Рейчел Уэллс - A Cat Called Alfie

It wasn’t long before Polly and Matt called round, both children ensconced in the stroller, carrying even more food and chairs.

We waited by the front gate and Jonathan, with Summer strapped to his chest, went to get the Snells. Karen opened the door, smiling shyly, shouted for the others and joined us on the pavement. I looked at Snowball and grinned. We both stopped and looked and saw the Goodwins twitching their curtains across the road. All our humans waved over at them, and they waved back. The Goodwins weren’t our friends but they had accepted the Snells at last, especially as they had gone to a couple of their Neighbourhood Watch meetings and taken homemade cake with them.

Snowball smiled at me as we set off for the park.

Jonathan and Matt were arranging blankets when Franceska and Tomasz and the boys arrived. Aleksy was clutching his precious football, I was pleased to see.

‘Hey, shall we play football while they set up lunch?’ Christopher asked.

So much had changed. Not only did we have Summer now but the Snells were far happier. Tim had got a job and loved going to work again. Karen had managed to cut back on her hours so she wasn’t so tired. Polly had taken Daisy to see a model agency because she’d finished her exams and she was going to try out for a few jobs in the school holidays before she went back to do A-levels, and Christopher had started playing football at his school and was so good he was something of a star.

And Snowball and I were friends. Proper friends, close friends, although so far it hadn’t become anything more. I didn’t want to push her, so I had treaded carefully; things were changing but I could tell she needed more time. However, I was feeling optimistic that today was the day that I would make the breakthrough I’d been planning for months.

And it all started with me getting stuck up a tree.

‘Yeah!’ Aleksy shouted and he and Christopher took the ball to the centre of the park. Little Tomasz bounded after them, amid shouts from his father not to lose the ball this time. Henry ran as fast as he could to join in but when the boys started kicking the ball he hung back, nervously. I joined him, as did Snowball. We watched as Christopher showed off some impressive ball skills to an utterly amazed Aleksy.

Matt, Jonathan and Tim came over.

‘Wow, he’s so good,’ Matt said.

‘He’s become the star at school, not that he likes us to acknowledge that,’ Tim said with pride.

‘Let’s join them,’ Jonathan suggested. They all bounded onto the small area, kicking the ball and although Christopher was clearly the only person who could play, they were all having fun.

‘Fun has re-entered our lives, Alfie, thanks to you,’ Snowball said as if reading my mind.

‘And you know I did it for you,’ I replied as I nuzzled her neck.

‘Come on, boys, lunch,’ Franceska called a little while later, and they all made their way over, Matt carrying Henry. The children sat together on one blanket, the adults on another. Although Daisy sat with the adults, Chris was next to his biggest fan, Aleksy. Aleksy adored him, and I was so happy to see how great Christopher was with him; like a big brother almost.

I lay down and basked in the sun with Snowball by my side as my families chatted with hers as they feasted on the lovely food everyone had brought; I looked forward to the leftovers later.

‘It seems so strange to think so much has changed this year,’ Franceska said. She often became reflective when we all got together. Big Tomasz put his arm around her.

‘We’ve been through the mill but seem to have come out the other side,’ Tim said.

‘I’ll drink to that,’ Jonathan said and the men clinked their beer bottles.

‘Jonathan, do you remember when you thought they might be like Batman, but a whole family of crime fighters,’ Matt laughed.

‘Cheers for reminding us, Matt, it was only a theory,’ Jonathan laughed.

‘Excuse my husband, he’s almost as mad as the Goodwins sometimes.’ Claire stroked Jonathan’s arm affectionately as Franceska cuddled a sleeping Summer.

‘It seems the cakes have worked, they’re civil to us now,’ Karen said.

‘Yes — although remember it’s a fine line. You don’t want to encourage them too much or they’ll be popping round all the time.’

‘Good point, we’ll have to make sure we draw all the curtains at least once a week,’ Tim joked.

As glasses chinked and more drinks were poured, Snowball and I left our families and headed to the flower beds.

‘Looking back, your plan, as fragile as it seemed, worked,’ she said.

‘And I got rescued by a fireman for you guys.’ I still expected praise and even sympathy for it all these months later, I had to be honest.

‘You’re right, and thank you. It’s like a happy ending all round.’ Snowball stretched out her body and yawned. A combination of sun and happiness was enough to make any cat tired.

‘Well, not quite,’ I said meaningfully. ‘It’s time for me to stop pussy-footing around,’ I declared.

‘When have you ever pussy-footed, Alfie?’ she teased.

‘OK, well maybe I haven’t but you know … well … you obviously know what I am trying to say, don’t you?’ I felt exposed, embarrassed and unsure.

‘Perhaps, you need to spell it out,’ Snowball replied, looking deep into my eyes and making my legs turn to jelly.

‘You are the most infuriating cat I’ve ever met. Even more so than Tiger. But you are also the most beautiful, and you make me feel alive, like I’m a better cat when I am around you. I need to know you feel the same.’

‘Oh, Alfie, of course I feel the same. No one has ever got stuck up a tree twice, ripped up flower beds or been rescued by a fireman for me. And even without all that, I think you are a wonderful, handsome cat and I couldn’t imagine my life without you now.’ I happily nuzzled her neck, as Aleksy came running over.

‘Alfie!’ he shouted as the others joined him. ‘Snowball. I think they are in love!’ he announced.

Aleksy was holding his brother’s hand. Daisy was standing close to Christopher. Martha and Henry were holding onto the railings and peering at us. Jonathan had his arm around Claire who was carrying Summer. Polly and Matt were holding hands and Tim had his arm around Karen’s waist. Snowball and I were pressed together looking at all the humans who loved each other and loved us too.

I felt as if I could actually see the love that surrounded me and as I looked at the faces of those that made my up all my families, I smiled the broadest smile a cat could. I had loved and lost and loved some more — but through all the happiness and sadness, there was one thing that I would never doubt. This doorstep cat was the luckiest cat in the world.

One ordinary neighbourhood.

One extraordinary cat.

Read the Sunday Times bestseller and find out how it all started. The tale of one little grey cat and his journey to become a Doorstep Cat.

Click here to buy now.

Rachel Wells is a mother, writer and cat lover. She lives in Devon with her family and her pets and believes in the magic of animals. Rachel grew up in Devon but lived in London in her twenties working in marketing and living in a tiny flat with an elderly rescued cat, Albert. After having a child she moved back to Devon and decided to take the plunge and juggle motherhood with writing.

She has always wanted to write and found her voice in her first novel, Alfie the Doorstep Cat which went on to become a Sunday Times bestseller. A Cat Called Alfie is her second book.