball I thought. ‘And so does everyone. This is one unhappy house, that’s for sure.’

She stood up.

‘Anyway, Alfie, I’d better go to school before they call my parents and there’s even more shouting here.’ She started walking away, then turned around. ‘Have you met my Snowball?’ she asked.

I miaowed. She laughed.

‘She’d like you. I think you’d make a really cute cat couple.’ She laughed sadly and I felt my stomach flutter. If only, I thought.

I stared at the empty house, contemplating whether or not to go in given that the house was empty — I was a curious cat after all — when I heard a hiss behind me. Although it was aggressive, it was still music to my ears. I turned around.

‘Hi,’ I said.

‘When are you going to get the message and leave us alone?’

‘Where were you when I was talking to Daisy?’

‘You spoke to Daisy?’ Snowball looked angrier than ever as she bared her teeth.

‘She told me a bit about how she was forced to move here.’ I really hoped she would soften towards me as I gave her my best smile.