Рейчел Уэллс - A Cat Called Alfie

‘So you’ve had a nice weekend?’ Dustbin asked.

‘Actually, I have. I went to see Aleksy play football yesterday, and tomorrow, before I go home, I’m going to the school for a visit.’

‘You do have an interesting life,’ he said.

‘Well I seem to have a few adventures. But when I was homeless I was so miserable, and I really feared for my life. Sometimes even now I wonder how I survived. I guess I’m lucky to have such caring people around me.’

‘You are, but then I’ve always been a street cat and I wouldn’t fare well in a home. Franceska suggested to Tomasz that they take me in but I would have hated that. Especially as it apparently involved getting me bathed and taken to a vet!’

‘Trust me, I’ve been through both and neither are fun,’ I replied sagely.

‘I’m not cut out for domesticity. I mean I like the boys well enough, but I wouldn’t want to have to play with them too often.’ He laughed. ‘I like the freedom that this life gives me.’

‘So it’s your choice?’ I asked.

‘I’m not sure I’d call it choice, exactly.’ He looked thoughtful. ‘I was born into it and I just got used to it. Tomasz keeps me well fed and I keep down the vermin around here. It’s like a job really.’

‘When I was homeless I saw some people who lived on the streets. But they were drunk and mean to me. I met street cats too, and some of them scared me, but one of them was really great.’

‘And not all people who live on the street are drunks. Remember, this world is far from perfect; yours might be but others aren’t so fortunate. I know many people who live outside because they don’t have a choice, not because they like it, and it’s very sad.’

‘There’s so much I don’t know about the world still, I guess,’ I admitted.

‘There’s so much we all don’t know, but hey, Alfie, just appreciate all you have, and take care of the people who love you.’

‘I will, Dustbin. I wish we had more time together but if I come back again I hope to see you.’

‘You too, Alfie, I might teach you effective hunting,’ he laughed.

‘My friend Tiger would tell you that I’m the worse hunter ever.’ I tried though, as I followed Dustbin around the yard. Unfortunately I lived up to my reputation. I swiped for one mouse who darted out of my grasp, and I spun round to find it, tripped over my tail and ended up on my bottom. Not to be deterred, I stalked another mouse, but I pounced a bit too soon and the mouse sprang out of my loose lips and bit me on the nose.

‘Ow,’ I cried, dropping it on its head. Dustbin was almost crying with laughter and I decided to quit while I just had a slightly sore nose and bruised pride.

We waved our tails in a friendly goodbye and I thought what an interesting cat he was.

Today was the day that I was going to school with Aleksy. We were all incredibly excited. Apart from little Tomasz who was annoyed that I wasn’t going to his class.

‘It’s not fair,’ he whined.

‘Don’t sound like a baby, Tomasz. Your class hasn’t done an Alfie project; maybe some other time,’ Franceska chastised. Little Tomasz crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his bottom lip out. I went up to him and tickled him with my tail, which I knew would get him. He laughed and then he picked me up and gave me a cuddle. Tomasz was still only five but he was big for his age. Jonathan called him ‘a bruiser,’ which seemed to suit him.

‘So, if Alfie can’t come to my class then can I carry him to school?’ he asked.

‘OK, but I’ll bring the carrier in case you get tired,’ Franceska replied. Great, I was going to be caged again. I definitely wasn’t looking forward to that part of the day.

But even that couldn’t dampen my spirits. I couldn’t wait to tell Tiger all about it.

I felt a pang. I had barely given her a thought since I’d been on my holiday. I had, of course, thought a lot about Snowball; she was the last thing on my mind before I went to sleep and the first thing I thought of on waking. I felt guilty about Tiger but then what could I do? I missed everyone from Edgar Road, but I missed seeing Snowball the most. A cat I had only known for just over two months. What did that say about me?

Once the boys were dressed in their school uniforms, I was put into the cat carrier by Aleksy. He looked as if he was beside himself with excitement as his eyes shone and he kept hopping from foot to foot.

‘Aleksy, I wish you were always so keen to go to school,’ Franceska teased.

‘Maybe I would be if Alfie came with me every day,’ he replied, cheekily. I miaowed loudly. There was no way I could go to school every day; I was far too busy.

Excitedly, I realized that being the hero of the football match would have increased my already great popularity at school. It was lucky I wasn’t a big headed cat; I knew it was just the affection of children, and I tried not to get too proud. It really was a very nice feeling though.

Franceska dropped Tomasz, who was carrying me, at his classroom, wrestling me from him, and we then went to Aleksy’s class, where everyone was waiting. As the children crowded round me, still in Franceska’s arms, the teacher, the pretty Miss Walton, who had gently ejected me from her classroom last time, welcomed me warmly. She put me on her desk and all the children came to see me one by one. They were all gentle, even the bully who seemed to have changed his ways.

Eventually, everyone was told to settle down, and Franceska left the classroom. I took the opportunity for a good look around. On my first visit, I had been so preoccupied with Aleksy and the missing Molly that I hadn’t properly noticed the surroundings. A big white board was at the front of the room, and desks were lined up with bright plastic chairs. Paintings covered most of the walls and there was a book corner where there were more books than I had ever seen. At the back of the room a hamster was eyeing me suspiciously from its cage. It was a bright, colourful room and I felt pleased as punch to be there again.

Then the children all read out parts of a story they had written about me. It was about a cat, called Alfie (naturally), who had magic powers. The cat could stop people being sad and from being hurt; basically, he could solve any school problems or home issues. When Aleksy read out his bit it said this magic cat taught children to be good children. It was actually quite an emotional story and although not all of it made sense — cats cannot fly through the air and we don’t wear capes — I felt a bit choked up by the time the story came to the end.

I miaowed loudly to show my approval which made everyone laugh. The teacher picked me up to view the childrens’ paintings of me, which adorned the classroom wall. As I looked at them all, I admit I preened a bit. I felt very special and very lucky, and suddenly I realized how far I had come from being a homeless cat with no one to love him.

Miss Walton carried me out to Franceska when the stories had been read and the children said a reluctant goodbye to me. I was a little hurt to be bundled, yet again, into the cat carrier.

After being released from my jail back at the flat, it was just me and Franceska for the first time in ages. As Franceska and I shared a special bond, I was happy for our rare time together. She took her jacket off, and let me out of the carrier. I followed her into the kitchen where she put the kettle on and then put some milk in a bowl for me.

‘Right, Alfie, that was quite a morning and I really feel so glad that Aleksy is happy at school again thanks to you.’ She made a drink and sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. I jumped up onto one of the high stools to be next to her. ‘And we’ve loved having you here. I do miss you,’ she said, stroking the part of my neck that I loved. I purred melodiously. ‘But you can come here anytime, you know. I know we have competition with Claire and Polly, but you will always have a home with us too.’ As she smiled and sipped her drink, she had a dreamy look in her eyes. I tilted my head towards her, questioningly. She smiled, as if she was far away. ‘When I first met you, well we had just moved from Poland and I was terrified.’