Рейчел Уэллс - Alfie Cat In Trouble

Tiger looked at me as she swiped her paw at a passing fly. She missed then she rolled back and stood on all fours.

‘I guess you are going to tell me about it, whether I like it or not?’

Of course I was. ‘Well, it all began with a piano …’

Stanley was sitting at the kitchen table with a box in front of him when I let myself in. I jumped up. It had wriggly worms in it. I backed off slightly; I still didn’t trust them.

‘Miaow.’

Stanley looked sad. ‘Oh Alfie, hi, I was just looking at my worm collection. Every Adventurer needs a collection of wild animals.’

‘Miaow!’ He had me. He didn’t need worms.

‘You don’t count Alfie, you’re not wild.’ I didn’t know whether to be offended or not. ‘Anyway, I am so totally bored today. I don’t know what to do. Mum and Dad have been spending all their time with Viola. She’s playing them her new piece of music.’ He looked at me. ‘She was going to play with me, but they wouldn’t let her.’

Oh dear. Poor Stanley. He had made friends with his sister but he was still upset by his parents. I had an idea. I jumped off the table and went through to the living room, knowing that Stanley would follow. He did. Viola was playing her new piece of music, her mum and dad were standing watching her. I approached with Stanley just behind me, clutching his box of worms.

‘Bravo,’ Mrs Clover clapped. She had tears in her eyes.

‘Viola, that was brilliant,’ Mr Clover said.

‘Such a talented girl,’ Mrs Clover added.

Viola blushed. I could see Stanley getting angry.

‘Look everyone, I’ve got a worm collection,’ Stanley said, standing right behind his parents.

‘What?’ Mr Clover swung round and bumped into Stanley.

‘Ahhh!’ Stanley said, dropping his box.

‘AHHHHHHH!’ Viola screamed as worms landed in her lap. She jumped up then tripped over. ‘Oww.’ She landed on her bottom, her glasses flying across the air.

‘Sorry,’ Stanley said, scooping his worms up. I wasn’t sure if he was apologising to Viola or the worms.

‘Right, Stanley that is it,’ his mother shouted. ‘Worms do not belong in the house and look what you have done to your sister.’

‘I’m fine, honestly, Mum,’ Viola said. But everyone ignored her.

‘You never pay any attention to me.’ Stanley shouted.

‘Well I am paying attention to you now, young man,’ his mother said, waggling her finger at him. ‘You will say sorry to Viola, and then you can go to your room and think about your behaviour.’

Stanley ran off.

‘I just don’t know what to do about him,’ Mrs Clover said as I went to follow. ‘No Alfie.’ Mrs Clover picked me up before I reached the stairs. ‘Stanley needs to learn to behave himself, so I am afraid you will have to leave today. Come back tomorrow.’ She opened the front door and put me outside.

I hadn’t done anything and I was being banished! I was beginning to understand why Stanley was so angry with his parents. I sat on the steps feeling cross, before deciding that I might as well go to the park. With any luck Tiger would be there. I started walking slowly, taking my time. The sun was beating down, birds were flying overhead, and I stopped to look at flowers. My good mood returned as I enjoyed my journey.

No sign of Tiger as I made my way to the flower bed. I was just about to dive under my favourite bush when …

‘Yelp!’ Stanley was right behind me. I knew children shouldn’t be out without a grown up and although I was six cat years old, I didn’t qualify.

‘Hi Alfie,’ Stanley looked very pleased with himself. He was wearing a big hat, had a pair of binoculars around his neck and was holding his compass.

‘Miaow?’

‘An Adventurer needs to be able to stalk without being detected. I decided to practise by following you.’

‘Miaow?’

‘Mum and Dad were so busy, they didn’t see me sneaking out. They don’t care anyway. Besides, you didn’t notice me following you which means I’m very good at it.’

I knew we were going to be in big trouble for this. I tried to get Stanley to go back home by walking to the park exit but he wouldn’t. He collected some leaves, and then he climbed up one of the smaller trees.

‘Um, there is not much on the horizon,’ he said, looking through his binoculars. ‘Ah, some rare species of plants.’

I had no idea what to do, so I just stayed with him. After what seemed like ages, he came down from the tree.

‘I suppose I’d better go home; it’s probably nearly tea time,’ he said. Finally. I rewarded him by brushing my tail against his legs. ‘Right, let’s go.’ He took out his compass. ‘Oh dear, which way is home?’ We stood at the park exit. I knew, so I miaowed but he didn’t seem to hear me. He looked at his compass and started running round in circles. ‘My compass is broken and now I am totally lost!’ he shrieked as he started getting breathless. I tried to get his attention but he was spinning too much.‘Oh no, I am going to have to live in this park forever!’ Stanley shouted. He was huffing and puffing, sweating and distressed.

‘Miaow, miaow, miaow!’ I screeched. Finally, he stood still. I started walking, hoping he would follow me and, still holding the ‘broken’ compass, he finally did. I led him home as quickly as my legs would allow.

‘Wow, you really are an adventure cat,’ he said, as we reached his front door.

We rang the doorbell, and although I didn’t want to wait, I knew I couldn’t abandon Stanley now. Mr Clover opened the door.

‘Oh my goodness, there you are!’ he said. Stanley hung his head.

‘Where have you been?’ Mrs Clover shrieked as soon as she saw him. Viola burst into tears.

‘Sorry, but—’

‘No, Stanley you have gone too far this time,’ Mrs Clover interrupted. ‘It’s not safe for children to go wandering off; anything could have happened to you.’ Mrs Clover was more upset than I had ever seen her.

‘We were worried sick, Stanley,’ Mr Clover shouted. ‘Worried sick.’

I looked at Stanley who looked at his feet. He was bright red.

‘You are to go straight to your room,’ Mrs Clover started crying. ‘And you are not to leave this house, not even to go in the garden.’

‘Not fair.’ Stanley threw his compass. It flew through the air and I could barely look as it smashed into one of Mrs Clover’s pots.

‘My new pot!’ she screamed. Mrs Clover started to cry as Mr Clover hugged her and Viola.

Stanley looked at the three of them, huddled together and, without them noticing, he ran into the garden.

I needed to go home but first, I had to mend the Clover family. They were quite broken. I followed Stanley to the shed, where he sank down on the picnic blanket and sobbed. I went over to him and rubbed up against him, purring to let him know I was there for him.

‘Miaow.’ Gently, I put my paw on his arm.

‘I didn’t mean to break the pot,’ he said sadly. ‘Now Mum and Dad will be crosser than ever with me. They might send me away.’