Рейчел Уэллс - A Cat Called Alfie

I miaowed again, to tell him I at least wanted to listen.

‘I understand now why my parents are so damn paranoid after everything that happened. People suck. My mates on Facebook ignore me, or post that my dad is a criminal, which isn’t true. They post up pictures of parties I’m not invited to, holidays we can’t afford to go on and, well, when I message them they never reply.’

I had no idea what this Facebook was but I got the gist. He had lost his friends when he moved, just like I had. I nuzzled him. Life was hard when you felt alone and I knew all about that.

‘Although when Snowball was missing the neighbours who helped seemed nice but now, Mum and Dad have gone back to ignoring everyone.’ He sighed. I purred to try to say I wished they would be friends with everyone.

‘If only he hadn’t done that to Dad. We have to put up with the police coming round, although I know they are trying to help but it doesn’t help when the neighbours are gossiping about us. None of this was our fault. None of it was Dad’s fault although I don’t tell him that enough.’

I held my breath; who did ‘he’ mean and what had he done? Was I finally going to find out what had happened to the Snells. A loud and unhappy noise interrupted us. I turned and looked; Snowball was sitting in front of the sofa and she was not happy. I didn’t hear her come in so had no idea how much of that she had heard. She hissed at me and Christopher laughed. I was so happy to see her that I didn’t care about her anger, and I was also pleased to see she looked back to her normal beautiful self.

‘For God’s sake, Snowball! Alfie rescued you.’ Snowball hissed again. I didn’t know what to do as I looked from Christopher to my one true love. I was still enamoured with her but her timing sucked — I had to admit — just as I was getting to the bottom of things.

‘All right, keep your fur on,’ he said at last, as he picked me up. ‘Sorry, Alfie, looks like you’re going to have to leave. Apparently there’s only room for one cat in this house.’ He smiled at me as he opened the front door and gently set me down outside. My last view before the door closed on me was of Snowball’s thunderous face as she glared at me.

Well, that didn’t go exactly to plan.

When I got home, I crawled into my bed. Life was complex for humans and cats alike, although I was quickly realizing that it was relationships that caused most complexities in life. I thought about it, how others affect you, the impact they have on your life, both good and bad. I knew that my skill was bringing people together and I was determined that, despite resistance, I would continue to do this. Relationships were worth it in the long run even if they caused heartache along the way, I thought as I drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

‘Why do I have to do everything?’ Claire’s shrill voice shattered my sleep. I stood up, stretched, and shook the sleep off me, before I ventured downstairs. Claire rarely shouted and I was unused to it. I found her and Jonathan in the kitchen; she looked incensed and he looked slightly scared.

‘I’m sorry, but I didn’t know you wanted me to go to the supermarket on my way home from work.’

‘Because you never bloody ask! You just expect food to magically appear in the house, despite knowing that I work hard too. I might not earn as much as you but I still contribute to this household,’ Claire thundered.

‘Darling, I know, and I would never suggest otherwise. Listen, give me a list and I’ll go shopping right now.’ Jonathan looked startled, like a cat caught in the headlights.

‘Yes, of course you’ll go now when I’ve had to shout and scream at you. Forget it, get your own dinner. I’m going for a walk.’ The front door shook as Claire slammed it. Jonathan looked at me.

‘No idea what’s got into her, mate, but I’m not keen.’ I miaowed. I wasn’t keen either, this was not like my Claire, who never shouted. I was unsure if I should be worried but I was pretty sure I should be.

While Claire stormed off, Jonathan fed me, before sitting at the table and scratching his head a bit more. After an hour Claire returned and he apologized, although I was pretty sure he had no idea what he was actually sorry for. He poured her a glass of wine and after they talked things through, they made up and she eventually forgave him. It was all so strange.

Meanwhile, while they went to bed quite happy, I went to bed worrying about Snowball. I wasn’t sure why she was so angry with me. I had helped save her, and then gone to see if she was all right, yet I was being made to feel as if I was in the wrong. It was as if she would never forgive me, not for all the saucers of milk in Edgar Road, although I was only trying to be caring. It was so confusing.

After a fretful sleep I decided that I would take a leaf out of Jonathan’s book and apologize even though I hadn’t technically done anything bad. I thought about taking Snowball a gift but I didn’t want to overdo it. It was easy for me to get a mouse or bird for her — or more accurately, to ask Tiger to get me one as she was the better hunter — but what I needed to do was issue a heartfelt apology to her and hope that she would forgive me. I was pretty sure she wasn’t as easy to get round as Claire though; Claire was a lovely pushover when it came to me or Jonathan, but Snowball clearly wasn’t that easy to impress.

Decision made, I didn’t want to dilly-dally. I ate my breakfast quickly, but took some time cleaning myself, determined to look my best. I quickly made my way to the Snells’ back garden next door and hid behind a bush. I sat and waited, as I watched the kitchen scene unfold. It was familiar in a way.

Tim was dishing out breakfast. Daisy was looking at her phone as she ate toast. Christopher looked even more unhappy than he did the previous day, and Karen was drinking a cup of coffee. No one seemed to be speaking. I caught a glimpse of Snowball at her bowl, eating her breakfast, looking happier than when I last saw her, and I bided my time.

Finally, Tim cleared the dishes, Karen left the room and Daisy and Christopher followed shortly after. I guessed they were going to school. Tim loaded the dishwasher and Snowball came outside.

I slid out from my hiding place.

‘ You !’ she exclaimed.

‘Listen, I’ve come to apologize. I’m sorry that I was in your house yesterday but I’d only come to find you, to check you were all right. I didn’t expect Christopher to talk to me.’

‘What did he say?’ Her eyes were narrowed.

‘Just that someone did something to his dad, someone who he thought was a friend. He didn’t say what.’

‘Good. That is more than you need to know.’ Her tail twitched from side to side angrily.

‘Snowball, there is something going on, and I know it’s something bad and sometimes it helps to share. I’ve solved my fair share of problems in my time, both for cats and for humans, and I’m not bad at it, if I do say so myself.’

‘Even you can’t fix this,’ she said.

‘But I could try,’ I pushed.

‘What is it with you? Why won’t you just leave us well alone? We don’t need you or your help.’

‘OK, fine. But can I ask you one thing? Snowball, if I tell you my story, how I came to live next door, and the people in my life then will you agree to listen? And after that if you want me to leave you alone then I will.’

She narrowed her eyes at me again. They really were like glittering sapphires.

‘So if I listen to your life story you’ll go away?’

‘If you want me to.’

‘Oh, I’m pretty sure I will. But do carry on. And I’ll try not to fall asleep.’

This was one tough cat to win over, but then I loved a challenge.