Холли Вебб - Smudge Тhe Stolen Kitten

There it was, in the corner by the kitchen cupboards. Smudge trotted over and patted the ball with one paw. It rolled along, the little bell jingling, and he pounced on it. The ball slid along the polished tiles, and so did Smudge, rolling over on to his back, wriggling and clawing at it. But then the ball slid away from his paws and stopped against the kitchen table leg, and it wasn’t as much fun any more.

Grumpily, Smudge lay there on his back, licking his paws. He’d already had quite a long sleep in the recycling box on the kitchen counter. (Ben had emptied it that morning, and it was just the right size for Smudge to feel cosy in, much better than his basket.) Now he wanted someone to play with.

Perhaps by the time he got upstairs, Olivia would be back in her bedroom? He trotted through to the hallway and started to struggle up the stairs.

He was big enough to climb them, but it was an effort, and he had to scrabble and heave himself up each step. He sat down for a little while at the top of the stairs, his sides heaving, and then he crept along the landing and nosed his way round Olivia’s door.

She wasn’t there. The room was empty.

Smudge crept under Olivia’s bed. He picked his way between two tottering piles of books, and pounced on the flex of Olivia’s hair-dryer. Then, yawning, he snuggled himself inside her gym bag. He liked small spaces, and climbing the stairs had worn him out. When he woke up, surely they would all be back?

“I can’t believe it’s only lunchtime,” Olivia muttered, checking her watch for the hundredth time.

“Are you missing Smudge?” Lucie grinned at her.

Olivia nodded. “It’s the first time we’ve left him alone all day. I really hope he’s OK. He nearly climbed out of the living-room window yesterday. I caught him just as he was sticking his head out.”

“He still isn’t allowed out then? Isn’t he old enough?”

“He’s ten weeks, so he could go outside, but Debbie said it’s best if we wait until we’ve had him a bit longer before letting him out on his own. It already feels like he’s been with us for ages, though. He isn’t shy or nervous at all.” Then she shook her head. “Except for yesterday, when we took Smudge into the garden with us, and Ben got him with his water pistol. He said it was an accident, but I don’t know…”

Lucie sighed. “I’m so jealous. I love Tiger, but he’s really old and just sleeps all day. Can I come and see Smudge soon?” she asked hopefully.

Olivia nodded. She was desperate to show off how gorgeous Smudge was. “Do you want to come to tea tomorrow? Mum’s doing playground duty, we could go and ask her.”

They ran over to Olivia’s mum, who was turning the end of a skipping rope for a bunch of year one girls. “Mum, can Lucie come to tea tomorrow? She really wants to see Smudge.”

Mum frowned. “Oh, not Friday, Lucie, sorry. Ben’s already invited Rob. I’ll ask your mum about popping over at the weekend,” she suggested, and Lucie nodded, looking pleased, but Olivia was frowning.

“Rob’s coming? To tea? Mum, does he have to? Ben always plays up when Rob’s round, they’ll be awful! They might upset Smudge!”

“I’m sure they won’t, Olivia. Oh dear! Up you get, Sinead!” One of the year ones had tripped over the rope, and Mum went to pick her up.

Olivia sighed, and glanced at Lucie. “I bet they will. You know what Ben’s like. And with Rob there he’s three times as bad. I’ll just have to keep Smudge with me the whole time.”

“Smudge! Where are you, puss?” As soon as Olivia got home from school, she dropped her bag, pulled off her coat, and dashed upstairs to search for him. Maybe he was having a sleep on her bed? As she pushed her bedroom door wide open, there was a little mew and Smudge wriggled out from under her bed. A pile of books toppled over as he shot out and scrambled into her lap. Olivia giggled. “Mum’s right, I really do need to tidy up, especially if you’re going to go exploring under there. Those books nearly squashed your tail!” She settled down to do her homework with Smudge purring on her knee. When she’d finished she carried him downstairs, and wandered into the kitchen to talk to Mum. Ben was out in the garden building a den in the apple tree.

“Mum, does Rob have to come to tea tomorrow?”

Mum looked up from the saucepan she was stirring. “Well, yes. It’s all arranged. What’s the matter, Livvy?”

Olivia shrugged. “I don’t want him to…” she whispered. “He does stupid stuff, and he makes Ben do stupid stuff too. They always get into trouble.”

Mum sighed. “I know they’re a bit naughty. But Rob is Ben’s best friend. Can’t you just stay out of their way tomorrow, love?”

“But what if they upset Smudge? Can I take him up to my room tomorrow to keep him out of their way too?”

Mum looked at her seriously for a moment, and shook her head. “Olivia, Ben wants to show Smudge off to Rob. I know you really love Smudge, and he’s taken to you so well, but he’s not just yours, sweetheart. He’s Ben’s kitten as well.”

Olivia nodded miserably. She knew Mum was right, but it didn’t help. Smudge felt like he was her kitten, and she didn’t want the boys anywhere near him.

“Hello, Smudge!” Olivia’s dad walked in, and tickled the kitten under the chin.

Then Ben flung open the kitchen door, and stomped muddy footprints across the floor. “Is it dinnertime yet?”

“Shoes off!” Mum grabbed him. “And then it is, yes.”

Olivia rolled her eyes at Mum. “You see?” she muttered. She let Smudge down to the floor and went to help pass the bowls of pasta round.

“What?” Ben asked, as he hopped around taking off his trainers.

Olivia folded her arms. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to have Rob over tomorrow. Not when we’ve only had Smudge for three days. Rob’ll probably get Smudge to … to climb trees or something. You always do stupid things with him! Like that time you dug a tunnel and pulled up all Dad’s daffodil bulbs!”

Ben shook his head. “That so isn’t fair! For a start, we didn’t know they were there! And anyway, Rob loves cats. He’s been asking his mum and dad for one for ages. He can’t wait to meet Smudge.”

“Oh…” Olivia muttered.

“Actually, where is Smudge?” Mum asked.

Olivia looked down, expecting to see him by her feet, hoping to be fed. But he wasn’t there.

“I don’t know.” Olivia went to look in the hallway, but then there was a worried little meow from somewhere on the other side of the kitchen.

Mum frowned. “Where on earth is he?”

The meowing got louder.

“I think he’s behind the cooker!” Ben said suddenly.

“But it’s still hot from cooking dinner!” Mum cried.

Olivia dashed over to the cooker. “Smudge, come out of there!”

But Smudge only mewed louder.

“He’s stuck,” Olivia muttered, crouching down and trying to reach behind the cooker. “Ow, and it’s hot. I can’t get to him. I think he got trapped and now he can’t turn round!”

Dad shook his head. “What is it with that kitten? The smaller the space, the more he likes it. I’ll have to pull it out a bit.”