Alfie The Doorstep Cat. A Cat Called Alfie. Alfie Cat In Trouble. Alfie Far From Home. Alfie And George

‘No, don’t be daft. It’s more complicated — Matt lost his job.’

‘Oh no, Pol, I am so sorry,’ Claire said.

‘Now I feel the stupid,’ Franceska said. Her English was brilliant but when she got upset or stressed her accent became stronger and she sometimes put words in the wrong places.

‘No, honestly, I’m used to the idea now. ’

‘But I’ve seen you loads lately and you didn’t say anything.’ Claire sounded worried.

‘I think I wanted us both to get our heads around it a bit before we told anyone. He’s talking to Jon about it tonight. But anyway, he went to work and they simply told everyone it was closing down — the company’s gone bust. They’re sorting out packages now but Matt says he’ll be lucky to get a couple of months’ pay. But the thing is, just before we found out, DF Design offered me a job.’

‘Wow, Polly, that’s great.’ Claire smiled at her.

‘Yes, well, I turned it down at first because I didn’t want to work full time because of the kids, but things have obviously changed. It’s a rolling six-month contract, and it doesn’t pay as much as Matt earned, but we can manage, at least until Matt gets another job.’

‘It all sounds complicated,’ Franceska said.‘But you OK?’

‘Yes, the main thing is that we’ll be fine — financially anyway. But the thing is, Matt and I are arguing because he’s miserable about not working. He says he doesn’t want to be a househusband but I don’t even know if that’s the real issue.’

‘Oh God, Pol, it could be the role reversal … I shudder to think how Jonathan would cope with that. If I told him I was going to work and he was staying at home, he’d wonder what the hell he was supposed to do. He thinks Summer and the house get sorted by magic. Anyway, at least the kids are a bit bigger now.’

‘Yes, Henry’s at school and Martha will be soon,’ Franceska added.

‘I know, I know, but I’ll miss them, and the idea of working full time, well, let’s be honest — I was a model before so I’ve never actually had a nine to five. Now I will, five days a week, and Matt will be at home, making packed lunches and cleaning the house. Well, hopefully cleaning the house!’ They all laughed.

‘Is he taking it that badly?’ Claire asked.

‘I keep telling him that it’s only until he finds another job, which will hopefully be sooner than he thinks. Then goodness knows what I’ll do if he gets a job, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’ She sighed. ‘Right, enough about me, what’s going on with you two?’

‘Well, we’re well underway with the adoption process,’ Claire told them.

‘Claire, that is the biggest news! Why you haven’t told us?’ Franceska asked, giving her a hug and nearly sending me flying off her lap.

‘I was waiting for tonight. It’s a long process, and Jonathan still isn’t exactly keen … I’ll keep you posted but having George has made me want a sibling for Summer even more. She thinks that Alfie and George are her brothers and she talks about them at nursery as if they’re human!’

‘That’s so cute, although perhaps a bit worrying when they find out she’s talking about cats,’ Polly pointed out.

Franceska then told the other two that they were now ready to open a second restaurant. Tomasz had a partner, a friend from Poland who had moved here a while ago, and they were expanding the business together. The restaurant was really popular so it made sense, although I worried that big Tomasz worked too hard already. I didn’t want him to be too busy for his family.

‘I’m worried that we’ll see less of him, but he assures me that he’s going to put managers in so he can concentrate on the food side and not have to be there quite so often. Well, we are hoping,’ Franceska said. I knew that Tomasz found it hard to let go and delegate to others — his wife had worried about that since he had opened his first restaurant.

I looked at George, who was fast asleep on Polly’s lap, then at my three human women. They were all so strong and had come a long way since I had first met them. Claire with her broken heart, Polly with her postnatal depression after giving birth to Henry, and Franceska struggling to settle into a foreign country. But I knew that it wasn’t plain sailing and once again it felt as if issues were mounting up for each of them. Changes were happening and change always threatened to cause problems, I knew that. I just hoped we would all be able to keep it together, and that my families would weather the storm I had a horrible feeling might be brewing.

Chapter Twelve

[Êàðòèíêà: i_012.jpg]

The first storm came not from my main families but from someone else I was very close to. Though all my families were a bit rocky, there was nothing that was an immediate concern to me. After the girls’ night, Claire and Jonathan had had a bit of a row, but that wasn’t anything new. When Jonathan went over to his house, Matt had been upset about his job loss, understandably, but Claire commented on how lucky they were that Polly had been offered something. Jonathan said she didn’t understand how unsettling it would be for Matt to have to slip into a housewife role and then Claire accused him of being sexist, which Jonathan quite happily admitted he was … It was just one of their usual annoying bickers. But it unsettled little George, who still had a long way to go before he understood.

‘I don’t understand why they shout,’ he said, his voice quivering.

‘Humans do that sometimes. It’s very complicated and it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.’

‘But why?’

‘Well, sometimes people — and cats, for that matter — don’t agree.’

‘But why?’ he asked. And on and on he went, until I had to cover my ears with my paws, because I couldn’t hear ‘why’ one more time. Again, I knew how the human parents felt; Martha was going through a ‘why’ phase right now and Polly said it made her want to tear her hair out. Parenting this kitten was almost harder than taking care of my grown-up humans. But of course this cat had to do it all.

The next day, Claire and Jonathan had made up and were doing that yucky thing they do when they keep kissing and being soppy. Poor George looked at me, eyes full of confusion, and I wondered how on earth I was supposed to teach him about life when it made so little sense sometimes.

‘Yuck,’ Summer proclaimed, watching her dad kiss her mum as they made breakfast. ‘Yuck, yuck, yuck.’ Claire and Jonathan laughed but I had to agree with her — it was pretty embarrassing to see them put on such a public display!

George was stationed underneath Summer’s high chair, where he was enjoying licking off the yoghurt she kept dropping onto him. It was his new favourite thing to do. I was eating my breakfast, having ensured George had eaten enough of his by telling him he wouldn’t grow up as strong as me unless he did. I had heard many a human parent saying this so I knew it was true. But we were having lovely family time together and it made my heart swell with love, a feeling that had been lacking since the loss of Snowball. Don’t get me wrong, I still missed her when I had time, but I was also happily counting my blessings too.

The doorbell dinged, interrupted our lazy Saturday morning. Jonathan and Claire looked at each other, and Claire went to open the door. I gave George the‘stay there’ look I had mastered and followed her.

‘Oh God.’ Claire and I stood back as she opened the door. Tasha, her best friend and one of mine too, stood on the doorstep, holding her son, Elijah, who was only a bit older than Summer. She was crying with such force, it suggested she might fall over.

‘Tash, come in,’ Claire said. She grabbed Elijah, almost dropping him; he was only a few months older than Summer but he was about two children heavier. She shouted for Jonathan, who came running, thrust Elijah at him and told him to take him into the kitchen with Summer. Jonathan looked shocked but didn’t argue as Claire led Tash into the living room with me at their heels, where Tash immediately collapsed onto the sofa.

‘Tash, darling, what on earth is it?’ Claire wrapped her arms around her friend as she sobbed. Not quite knowing what to do, I curled up next to her. At least she would know I was there for her.

Tasha and I had met when I started living with Claire on Edgar Road, a long time ago. I had loved her straight away. She was a good friend to Claire and had seen us both through some tough times. Claire and Tasha used to work together and had quickly become best friends. Now, with the children so close in age, they spent loads of time together and she remained one of my favourite humans. I didn’t go to her house, as it was too far away, but she was nevertheless part of my family.

‘It’s Dave, he’s gone!’

Dave was her partner. They had never married, and although he seemed an all right kind of bloke, he was allergic to cats, so we always had a bit of an issue between us. He used to take pills when he was around me but he still never touched me, so our relationship was far from close.

‘Gone? Gone where?’

‘He’s, he’s …’ She hiccupped.‘He’s left us. Moved out.’

‘What? Tash! What on earth?’ Claire took hold of her friend’s hands, looking as shocked as I felt. I might not have been Dave’s biggest fan but I thought they were solid in their relationship. Immediately, I felt a kinship with Tash — we both were suffering heartbreak, after all.

‘He said last night he couldn’t do this, this relationship with me. He said he loved Elijah but this wasn’t how he thought family life would be and he wasn’t cut out for it. I tried to ask him for reasons, he just kept saying that he didn’t love me anymore. I tried to talk him out of it, but he, he didn’t change his mind. I cried, I begged, I didn’t sleep all night and this morning he packed a few bags and went. What am I going to do?’

‘Oh, Tash, I can’t believe it.’ As Tash sobbed in Claire’s arms I came to the sad realisation that I had been right all along not to trust a man who was allergic to cats.

Claire was good in a crisis, a bit like myself. She mobilised the troops. She told Jonathan to look after the children while she took Tash into a different room. She ordered Jonathan to call Dave and try to get to the bottom of it, then she said that Tash and Elijah had to move in with us for now. She drove Tash home to get some of their belongings so they could stay for a few days at least. Basically she did exactly what I would have done, if I were a human. I had taught her well.

I felt sad for my lovely friend. Why did humans continue to hurt each other? It was something I didn’t understand. I knew how Tash felt, a little bit, having lost Snowball. But at least Snowball hadn’t abandoned me — she didn’t have a choice but to leave.

I knew I needed to be there for Tasha; I had to help her heal and let her know I understood how she felt. As I pondered how I would do that I heard George miaowing urgently from the kitchen. I had only taken my eyes off him for a second but I ran in to find him standing in my food bowl. In the crisis, Claire and Jonathan had obviously forgotten to put our food away as they usually did.

‘What are you doing?’ I asked, exasperated. He had flakes of tuna on his head.

‘I wanted to try your food, then I thought how much bigger your bowl was than mine, so I thought I’d see if it was bigger than me. I got in but I can’t get out again.’

‘George, if the humans find you they’ll be cross,’ I admonished as I helped him get out.‘Quick, clean yourself up before they get back.’ I supervised his clean-up and tried not to be annoyed that he had used up the rest of my breakfast with his experiment. After all, I had more important things than food on my mind right now.

‘Yum, I liked that,’ George said, licking his lips when he was clean again.

‘But that was my breakfast. You have special food because you’re little. Like Summer,’ I explained.

‘I’m going to get big now so I can eat like you,’ George declared before scampering off. I checked that there was definitely no food left — there wasn’t, George had either eaten what I had left or worn it — before chasing after him.

I found him running round in circles.

‘What are you doing?’ I asked, mildly amused.

‘I’m trying to catch my tail but it keeps running away from me.’

Oh, how I laughed as he determinedly ran round in circles. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he’d never catch it. In the midst of all the doom my kitten was cheering me up. He had this magical power and I wondered now if it was time for me to pass the baton. Should I train George up to help people the way I always did? It seemed like a good idea, and perhaps George could help me help Tash. I was already teaching George what I knew, so when it came to my families, and being a doorstep cat, George would be my apprentice. I grinned — what a nice thought that was.

I looked around the living room. Tash was lying on the sofa, cuddling Elijah, who was asleep. George was curled up at her feet, which was sweet. I had asked him to spend time with Tasha and, actually, when he did the chasing-his-tail thing she had laughed for the first time, so it had worked. My gorgeous kitten was a tonic for us all, it seemed.

Summer was napping in her bedroom, so I joined Claire and Jonathan in the kitchen, where they were talking quietly.

‘So he’s not going to change his mind?’ Claire asked.

‘No, the idiot’s met someone else. I suspected it already, so I tripped him up and he admitted it. Typical story, she’s younger, no kids and he probably thinks she’ll never make the demands of him that Tash does. Anyway, he was too cowardly to tell Tash. I’m afraid he’s moved on. He’seven talking about selling their place and splitting the money. It’s only been five minutes!’ Jonathan looked incredulous — angry and red faced. What made me most proud of Jonathan was how honourable he was as a person. He would never do that to Claire; I would put all the pilchards in the world on it.

‘Oh God, what are we going to tell Tash?’ Claire asked.

Jonathan shook his head.‘He really doesn’t care that she’s in pieces. He just seems to ignore that he’s hurt her, and when I tried to talk about Elijah he said that plenty of kids grow up with parents who aren’t together. He doesn’t seem to think he’s done anything wrong. I wanted to punch him — it was lucky he was on the other end of the phone.’

Jonathan and Dave had never really been friends. They spent time together because of Tash and Claire but I heard Jonathan say he thought he was missing a few brain cells, and apparently he had committed an even worse crime than being allergic to cats: he supported Arsenal. Jonathan could never forgive that but I didn’t really understand why.

‘So what do we do?’ Claire was distraught. Jonathan held her.

‘Well, she can stay here as long as she needs to. I’ll tell Dave to get the rest of this stuff out of the house. And I know she might not be ready, but I’m going to get her a solicitor for when she is. He’s not going to do the right thing, so I’m going to take him on.’ Jonathan sounded pretty certain.

‘Oh, Jon, thanks, we have to help her. I can’t imagine how it must feel …’

‘Hey, you know I’d never leave you and Sum, don’t you?’ He looked at her as he spoke and, as I said before, I knew with certainty in my heart that, no matter what, he wouldn’t leave them. He was nothing like Dave.

‘I do, and I love you. But for now we need to get Tasha back in one piece. She did the same for me when I first moved here, and I didn’t have a child to think about like she does.’

‘Hey, baby, we’ll do whatever it takes to sort her out. Don’t worry.’

I nuzzled against both their legs. I was going to help too, of course.

‘Oh, Alfie, I forgot how much you love Tash too. Well, between us all we’ll get her back on her feet,’ Claire declared, sounding determined.

Satisfied, I miaowed and then went to the back door.

‘OK, Alfie, you can go out, but come to the windowsill when you want to come in,’ Claire said.

‘Miaow,’ I agreed.

I found Tiger under a bush in her front garden.

‘Hi, Tiger, what’s going on?’ I asked. It had been a couple of days since I’d last seen her, and I realised that I’d missed her. I was so used to seeing Tiger almost every day, I wondered if I took her for granted a bit.

‘Well, hello, stranger. I’d almost forgotten what you looked like.’

‘This not going out lark isn’t easy. Nor is having a kitten to take care of. I can’t wait for you to meet him though, he’s so cute.’

‘Oh, Alfie, you keep saying that, you proud father. Stroll?’

‘Yes, I’d love to. I haven’t had nearly enough exercise lately.’ We rubbed noses and set off. We hadn’t gone far when a big cat shadow loomed over us.

‘Great,’ I said.‘First time out in ages and we have to bump intohim.’

‘Well, fancy seeing you two here,’ Salmon said, baring his teeth at us.

‘We do live here,’ Tiger replied, flicking her tail angrily.

‘Well, I’m patrolling to check everything is OK. Can’t be too careful you know.’

‘Right, Salmon, and what trouble have you happened upon?’ I said, humouring him. Salmon’s owners ran the local Neighbourhood Watch; they were real busybodies and Salmon was cut from the same cloth.

‘Well, like my owners have noted, number twenty have put so much rubbish in their garden that they’re attracting vermin. They’re holding a meeting about it, you know.’

‘Great, and what about the cat pictures, do you know anything about that yet?’

‘I do,’ Salmon replied. ‘But unfortunately it’s classified information.’

‘What? What on earth does that mean?’ Tiger asked.

‘I am not at liberty to discuss it with you.’

‘Which, once again, means you don’t know anything,’ I retorted.

‘I see your girlfriend left you,’ he said, unkindly.

‘She didn’t leave him, she moved away,’ Tiger hissed. She glared at Salmon in her most aggressive way. Tiger was my best friend and also my self-appointed bodyguard.

‘Yes, well, same difference,’ said Salmon, hissing back at us before walking off.

‘That cat does not get any nicer,’ I said, fuming.

‘But he’s not important. Look at him, he has no friends, and you have loads. Speaking of which, let’s go and find them.’

We made our way to a strip of grass surrounded by bushes at the end of Edgar Road, where our little cat community would sometimes converge. I was lucky: Elvis, Nellie and Rocky, three of my favourite cats, were hanging out there when we arrived. They all stood up to greet us.

‘Alfie, it’s been ages,’ Nellie said, yawning and raising her whiskers.‘Is there any news?’ Nellie loved drama.

‘I’m sure Tiger told you, I’ve been preoccupied with a kitten.’

‘I know, fancy you having a real kitten and not a human to worry about,’ said Rocky. He was an older cat, well-meaning but sometimes a tad interfering.

‘Oh, I still have plenty of humans to worry about, but the kitten can’t go out yet so I’m restricted as to what I can do at the moment,’ I explained.

‘How are you, Alfie?’ Elvis asked kindly. ‘You know, after Snowball leaving?’

‘I miss her, of course I do. You don’t just get over someone that quickly.’ I felt emotional as I thought of her beautiful white fur and blue eyes.‘But George, my kitten, he’s keeping me busy.’ I smiled sadly, tilting my head to one side.

‘Well, we’re all looking forward to meeting him when he’s allowed out,’ Nellie said. ‘But try to come here more often, now the weather’s nice. There are some new neighbourhood cats you should meet.’

‘Really?’ I hadn’t even noticed any new families. I had obviously been neglecting my doorstep cat duties with everything going on.

‘Oh, not new families, just new cats. Two, actually, and nice they are, as well. One is so pretty we think she’ll probably get a picture up there soon,’ Elvis said.

‘Elvis, do you really believe there’s some kind of cat beauty competition going on?’ I asked.

‘Can’t see why not,’ he replied.‘And as I said, I’m guessing at least one of the new cats will be entered soon.’ He sounded sure but it made no sense to me.

‘Have you met them?’ I asked Tiger.

‘Yes,’ she answered shortly, slowly blinking her eyes to indicate the subject was closed.‘Right, I want to sunbathe while it’s still hot.’ She found the best spot and lay down. I had time to stay for a little while, so I settled down, stretching out next to her, and enjoyed the feeling ofthe sun warming my fur. I thought about the new cats and how Tiger had been so keen to change the subject. She could be a funny one, I thought, but it would be nice to meet new cats, it was something else to look forward to. After all, I always say, you could never have too many friends.

As I left the others and walked back on my own, I saw some of the posters. I had seen four in total now. I looked at the pictures of the cats and had to admit that, yes, they were all nice looking cats. But still I was annoyed with myself— I knew somewhere deep down that I had the answer. As I reached the front door, I experienced a sudden flashback. My memory suddenly fell into place. When my families had thought I was missing, they’d put a picture of me on the lampposts (I wasn’t missing at all, I was ill at the vet, but that’s another story). Yes, I had figured it out. These cats were missing for some reason and their owners were trying to find out if anyone had seen them. Of course, it all made sense now. I remembered Aleksy showing me the picture he drew of me and telling me how he had put that up. That was what the lamppost cats were — missing cats! I would have to tell the other cats my discovery, but first I had to go and check on George.

Chapter Thirteen

[Êàðòèíêà: i_013.jpg]

‘Where’s George?’ Claire asked me. I looked at her and blinked. I had just been out into the garden for a few minutes to attend to my needs. How could they have lost him in that short time? I went off to find him. It didn’t take me long — he was under Summer’s bed.

‘George,’ I said,‘come out.’

‘No.’

‘George, I am not going to tell you again. Either you come out or I come to you,’ I warned.

‘No,’ George repeated. I wondered if he’d been taking lessons from Summer when my back was turned. I crawled under the small toddler bed and saw he was tied up in what look like a ball of wool.

‘George, what have you done?’ I asked, eyes widening. ‘Nothing,’ he replied, trying to back away and bumping into a wall.

‘Well, what’s this wool all over you?’ He tried to wriggle away from me but his legs were all tangled up with wool. I had to push him with my paw to get him out from under the bed. When I examined him, I saw that he had what remained of Jonathan’s scarf trailing behind him and the rest of it wrapped around him. He looked like a cat’s cradle. Ah, was that why it was called that?

‘What have you done?’ I asked in my sternest voice.

‘I was just playing with this thing.’ He gave me his most innocent look.

‘The scarf.’

‘Yes, if that’s what it’s called. I was playing with the scarf and suddenly it started to unravel and somehow it unravelled all around me and I couldn’t get it off. I was in Summer’s room anyway so I hid.’ He spoke as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

‘That’s Jonathan’s scarf,’ I said, wondering how much trouble we’d be in. Claire had taken up knitting when she was pregnant and had decided to practise by making Jonathan a scarf. It was the first and last thing she’d knitted but she was proud of it and insisted that Jonathan wear it all winter. Goodness knows how George had got hold of it.

I tried to get it off him but he was more tangled than he looked, and I seemed to be making things worse. Reluctantly, I went to get Claire. She was in the kitchen preparing supper for later. Summer was at nursery, as was Elijah, and Tash was at work. I rubbed against her leg.

‘Hi, Alfie. Did you find George?’

‘Miaow.’ Yes. I nudged her leg with my head.

‘What? What’s wrong?’

‘Miaow.’ I repeated and led the way upstairs.

‘Oh, George!’ Claire said as she saw the tangled mess that was George and the scarf. She tutted and started trying to free him, but he was properly tangled.‘Oh goodness, I’ll have to get scissors.’ She returned with Summer’s nail scissors and started carefully cutting. I saw George close his eyes and knew how he felt. I hoped he wasn’t going to get a fur-cut at the same time. When he was eventually free, George sprang away quicker than I’d ever seen him move. I guessed he didn’t want another telling off.

‘Well, I don’t know what Jonathan will say, that was his favourite scarf,’ Claire said as we left the room.

That evening, after dinner, Claire took Tash out for a drink. She thought a change of scene might do her some good. I thought it meant that at least she wouldn’t be crying. Poor Tash, she held it together when Elijah was awake but as soon as he was asleep she would crumble. I spent as much time with her as I could spare, but nothing I did seemed to make her feel better, not even one of my special snuggles. I knew she must feel like I did when Snowball left, so I understood her pain, and I knew that nothing would really help apart from time. Although she had her kitten, Elijah, and he would help, as George helped me.

I sat with Jonathan on the sofa. George was asleep, curled up on an armchair. It was nice to spend some quiet time together, just the two of us; we hadn’t done that for a while.

‘Oh, Alfie,’ he said as he put his feet on the coffee table, switched the TV on and sipped a beer.‘Boy time. I have to say I was over the moon that George ruined my scarf. I hated that thing, I only wore it because Claire insisted, but it was really itchy and far too long. And thankfully she’s given up knitting so I know she won’t replace it. I might get a lovely cashmere one instead. I should buy that kitten some pilchards to thank him.’

‘Miaow!’ But what about me?

‘And you, of course. Right, well let’s enjoy some peace and quiet from the madness that is this place at the moment.’ I nodded and yawned. It was lovely to relax; it was something that had become very rare in our house.

I was woken a little later by the sound of the door opening. I could hear someone giggling and a loud‘shush’.

‘Oh God, they’re drunk,’ Jonathan said, bracing himself. Tash and Claire stumbled into the living room. Claire hugged Jonathan, almost falling on him and then me.

Tash fell down on the chair, almost sitting on George who shot up in surprise and then settled back down next to her. As Tash stroked him, George purred with joy.

‘We have a plan,’ Claire announced. Now I was sure she had too much to drink, as she was speaking very loudly.

‘Yes, we do,’ Tash slurred.

‘And are you going to share this plan?’ Jonathan looked amused.

‘Yes, Tash is going to see the solicitor you found, I’m making an appointment tomorrow.’ Jonathan had found a good recommendation from someone he worked with. ‘She’s then going to sell the house and move onto Edgar Road. Genius!’

‘Yes, it’s time for me to pull myself together,’ said Tash. Then she burst out laughing. I never understood humans and alcohol. I mean, I like a bit of catnip as much as the next cat but we never let it get this out of control.

‘OK, but is there a house available on this road?’ Jonathan asked.

‘No idea,’ said Claire.‘But it’s a big road.’

I was excited by the idea; it would be nice to have Tash nearby and I’d have another home on Edgar Road, a bit like the old days.

‘Well, that sounds good. Look, Tasha, are you sure?’ Jonathan asked, gently.‘It’s still early days.’

‘Yes, I am. Dave isn’t coming back.’ She suddenly burst into tears, showing the sudden swing in emotions I had learnt was quite common with humans. Then George licked her face and she laughed as if to prove my point. ‘Oh, George. I love this kitten. And you, Alfie,’ she said, almost as anafterthought. But that was all right. I was used to George working his magic on everyone, and I was now sort of in second place. I had thought it would bother me, but actually, I was really happy, because I was under George’s spell too.

‘Right, well that’s all good then, and of course I’ll help out with whatever you need,’ Jonathan said.‘But for now, you both need to drink a big glass of water and get to bed.’

I led George up to bed and left Jonathan to organise the women. I was pleased that Tash was looking towards the future, despite her tears. And I felt the same for me. I was taking little steps. I would never forget Snowball, but life did go on. When I was hurt, I wanted time to stand still, but it didn’t: life didn’t do that.

However, I wished I could see Dave and rub my fur all over him. That would serve him right for hurting one of the loveliest women I knew.

Chapter Fourteen

[Êàðòèíêà: i_014.jpg]

Today was a big day for us. Claire was taking George to the vet to get his vaccinations, which meant he would finally be allowed outside. Although I have a severe vet phobia, I wanted to go with him but annoyingly I wasn’t invited. I had been very careful not to share with George my aversion to the vet. Vets meant well but they prodded in places they frankly had no business to. I told him he’d be fine though, and got him excited about seeing the outside world. I was keen to take my boy out: I couldn’t wait to show him off to my friends and take him round the neighbourhood.

The good news was that as long as they were at the vet’s, the cat flap would be open. It was also very important that I tell my cat friends what I had figured out about the lamppost cats. It was a worrying turn of events, and I knew the posters were still on everyone’s mind. I was also hoping I might get to meet the new Edgar Road cats. Since becoming a parent I had barely had any time for myself, and I was now realising how precious that was. Just being able to do what I wanted to do, something I had previously taken for granted, was now a luxury. I was so busy looking after George that I wasn’t looking after myself, and it was a while since I’d been my usual cat-about-town self.

I called for Tiger, who came out when I bashed her cat flap, our way of ringing the doorbell. She was just finishing cleaning her whiskers.

‘Did I interrupt your lunch?’ I asked.

‘No, I was only having a snack,’ she replied. Tiger liked her food, though since we’d been friends, I had made her take more exercise, and she was far less lazy now than she used to be.

‘I need to talk to you about the lamppost cats, but I think we should go and see the others so I can talk to you all,’ I said.

‘Really? You know something?’ Tiger was interested.

‘Yes, I’ve figured it out — there’s lots to fill you in on.’

I started strolling with Tiger by my side. From a distance, I saw Elvis and Rocky, and with them was one of the new cats. I was excited— Tiger was right, it was the curiosity I always felt for new people and new cats that I loved. I smoothed my fur down and approached. I couldn’t help but notice instantly that the new cat was beautiful. My heart may have belonged to Snowball but my eyes were still working! I saw Tiger glance at me sideways and I thought maybe she was jealous; she could be a bit possessive of me, although I didn’t think she thought of me inthat way anymore. Did she? I tried to give her a reassuring look. I mean, I couldn’t even think about another woman right now, and probably not for a very long time. Maybe not ever.

‘Alfie, Tiger, glad you came. This is the one of the new cats I was telling you about, Pinkie,’ said Rocky.

‘Nice to meet you, Pinkie,’ I purred. She was a similar colour to me, but with a very cute round face and a bright pink collar.

‘You too, Alfie,’ she grinned. She was quite stunning.‘And Tiger, nice to see you again.’ What lovely manners, I thought. Tiger made a sound but didn’t say anything.

‘You’re new to the area?’ I asked.

‘Yes, my family moved to somewhere called “overseas”, and they couldn’t take me with them so they found me a new home.’

‘That’s rough,’ I said. ‘Although I know all about that, having suffered something similar.’

‘Yes, Elvis told me a bit about your background. But the lady I live with now is very nice, and she has great taste in food.’

‘Anyway,’ Tiger interrupted. ‘We have more important things to discuss than food. Go on, Alfie, tell them what you know about the cat pictures.’

‘Ohh, you know something?’ asked Nellie, moving closer. I raised my whiskers as all the cats surrounded me.

‘Yes, I do. The lamppost photos aren’t a beauty contest. It means that they are missing.’

‘Missing?’ Rocky asked. He looked shocked.

‘Yes, the owners have put up pictures asking if anyone has seen their cats. Which means they aren’t at home.’ I felt quite knowledgeable as the others hung on my every word.‘It happened to me once, when Jonathan and the others thought I was missing. But it was all a misunderstanding, as youknow, because I was with the vet. So we need to try to figure out if these cats are really missing or if they’ve left their homes of their own accord.’

‘You mean like they just got fed up and ran away?’ Nellie asked.

‘Found new owners, maybe?’ Pinkie suggested.

‘But there does seem to be quite a lot of them,’ Rocky pointed out.

‘You’re all right. This may be a case of missing cats, but we need to figure out why. After all, they could just have found nicer homes. It does happen.’ I was loyal to my families but they were good to me — not all humans were.

‘So we need to be vigilant?’ asked Elvis.

‘Yes,’ Tiger replied. ‘We don’t think there is anything to worry about but we do need to keep our eyes on the situation and we should discuss it at various intervals. It’s only right.’

‘Tiger’s right,’ I concurred.

‘Guess where I met Pinkie, Alfie?’ Elvis said, changing the subject and sounding proud. His attention span really was very short. I wondered if they were an item, but I didn’t think so as Pinkie seemed far too young and pretty for him.

‘Where?’ I asked. I saw that Tiger was chasing her shadow and pretending not to listen.

‘In my fridge.’

‘Your fridge?’ I asked, incredulous.

‘I happen to like fridges,’ Pinkie said.‘When I first moved here, my owner kept me inside, but when I was allowed out I went to Elvis’s house by mistake.’

‘Well, it is only next door,’ Elvis said kindly.

‘Anyway, his fridge was open, and I just can’t resist an open fridge.’

‘Yes, but then my owner closed the door, trapping her. Luckily she forgot to put the milk back so when she opened it again, Pinkie jumped out. Gave my owner a bit of a fright you know,’ Elvis laughed.

‘Wow, that’s some story. Don’t you find fridges cold?’ I asked.

‘Of course, but then I don’t plan to spend that much time in them. It’s what you get out of them that counts.’ She said this as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

‘Anyway, I escorted her home and now she’s become a friend,’ Elvis finished. Tiger made a sound that sounded a bit like ‘hmmph.’

‘Well, it’s nice to meet you, although maybe you ought to keep out of fridges, they can be dangerous,’ I warned.‘And if you get stuck in one they might have to make you a lamppost cat.’

‘Anyway, as I was saying to Pinkie, Alfie is single,’ Rocky interrupted.

‘What?’ I said.

‘You know, Pinkie’s new to the area, you’re a single tom, you two could step out together. Just a thought.’

So now my cat friends were trying to matchmake? Had that been their plan all along?

‘Sorry, Pinkie, but you know I’m still nursing a broken heart from my last relationship. I can’t think about courting another cat.’ I felt embarrassed all the way to the tips of my whiskers. This was awkward.

‘Hold on a minute,’ Pinkie cut in.‘Thanks, guys, for thinking of me, but Alfie, well, to be honest, you’re not my type.’

‘He’s not?’ Tiger had now stood up and looked interested.

‘No, I like my toms a bit more manly, if you know what I mean.’

I was affronted. More manly? What on earth did she mean? Tiger was trying and failing not to laugh, and Rocky and Elvis couldn’t hide their smirks either.

‘Well, although I like to think of myself as quite macho, actually, at least we’re on the same page. And I’m sure we can be friends,’ I said, mustering all the dignity I had left. ‘But I have to be getting back. I have a kitten to check on. Don’t forget to be vigilant about those lamppost cats.’

I left my friends where they were and walked home. Not manly enough, what on earth? I strutted and swaggered to show just how macho I could actually be.

When I got home, the house was quiet and I enjoyed some time on my own whilst they were still out at the vet. I padded from room to room, enjoying the silence and the space. Just like the good old days, when Claire and Jonathan went to work and I had the whole house to myself. I would never wish for life to go back to what it was— I couldn’t imagine life without either Summer or George — but a bit of peace was nice.

I pondered the missing cats. I certainly felt as if something strange was happening, and there might be a mystery to solve. It did seem an odd coincidence that four cats had now decided to leave their homes, but then it wasn’t impossible. Maybe their owners were mean, or gave them terrible food, or made them sleep in a shed? Any of those reasons would be justification for running away.

I was dozing on Claire’s bed when I heard the door open. I stretched, yawned and licked my paws before making my way downstairs.

‘It’s OK, George, you’re home now,’ Claire was saying gently. The door to the cat carrier was open but George was refusing to come out. I leaned in and rubbed his nose to let him know I was here.

‘I don’t like the vet. Why didn’t you tell me?’ he said.

‘Because we all have to go. They are what we call a necessary evil. And now you’ve had your vaccinations you won’t have to go so often — hardly ever, in fact, if you stay healthy and out of trouble.’

‘Really? But I might have to go again?’ He looked at me with his big eyes full of terror.

‘I’m afraid all cats do from time to time, but listen, it gets easier.’ It really didn’t, in all honesty, but I wanted to be positive.‘And the good thing is that now you’ll be allowed outside and you’ll love that.’ Although suddenly I started fretting. There were all sorts of dangers outside and I didn’t want to think about what might happen to my kitten.‘But you don’t go out without me or a human, not yet anyway. Promise?’

George looked at me with those big eyes that melted my heart every time.‘I promise, Dad.’

Was there anything sweeter than that word?

‘I love hearing Summer call me Daddy,’ Jonathan said that evening as he and Claire were having dinner. The kids were in bed, as was Tash, so it was just the three of us in the kitchen.

‘I know. And you know what, you’ll love it when our next child calls you that too.’

‘Claire …’ Jonathan’s voice had a warning edge to it. I knew this issue was far from resolved but, what with everything that had been going on with Tash, it had been put on the back burner — or so I thought.

‘Look, Jonathan, I’m going to be positive about this. We have the adoption workshop tomorrow and then after that we’ll get allocated our own social worker. It’s early days, I know. We’ve got a long way to go, but I refuse to feel disheartened.’ Claire looked determined and I knew there was no arguing with her when she was like this.

‘Right, well how’s Tash doing?’ Jonathan seemed to agree with me that an argument with Claire was a waste of time right now, and obviously decided a subject change was easier.

‘I wanted to talk to you about that. The solicitor is great, thanks, and she suggested that Tash buy Dave out of the house. She said they have quite a lot of equity, because they bought it so long ago, and the prices have rocketed in their area, so her idea is that she buy hi m out and then if she doesn’t want to live in it she can rent it out.’

‘That makes sense,’ Jonathan said. ‘It’ll be a good investment for her and Elijah.’

‘I think at first she wanted to fight Dave a bit, you know, because he thought she’d just hand over half the money and she’d believe his half-baked promises to pay child support. And especially as he hasn’t made much effort to see his son since he moved out. But now she just wants to move on. So the solicitor is going to be firm but fair with Dave.’

‘Good for her. And if he does anything, I’ll go and see him. Or maybe a solicitor’s letter would be better. I never exactly took to Dave but I didn’t think he was this much of an idiot. What about finding her a new home?’

‘Well, there’s a flat coming up at the end of the road, a bit like Polly’s old one, which would be perfect for the two of them. The tenants are moving out in a month.’

‘Are you sure you didn’t kick them out?’ Jonathan raised an eyebrow.

‘No, although I admit I was asking around. I actually went to see the curtain twitchers.’ That was their name for Salmon’s owners, Vic and Heather Goodwin.

‘Blimey, you must really want her here, to have done that! Though it would be lovely to have them down the road. What does Tash think?’

‘I haven’t mentioned it, I wanted to talk to you first.’

‘Well, darling, I think it’s great. She can stay here until she’s ready to move somewhere else, either Edgar Road or wherever.’

‘See, you are such a compassionate man, Jonathan, you’ll be fine with this adoption.’ His smile quickly vanished, but Claire didn’t push it.

‘Oh, and Heather and Vic were talking about something else. You know there’s been a few cat posters going up on the street?’

‘This is London, unfortunately there are always cat pictures. I see loads on my way to the tube station. Maybe they’ve been hit by cars, or just run away,’ said Jonathan.

‘I know, but there is a bit of a spate of them at the moment. Anyway, Heather and Vic are going to mention it at the next neighbourhood watch meeting, as they think it might be a bit sinister.’ I felt my fur shiver. I hoped it wasn’t something bad, but I couldn’t help but feel they might beright.

‘Well, you know what those two are like, I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about,’ Jonathan replied.

‘I hope you’re right, darling.’ Claire sounded worried, which made me feel even more worried. I had a feeling we were on the cusp of something; I had to make sure the local cats all kept their eyes and ears well and truly open.

Claire wanted an early night with her latest book club book, so after checking that George was fast asleep, I sat with Jonathan and we watched a film. Or he watched a film and I snuggled up and got a bit lost in my thoughts.

‘Oh, Alfie, I know there’s no stopping Claire when she makes her mind up, but I just don’t think I can do this adoption.’ He actually looked sad and I think I understood. Jonathan was a lovely, honourable man but he did struggle with his emotions a bit sometimes.

I snuggled into him to try to reassure him that he could, but I was pretty sure that it wasn’t enough. I would have to think of another way. There were more changes a-paw, I could feel that, and suddenly I felt even more exhausted. Heartbreak, in whatever form, takes its toll and now it looked as if it might also be spreading its wings over all the people I loved.

Chapter Fifteen

[Êàðòèíêà: i_015.jpg]

‘What’s this?’ George looked at me in wonderment as he tentatively padded his paw onto the lawn.

‘It’s grass,’ I replied.‘You can walk on it.’

‘It’s soft and springy and a bit damp!’ he exclaimed. Seeing things through his eyes did open mine to what I usually took for granted. Maybe that was the point of children and kittens? It certainly made having them make more sense. I smiled at him indulgently. Could he be any more adorable?

‘It’s very good for walking on, and it’s only damp because it’s still early, although when it rains it will be wet too.’

‘So it’s safe and not like a bath?’

Educating George was still a bit of a chore. I watched him leap off across our small lawn. He was allowed outside now but only in the garden until he got used to the area. Claire and Jonathan were talking about getting a lead for him— honestly, we cats are not dogs — which was a terrible idea as I could do that just as well. I tried to tell Claire as much by miaowing very loudly and giving her my disapproving look but as Jonathan said, when she makes up her mind …

George flipped onto his back and rolled over in the grass. He was so happy with such simple pleasures; it was yet another thing I loved about him. I could remember when all I wanted to do was to sit on a warm lap or relax in a sunny spot, but those simple days had ended prematurely for me after my first owner died when I was still young. I now wanted that simplicity for George, and to protect him from the complexities of life. That was when I knew that I was definitely a parent.

‘Hey, Alfie,’ I heard Tiger hiss quietly as she jumped over a fence and into our garden.

‘Tiger!’ I was delighted to see her.

‘I know the humans might not like it but I had to come and see you.’

‘They won’t mind, they know we’re friends. I don’t think they’d even mind if they found you in the house — Snowball used to visit all the time.’

‘Yeah, well, that was a bit different. Anyway, I wanted to meet George, plus I have something else to tell you.’

George, on hearing another voice, approached us, hiding between my legs and looking a little scared.

‘Hey, George, there’s no need to be worried. This is Tiger, my best cat friend,’ I announced, feeling proud of my charge.

‘George, I am so pleased to meet you,’ said Tiger.

George stepped out from between my legs and gave Tiger his most charming head tilt.‘Hello.’ He sounded so sweet.

‘Gosh, you are gorgeous!’ Tiger walked closer to him and rubbed him with her neck. I had never heard her sound so tender. Not with me anyway, that was for sure. Honestly, she’d only spent a few seconds in his company and she was already smitten.

‘Are you my mummy?’ George asked. ‘I don’t think you are, but you look a bit like her.’

Tiger looked at me and I knew we both felt our hearts soften even more; I could see it in Tiger’s eyes.

‘No, George, but I am going to help Alfie take care of you, if you’d like me to.’ Tiger cuddled into my kitten, and George seemed to love that, stretching his paws out into the grass.

‘Do you have a kitten?’ George asked.

‘No, I’ve never had a kitten of my own … but maybe you can be my kitten.’ Tiger looked at me hopefully.

‘Hey, it goes without saying, Tiger. We’re like family and families take care of each other. That’s what I try to teach my humans and that’s what I’m now teaching George.’

‘Now I have a mummy and a daddy!’ George exclaimed. I looked at Tiger and was hit by an unexpected bolt of emotion.

‘Right, well then, George, when you’re allowed out more I will help you, with Alfie, get used to the area and the other cats. And if you feel like hunting then I can take you.’ I had never heard Tiger sound so excited. ‘Oh, think of the things we can do!’

George bounded off and started jumping around at the other end of the garden, where he had spotted a low-flying bird. I looked at Tiger.

‘Do you think he’ll want to hunt?’

‘It’s natural for us cats, Alfie. Just because you’re rubbish at it doesn’t mean the boy won’t want to,’ Tiger teased.

‘It’s not just that. When I had to hunt, when it was the only way I got food, I still really didn’t like it. I’m just not that type of cat — so it’s lucky you’re around for George.’

‘Yowl!’ George tried to climb a bush and promptly fell off, landing on his tail and covering himself in blossom. Tiger and I smiled indulgently but let him get himself up again. My instinct was to rush to him whenever he fell but he had to learn to land properly.

‘Alfie, he is so lovely, I know exactly what you mean now,’ Tiger cooed.

‘Isn’t he just? Oh, what was the thing you said you had to tell me?’ I asked, suddenly remembering.

‘Well, I didn’t want to worry you but when I was on my early morning walk I heard Polly shouting at Matt as she left the house. She stormed down the road muttering to herself. She looked really cross.’

I looked at Tiger thoughtfully, grateful that she had told me. It was the second week of Polly going to work and Matt staying at home, and although I hadn’t been able to visit them to find out how it was going, I had heard Claire and Jonathan saying that they were both finding it tough.

‘Thanks, Tiger, I’ll go and see them. Any other gossip?’

‘Well, the cats miss seeing you as much as they usually do, but you’ll be able to bring George by soon and it’ll be like old times. There haven’t been any more posters for a couple of days, which is good, so maybe that whole missing cat thing will blow over.’

‘Thank goodness.’ I had enough to worry about with my humans and George, I certainly didn’t want to worry about other cats as well.

‘The funniest thing is that Salmon has taken a liking to that Pinkie. You know, the one who thought you weren’t very manly! Anyway, he keeps trying to find excuses to see her and I’m not sure she feels the same way. Actually, I’m sure she doesn’t, she hides whenever he approaches, but seeing him try to flirt is the funniest thing ever. I think she’s scared to come and join us much now.’

‘Ha, serves her right for rejecting me,’ I said.

‘I thought you weren’t interested?’ Tiger’s eyes narrowed.

‘I’m not, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have admired how handsome I am.’

‘Oh, Alfie, you’re such a vain cat. Please don’t pass on that trait to George.’

We both looked at George. He was staring at his reflection in the glass door, preening and turning his head to look at himself from all angles.

‘Oh dear, it might be a bit late for that,’ Tiger laughed, before bidding us goodbye as Claire, Summer and Elijah all ran into the garden. Summer scooped George up and squeezed him tightly. Honestly, I did worry that she would stop him breathing sometimes.

‘Eli?’ Summer said.

‘Yes?’ he replied. He was used to being bossed about by her and didn’t seem to mind too much.

‘You pat Deorge now.’ She thrust my kitten towards Elijah and he obligingly stroked him. I smiled, George purred, and I felt content for the moment.

A little while later I left George, who was still playing with Summer— or rather, Summer was dressing him up in her dolls’ clothes. He didn’t look exactly thrilled, but I had to go and see Matt, and I knew that being bossed around by Summer would at least keep him out of trouble for a while.

I pestered Claire to let me out. Despite the fact George had had his vaccinations, his outings were still being monitored and so the cat flap wasn’t always open. I no longer worried about being let back in: if I sat on the kitchen or living room windowsill someone usually saw me. Although it wasn’t quite as convenient as the cat flap, it wasn’t too bad. I had cat friends who refused to use the cat flap, preferring to get their owners to let them in and out as if they were their butlers. Which I kind of understood now — it was pretty nice having my humans run around after me.

I padded slowly to Matt and Polly’s house. It was early afternoon so I knew Polly would be at work and the kids probably at school, or at least Henry would be anyway. I let myself in and found Matt at the kitchen table, alone, with his laptop open in front of him. He didn’t look great. He hadn’t shaved, which wasn’t like him — he was usually as well-groomed as me.

‘Miaow,’ I said, loudly. He jumped a bit, looked up and smiled sadly.

‘Alfie, how are you?’

‘Miaow.’

‘I haven’t seen you in ages. Hey, have some tuna.’ I licked my whiskers; not only was I a bit peckish but it would be nice to eat without the threat of George stealing my food.

He took a bowl out then opened a tin and emptied it in, placing it on the floor. He then got me some water. I was in for a feast.

‘It must be funny seeing me here in the middle of the day,’ he said as he watched me eat. I had learnt in my years of experience with humans not to interrupt them when they needed to talk. If I carried on eating quietly I knew he would say all he needed to say.‘I’m not used to it either,’he continued.‘I miss work. I feel useless, Alfie. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending more time with the kids but, well, I’m just not feeling myself.’ I could tell he wasn’t himself just by looking around. The sink still had dishes from breakfast and there were crumbs all over the kitchenfloor; usually their house was immaculate. Polly would never have let that happen.

‘Miaow,’ I concurred.

‘I know, it’s normally immaculate and Polly is much tidier than me. Don’t worry, I’ll sort it before I pick the kids up from school. Like I need to give Polly any more excuses to nag me! I haven’t done the washing and the place is a mess, but I am trying to find a job, you know. And it turns out housework is harder than I thought. The other day I tried to empty the hoover and I managed to tip it all over the kitchen floor. Honestly, I am not cut out for this.’ He looked so upset.

He slumped down onto the kitchen chair. I quickly cleaned myself and hopped onto his lap. I looked at him, trying to tell him that he could do this. He was a strong man and this was only temporary. He would get the hang of the hoover, I was sure of it. He stroked me and I purred to give him some support. I wonder if he understood.

‘And so far there are no jobs around. I’ve applied for a couple but I know they’re not right and probably won’t want me. God, everything was so great, how on earth did it come crashing down on me? I really don’t understand, Alfie, and now it all feels as if it’s falling apart.’ He actually had tears in his eyes and I suddenly felt the seriousness of their situation.

I wanted to yowl again, the way I had when Snowball left. It was so sad and it was as if my worst fears were being confirmed yet again. All I wanted was happiness for my families but we were getting the opposite. Matt looked so miserable, not like the man I knew at all. It was funny how life could change so suddenly. He used to look smart, stand tall and laugh all the time, nothing fazed him, but now he seemed diminished. Now I knew why he and Polly had been arguing. But, I wanted to tell him, if he cleaned up the house and himself, he would feel better. I had learnt that from Claire. I had an idea. I jumped up onto the draining board and miaowed loudly, over and over. Finally Matt laughed.

‘OK, Alfie, I’ll load the dishwasher and clean up. You’re right, at least then Polly won’t shout at me again.’ I kept him company while he cleaned the kitchen. Although he didn’t exactly look as if he felt brilliant, as he said, at least Polly and the kids would have a clean house to come home to.

Matt also went to clean himself up before picking the children up from school. As I watched him shave and then put some jeans and a T-shirt on, he began to look like his old handsome self. He smiled at his reflection.

‘Thanks, Alfie, you’ve somehow managed to cheer me up a bit.’

I rubbed his legs to let him know that he was most welcome, and then I left to go home to my kitten.

Claire was at the sink when I appeared on the windowsill, making her jump. She laughed as I hopped down and waited by the back door, which she soon opened.

I bounded in and found Summer in her booster seat at the kitchen table, eating carrots— or rather, sucking them and then throwing them on the floor. I wondered where George was; he was nowhere to be seen.

‘Miaow?’ I asked Claire.

‘Oh yes, Alfie, look, we have to be so careful, but I didn’t like to move him.’ I looked at her questioningly and followed her to the utility room. The washing machine door was open with some clothes inside and on top of them, fast asleep, was George. I shuddered: what if they’d put the machine on? I miaowed my disapproval. It was dangerous! Didn’t Claire know that?

‘Don’t worry, Alfie, I always check before I put the machine on and I’ll check even more carefully from now on. I think he was trying to get away from Summer. But he does look so comfortable there. I even took a picture. I daren’t put it on Facebook in case someone calls the RSPCA, but I’ll show Jonathan.’ I again miaowed my disapproval.

‘He’s fine, Alfie, don’t worry.’ That’s as maybe, but I wasn’t happy and it wasn’t like Claire to be so laid back. This was no place for a kitten; what if he’d been washed and drowned? I know she said she was being careful but what if Jonathan decided that today was the day he’d do the washing for the first time? I stayed in front of the washing machine, guarding it and waiting for George to wake up. There was no way I was taking any chances.

Ow! I woke up with a start as something heavy landed on my head. I looked up and saw it was George.

‘Hi, Dad,’ he said.

‘You’re getting heavy,’ I complained. He jumped down. So much for guarding him, I’d fallen asleep! Although no one would have put the washing machine on with me lying in front of it.

‘I like my new bed,’ he said.

‘No, George, it’s not your new bed and you mustn’t go in there. If someone put the washing on you’d be in trouble.’ I know I sounded like a broken record, but that was parenthood for you. I was finding I had to say the same things over and over again.

‘Oh, but I can go to sleep looking at my reflection in the door.’

Oh boy, maybe Tiger was right— my kitten was as vain as me.

‘That’s as maybe, but it’s not safe. Now promise you won’t go in there unless you tell me first.’

‘There seem to be a lot of rules,’ George protested.‘I might not be able to remember them all.’

‘Well, that’s life. And anyway, they’re all for your own good. Now go and have a drink of water, you need to keep hydrated.’

‘Yet another rule,’ George muttered, as he went to have a drink, only just dodging a flying carrot on the way.

‘Yowl,’ he protested quietly.

‘Summer, stop throwing food,’ Claire said sternly. I looked at Claire in understanding. This parenting lark wasn’t easy. It wasn’t easy at all.

Chapter Sixteen [Êàðòèíêà: i_016.jpg]

There was a flurry of activity. Tash was finally moving into Edgar Road. She’d been living with us for well over a month now but Claire had found her a flat. It was ground floor, two bedrooms, small but with a back garden. Although her old house was far from sorted, Claire and Jonathan were helping her out. That was what friends did.

‘I just can’t see myself living there again, but I have to think of Elijah,’ Tasha had said one evening when talking about her old house.

‘Exactly,’ Jonathan had agreed. The three of them were sitting round the kitchen table, having supper and discussing Tasha’s future.‘And it makes sense to buy the idiot out of your house, rent it out and keep it as an investment.’

‘And if I rent the flat down the road, I’ll have enough to cover the rent and money left over. Although right now, when I’m still paying the mortgage and the house is empty, I’m not exactly quids in.’

‘We can help you, Tash,’ Claire had said.‘The main thing is to get a new home for Elijah and yourself, at least for a while anyway. You can see how it goes from there.’

‘You guys have been amazing.’ I had jumped up onto Tash’s lap then.‘And you, Alfie. Me and Alfie were best friends already but we’ve really bonded over heartbreak lately,’ she said with a sad smile. I rubbed my nose against her hand; we really had. But like me, Tash was slowly getting back to her old self. Not all the time, but there were glimpses, which was all we could hope for in these early days. She didn’t sleep as much as she did when she first moved in and she had stopped crying quite as often. And, most importantly, Elijah was so happy; he was as laid back as Summer was bossy.

Later that day, I was relaxing at home with George. Jonathan had gone to Tash’s old house to organise the removal, Tasha had taken Elijah to the flat to get used to it, and Claire was tidying the house. We were all going to go to Tash’s new flat later, but Claire said that Tash and Elijah needed some time to be alone. The good news was that George was allowed out properly now, as long as he was on the lead, which he didn’t seem to mind but that was because he didn’t know better. I was overprotective but I did think that Claire should let him go out with me now. I was sure he was ready, I just had to find a way of letting her know. And he would be with Tiger ormyself at all times, I had already decided that would be the rule.

The doorbell rang and Claire opened the door. Polly stood on the doorstep with the children.

‘Hey, Pol, come in,’ she said, ushering everyone inside. Martha and Summer immediately ran upstairs, with George following them. He loved being spoilt, and sometimes terrorised, by the two girls. Henry wandered into the living room and started trying to put the TV on.

‘Henry, you spend all your time watching TV, go and play,’ Polly said, sighing.

‘I’m not playing with them. They’re girls!’ Henry said. I couldn’t blame him; not only were they bossy, but they liked to play dress up, and were always trying to make Henry be a princess. Polly shrugged and put the TV on for him.

‘I just don’t have the energy to argue,’ she said to Claire as they went to the kitchen. I gave Henry a bit of a snuggle and then went to the kitchen.

Claire put the kettle on and Polly sat down.

‘Are you all right, Pol? You look exhausted,’ Claire said.

‘Oh, where do you want me to start? Working full time for the first time in my life is so tiring. And then I come home and the house is a bombsite most of the time, but I’m trying not to nag Matt because he’s so miserable. I just feel like it’s all going to explode on me. The poor kids are caught in the crossfire. I mean I try not to shout at Matt, but honestly, Claire, I get home and he’s done nothing, yet he acts like he’s been run off his feet. And then he says the job hunt is taking all his time — but he’s only applied for two jobs! What on earth am I supposed to do?’ She looked terrified.

‘Hey, it’s probably just temporary, it’s a massive adjustment for both of you.’

‘I know, and I can’t tell Matt this, but I’m really enjoying my job. I feel like a grown-up again and I’m loving it much more than I thought I would. But I miss the kids. When I get home I just want to play with them, and spend some nice time with my husband, but then I have to clean up andget everything organised for the following day as well as tiptoeing around Matt. I feel like I’m doing it all.’

‘I know, honey, and you are, but I think Matt might be a bit depressed. Maybe I can get Jonathan to have a chat with him, not about anything in particular, but just to see how he is?’

‘That would be good. Maybe if Jonathan could take him out to the pub one evening?’

‘I’ll arrange it. Although I’m not saying how useful he’ll be, Jonathan doesn’t exactly do domestic very well!’

‘It’s worth a try,’ said Polly. I purred my agreement. ‘Oh, Alfie, I miss seeing you every day!’

‘Tonight, to cheer us up, we’re going to Tasha’s. Frankie’s meeting us there, she’s managed to get a babysitter, and we’re going to drink champagne and celebrate despite any misery!’

‘I’ll put some lipstick on and a smile on my face. Sorry to go on about myself when Tash is having such a hard time.’

‘Don’t be silly, everyone has problems. But I do want to make sure that the first night in the flat isn’t too awful for her.’

‘You know, it hits home, doesn’t it? I can’t imagine losing Matt and yet I feel that if we don’t do something I might.’

‘You won’t, but it does make you appreciate how lucky we are to have someone we love, even if they do drive us mad,’ Claire said, smiling.

‘I know, I just wish we could be a bit more like we used to,’ Polly sighed.‘I just want him to be happier. I wouldn’t mind the mess if he was cheerful. Well, I would, but maybe not quite so much.’

‘You’ll get there. It’s early days, honey, so just try to be patient.’

I agreed with Claire: hopefully they would get used to it soon and then everyone would be happy again. Or happier, at least. I sighed to myself— so much of life was out of our control. A bit like George, I thought, as I saw him run down the stairs wearing a big yellow hat that had slipped over his eyes. He was shaking his head wildly, which made Claire and Polly laugh, before he banged into the wall. Still chuckling, they went over to him and gently removed the hat.

‘Yowl,’ he said sadly. He seemed a bit dazed.

‘What have those girls been doing to you?’ Polly asked, giving him a cuddle. He nestled into her and was soon purring again. If only all life’s problems could be solved so simply.

Later on, we left Jonathan babysitting Summer and George as we called for Polly and made our way to Tash’s new flat. I’d told George that he was to stay home and spend time with Jonathan. When Claire saw me walking down the road next to her she smiled indulgently.

‘You probably deserve a night out,’ she said. As we walked along the street, I used the opportunity to look out for more lamppost cats. As we approached Tasha’s new flat I saw another notice. This time the picture was of a Siamese cat, who looked a bit mean but quite attractive. I stopped andpeered at it.

‘Oh no,’ Claire said. ‘Another missing cat.’

‘Don’t you think there’s been a few more than usual lately?’ Polly asked.

‘I guess. I mean, that’s what Heather and Vic were saying anyway but I just don’t know … As Jonathan says, it’s London and cats do go missing here or get run over.’ She shuddered. ‘Not Alfie and George though, thank goodness.’

‘I don’t know. I mean I know Heather and Vic are a pain but I do wonder if there’s something in what they’ve been saying,’ Polly said.

I felt a bit relieved. Vic and Heather were terrors but if anyone was going to get to the bottom of the mystery of the lamppost cats, then I was sure it would be them— after all, they were very good at poking their noses into other people’s business.

We stood on Tash’s doorstep. Claire and Polly were clutching bottles of champagne and snacks, and Polly looked much better than she had earlier in the day. She really had put on some lipstick and a smile, just as she’d said she would. When Tash opened the door, the flat immediately reminded me of when I first met Polly and Matt. It wasn’t their old flat, but it was almost identical in layout. I walked in and rubbed Tash’s legs.

‘You OK?’ Claire asked as they followed Tash into the small kitchen.

‘Well, it’s weird being here, but Elijah seems fine. He went to bed without any fuss, he’s such a good boy.’

‘Yeah, you lucked out with that one, the easiest child ever,’ Claire said.

‘Well, maybe compared to our girls,’ Polly laughed. ‘And actually he’s far more laid back than Henry too.’

‘He gets his laid-back nature from his father, let’s hope he hasn’t picked up his gutless bad points too … Sorry, I didn’t mean to start with a moan.’ A flash of anger crossed Tash’s face. Claire hugged her.

‘Hey, you moan away.’

‘And in the meantime I’m opening the champers,’ Polly said. ‘I could do with a drink! Glasses?’ As Tash opened a kitchen cupboard and located the glasses, Polly opened the champagne.

‘You’re pretty organised already,’ Claire said.

‘Well, thanks to your Jonathan. It’s much smaller here so we only took what we needed. I managed to unpack most of it while Elijah was napping,’ Tash explained.

‘Can I ask? What about Dave?’ Polly asked, cringing a bit. ‘I mean, does he know about the move?’

‘I haven’t told him yet. Anyway, he’s already moved in with his other woman. He said he’s living with his mum but when she called me about seeing Elijah she let it slip.’

‘So you’re on good terms with his mum?’ Polly asked.

‘Yes, she’s furious with him. We’ve always got on well and I’ve said that she can see her grandson whenever she wants. But then what about this woman?’ She burst into tears. ‘I’m sorry, but I still can’t bear the idea of another woman around my baby.’ As Claire comforted her, the doorbell went. Polly opened it and came back with Franceska.

‘Oh, Tasha,’ Franceska said. She was carrying bags filled with food from the restaurant. I was worried and upset for Tash but I was almost distracted by the smell of sardines. I had to shake my head to focus as I rubbed against Tash’s legs.

‘Men!’ Polly said, handing everyone a glass of champagne. ‘I’m not suggesting we toast them because, let’s face it, at the moment none of us are one hundred per cent happy, so maybe we toast against them?’

‘Don’t get me started,’ Franceska said, looking upset. Oh no, not her too!

‘What’s up, Frankie?’ Polly asked, concerned.

‘No, not tonight. We’re celebrating Tasha’s new flat, so back to the toast.’

‘God, I’m happy to toast against men,’ Tash said, trying to laugh as she took a sip.‘And hey, at least you guys can count your blessings, none of your men are in any way, shape or form as awful as Dave.’

‘I guess we can drink to that?’ Franceska said uncertainly, and they all laughed.

I tucked into my sardines with relish. It was certainly nice having a night out and not having to take care of George, although I missed him and worried about him too. I just hoped Jonathan was taking good care of him. The women all seemed to be having a good time now, after a rocky start. Men had become a banned topic and so they chatted instead about Polly’s new job, Claire’s adoption plans, Franceska and Tomasz’s new restaurant and Tash’s idea about how to make the flat her own. As Polly promised to help her with the interior, they all settled into easy chatter, and lots of laughter, which grew louder as more champagne was drunk. It seemed they were emptying the bottles at an alarming rate, which was OK because at least no one was crying.

Later that night, they all kissed Tash goodbye, Franceska got into a taxi to take her home and Claire and Polly staggered down the road with me. Neither of them seemed to be able to walk in a straight line, so I had to keep dodging them to make sure I wasn’t stepped on. When we got in I ran upstairs to find George fast asleep in my bed. I felt a surge of relief, followed by a rush of love as I snuggled down next to him. I drifted off to sleep cuddling my kitten, feeling glad that, for tonight at least, the women were all happy again — or at least happier than they had been lately.

Chapter Seventeen

[Êàðòèíêà: i_017.jpg]

I was incredibly excited. George was finally allowed out, further than the garden and without the lead or any humans— although of course I warned him to not go anywhere without me. He asked ‘why’ a million times but I was reluctantly getting used to that. It was a momentous occasion and one that felt a long time coming, mainly due to Claire’s overcautious behaviour.

The cat flap had been formally unlocked. Jonathan had been pleased, saying that I had a habit of making him let me in when he was in the middle of watching something. He said it as though I did it on purpose. Anyway, freedom was once again mine. I was excited to introduce George to my friends, to my street and to the great outdoors, the world that existed beyond our small lawn. I was also going to pop in to see Matt, so George could see where they lived, and then if we had time I would show him Tasha’s flat, although she didn’t have a cat flap so we could only visit with her if she was in and saw us. A bit like the old days with Franceska and the boys really. Wow, freedom once more — I vowed never to take it for granted again.

I was looking forward to our first excursion very much and had taken extra time over my grooming. I wasn’t sure why, but humans always dressed up for special occasions and this, George’s first proper outing, was definitely a special occasion. I tried to make sure he looked his best too, but let’s be honest, he was so cute that I really didn’t need to worry. I jumped through the cat flap first, George following behind me. He was still a little unsure of it, although he was getting better. He had grown a lot in the time he’d been with us, and although still a kitten he was big enough now to run, jump, and climb.

George blinked as the sun hit his eyes. It was a lovely, sunny day for his first trip.

‘Right, stay close to me and don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you,’ I said, giving him my best pep talk.

‘I know, Dad,’ he said. We slid under the gate and made our way to the front of the house.

‘Before we start, I need to give you a lesson about roads.’ As we stood on the pavement, a number of cars whizzed past us.‘You see, those cars are dangerous.’ I had nearly been hit a number of times when I first encountered roads.‘Don’t cross the road unless it’s clear both ways,’ Icontinued sternly.

As we walked I gave George a full tour of Edgar Road. I pointed out Salmon’s house and said it was to be avoided at all costs, although there was no sign of him anywhere, thank goodness. Our first stop was Tiger’s house where we waited in her front garden, by her favourite bush. George wriggled under it and started playing with leaves. Tiger emerged a few moments later.

‘Oh, hi, I was hoping you’d be here already,’ she said, ignoring me and giving George a nuzzle. I looked at her indignantly. Having a kitten meant I was getting used to being ignored but it didn’t mean Tiger could get away with it.

‘Hello, Tiger-Mum,’ George said, so sweetly that Tiger looked as if she might cry.

‘Right, come on, we have to give George a proper tour of the neighbourhood,’ I said, no longer feeling slighted.

‘OK, but George, you’re still only little so you must tell us if you get tired,’ Tiger said, sounding sweet and concerned. I raised my whiskers; what had happened to my Tiger?

‘I will, let’s go, let’s go.’ George was full of excitement as he bounded off in the wrong direction.

‘George, this way,’ I said, and he turned round and joined us. We made our way slowly to our cat meeting point. I pointed out Polly and Matt’s house on the way and explained that Tash’s flat was in the other direction, although I’m not sure how much George was taking in. He was so busy looking around that I doubted he was listening.

‘I bet you’re glad Tasha’s moved into Edgar Road,’ Tiger said as we stopped and watched George staring at an overgrown plant for a minute.

‘Yes. Not only is she one of my favourite people but it’s good to be able to keep an eye on her,’ I said.

‘I like Elijah,’ George said.‘He’s funny.’

‘I love how all the kids get on so well,’ I mused as we moved on, gratified that George was listening after all.

‘And any more news about the cat pictures?’ Tiger said.

‘Not in front of the kitten,’ I said, as quietly as I could.

‘What was that?’ George asked.

‘Nothing,’ Tiger and I replied at the same time. I looked at her with concern.

I was delighted to see that our cat friends were already congregated. Nellie was sunbathing, Elvis was sitting in a shady spot and Rocky was cleaning his paws. I excitedly ran up to join them.

‘Look, I’ve brought George to see you,’ I said breathlessly.

‘Where?’ Rocky asked, looking up.

‘Right there.’ I turned around but George and Tiger were nowhere to be seen.‘They were there a minute ago.’ Panicking, I turned and retraced my steps. I found Tiger looking at George, who was sitting on a gatepost in front of someone’s house.

‘What happened?’ I asked, concerned.

‘When you ran off George decided to jump on the gatepost. He says he likes it up there.’

‘George, come down now,’ I said.

‘No. Look, there’s a funny animal in the garden.’ I jumped up onto the other post and looked in. The funny animal was a small dog, who was yapping at George and now me. ‘I’m going to go in there to see it.’

‘No!’ I shouted, a bit more forcefully than I intended. George jumped but thankfully stayed on the gatepost.‘George, dogs are to be avoided at all costs. Now come down.’ I leapt down, having used my sternest voice, and George reluctantly followed me.

‘Right, this is George,’ I said for the second time when we rejoined the others.

‘Aww, you’re so incredibly sweet. I’m Nellie,’ Nellie cooed. She went up to George and made a fuss of him.

‘Nice to meet you, George, I’m Elvis.’ Elvis looked overjoyed to see my kitten.

‘I’m Rocky, nice to meet you.’ Rocky stopped looking at his paw and came over to greet us.

‘Wow, you’re all cats,’ George said.‘And there are so many of you!’

‘We certainly are,’ Rocky said.‘And Alfie was right, this is one cute kitten.’ All three cats were immediately taken with George, I could tell.

‘Come with me, George, I’ll show you the bush that attracts butterflies,’ Nellie said.

‘What are butterflies?’ he asked.

‘Follow me and you’ll find out.’ I sat and watched proudly as Nellie took George to see the butterflies. He really is my boy, I thought, as I watched him jumping around. Of course he never actually caught a butterfly, but then neither had I, and I’d been playing for a lot longer. We just liked chasing things, usually without much success — though I did swat a fly once at home. Jonathan had been so pleased with me, until he realised it was a fluke.

‘Nice youngster,’ Elvis said to me. ‘Look, here comes the other cat I mentioned to you, Tinkerbell.’ I hoped that this wasn’t another of his attempts to set me up. I know I was busy but I still thought of Snowball in any spare moment I had — usually before I went to sleep at night. But when I came face to face with the new cat I realised something strange.

‘But you’re a boy,’ I said, confused.

‘Have we been introduced?’ Tinkerbell growled. Not only was he male, but he was big, about twice the size of me. I felt a little threatened.

‘Sorry, I’m Alfie and I’ve heard about you but, well, you’re called Tinkerbell so I assumed you were a girl.’

‘No, I’m a tom.’ He raised his whiskers.‘Look, my owner wanted a girl cat so when they got me they gave me a girl’s name. To be honest I’d rather not talk about it. If you’re a friend, you can call me Tinks.’

‘Nice to meet you, Tinks.’ I gave him my most charming look.‘And sorry for the misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just that my friend Elvis here seems to want to set me up with female cats so …’

‘Oh yes, I heard you’re the heartbroken one. But no need to make a fuss, I’m happy with my name and my sexuality, thank you very much. And now that we’ve cleared that up, we can be mates.’

‘What does it mean? Setting my dad up with a female?’ I hadn’t heard George approach but he was standing behind me with Nellie and Tiger.

‘Well, young George, it’s just that we thought Alfie might like a new girlfriend, and then you could have a new mum,’ Rocky explained.

‘Oh, no, thank you,’ George replied.‘Tiger’s my mum.’

‘Aww,’ Tiger and Nellie both said, and I swear I have never seen Tiger look so moved. Even Tinkerbell softened. This kitten could win any charm competition, of that I was certain.

‘Goodness, Alfie and Tiger, you guys are like a married couple already, so I guess it makes sense,’ Rocky laughed. I shot him one of my looks.

‘Well, George, we’re all your friends here, so if you need anything, then you just ask,’ Elvis said.

‘But don’t come here on your own,’ I warned. ‘Not yet anyway. Either me or Tiger need to escort you.’

‘As if I would,’ George replied innocently.

Apart from George nearly jumping into that dog’s garden — and I dreaded to think how that might have ended up — our first proper trip was a great success. My kitten was greatly admired by all and I felt so proud. Unfortunately, however, it was getting late and there was no time to drop into Matt and Polly’s house. That would have to wait for another day.

‘Honestly, Alfie, you’re like the cat who got the cream,’ Tiger said as she dropped us home.

‘I have George, and he’s better than any cream,’ I replied.

Chapter Eighteen

[Êàðòèíêà: i_018.jpg]

Back in the relative safety of home I had a quick catnap on the sofa while George was carted off to play with Summer. She was cross that we’d had been out when she got back from nursery. She kept stamping her feet and crossing her arms, saying ‘bad Alfie,’ which I thought was a little unfair. But Claire found it funny so I only gave a small yowl of objection. Then I went to have a well-deserved rest. As I drifted off I thought of how well George had coped with the trip, and I was pleased that the other cats welcomed him so readily. Deep down I had known they would, but it was still gratifying to see them admiring my kitten. I thought I would bask in his reflected glory as I fell asleep.

A commotion woke me. Although I had only intended a quick nap, even that had been cut short. I jumped up in fright as I heard Summer scream. Both Claire and I ran to her room.

‘What’s the matter, poppet?’ Claire asked.

‘Deorge, up there,’ Summer said, pointed upwards. We all looked and saw George tucked on top of Summer’s wardrobe.

‘He must have climbed,’ Claire said, hugging her daughter. ‘It’s OK, he’s just playing.’ She smoothed Summer’s blonde hair and the tears started to subside.

‘No, Deorge stuck,’ Summer shouted, putting her thumb in her mouth.

‘He’s stuck?’ Claire looked up at him uncertainly. She was fairly tall but she couldn’t reach the top of the wardrobe. George looked at me and then put a paw over his eyes. Ah, I thought, he had got up there easily — at a guess he had jumped on the chest of drawers and then onto the wardrobe — but he didn’t feel quite so confident in getting down. After all, it was quite high for such a little one. I looked at Claire, and then at Summer, and finally at George. Despite the fact that I didn’t like heights and my legs were aching a bit from all the exercise earlier, I would have to save the day. I jumped onto the chest of drawers and then leapt up and onto the wardrobe, thankfully landing beside George.

‘Look, Sum, it’s OK, Alfie will help him down,’ Claire said. Summer seemed happier.

‘Oh, hello, Dad,’ George said quietly.

‘George, you must be careful. You’re stuck. Why did you jump up here if you’re too scared to jump back down?’ I asked, trying not to sound cross. After all, we all did stupid things. I’d done too many to count.

‘Oh, I’m not stuck,’ George replied. ‘Why did you think that?’

‘Well, Summer said you were and when I looked at you you put your paw over your eyes.’

‘Oh, Dad, that was to tell you I came up here to hide from Summer. She wanted me to be her baby and she tried to put me in her pushchair like a doll and I didn’t really like it. I can get down, I just don’t want to.’

‘Well, what do we do now? Claire thinks you’re stuck, and now I’m up here when I don’t really like being this high. You’ll have to come down with me.’

‘Only if you promise you won’t let her put me in the pushchair.’

‘OK, get down and we’ll go straight downstairs, it’s your teatime anyway.’ He looked at me uncertainly.

‘Promise?’ he said.

‘Yes, now come on.’ George jumped down with ease; I envied him his youth and fearlessness as I tentatively followed. Then we both made for the stairs before Summer could object.

That night, George was fast asleep in my bed, exhausted from his busy day. Summer was tucked up in bed too, so I sat with Claire and Jonathan in the living room.

‘How’s Tash?’ Jonathan asked.

‘Actually not too bad, it’s like she’s a different person since she moved into the flat. I really think she’s beginning to feel a bit like her old self. The solicitor’s proving a godsend and has put a rocket up Dave. He’s been threatened with court unless they sort out maintenance for Elijah. She’s got the mortgage approved for the house, so that’s all being finalised, but it’s sad too. They were together for so long and it’s all fallen apart so quickly. She still misses him, I think, but she’s pretty brave. What with her job and her boy she’s being kept busy.’

‘Well, we have family day on Sunday, so she’ll spend the day with us, won’t she?’ I pricked up my whiskers. I loved family day; every month all my families would get together and I’d have all the people I loved in one place. Sometimes it happened more often, but if not, then I always had that to look forward to.

‘Yes, she’ll be with us, and so will everyone else, which we all need. I mean, it seems that Polly and Matt are barely talking and Frankie says she and the boys will only get to see Tomasz because of family day. It’ll be good for the kids, and everyone’s coming to ours because they all wantto see George.’

‘That kitten is a star attraction,’ Jonathan laughed.

‘You’ll never guess what he did this afternoon …’ Claire told Jonathan about the wardrobe incident, which Jonathan seemed to find funny. Claire snuggled into him and kissed his cheek. I lay on the armchair, one eye on the two of them.

‘Right, well I guess we ought to think about going to bed,’ Jonathan said.

‘It is going to be all right, isn’t it?’ Claire asked suddenly. I didn’t know exactly what she meant, but I was sure by the look on his face that Jonathan did.

‘Of course it is, darling,’ he replied, but he sounded uncertain.

On Sunday, as everyone descended on us for family day, I think I almost understood what Claire had meant the other night. As soon as everyone arrived, George was indeed the star attraction. He purred and preened as everyone made a huge fuss of him, then of me as a bit of an afterthought, but I was mature enough to accept that. But it went downhill from there. After a bit of a strained lunch, the adults all seemed a little bit lost in their own thoughts instead of their usual chatty selves. There were three camps. The children were one, which was usual and now included George. Luckily Aleksy, being the oldest, was in charge, so I knew George was in good hands, and he’d come and get me if needed. The men had taken over the living room, and in the kitchen the women had commandeered the kitchen table. I found myself having to move between the two adult camps.

The men were more subdued than usual.

‘Is something wrong with us?’ Jonathan asked finally, after even he got fed up of the silence — he usually enjoyed some peace and quiet.

‘I’m just not in a great place,’ Matt admitted.‘I miss working. This Mr Mum stuff isn’t me. And yes, I know I sound like a sexist pig because my wife tells me often enough. And it’s not even the kids, I love being with them but I would rather be at work. I miss it. Remember, I actually loved what I did.’

‘So no luck on the job hunt?’ Tomasz asked, eyes full of sympathy.

‘Yes and no. I’ve got a couple of meetings lined up but nothing concrete, there’s not much about at the moment. All my contacts are looking out for me but they all say I have to be patient.’ Matt shook his head.

‘Are you guys OK financially?’ Jonathan asked. He sounded concerned.

‘Yes, Polly’s new job has been a lifesaver. She loves the job but I know that coming home to me, as grumpy as I am, isn’t much fun for her. As it is, she’s tired all the time, working long hours and then rushing home to see the kids. She gets back and then once we’ve put them to bed she has to work most nights. We don’t spend enough time together — I’m miserable because I miss work, she’s miserable because I am, and also I’m not good at laundry or something.’ He laughed, sadly.

‘Well, on the flip side, I’m working too much and Franceska is very not happy,’ said Tomasz. ‘In fact, she tells me today she and the boys are going back to Poland for the school holiday, because they never see me anyway. I know I work too much but the restaurants are doing so well now, andyes, I have a manager, but I can’t hand over control yet.’ Tomasz looked guilty.

‘Mate, you have to trust other people. You can’t do it all yourself, what’ll happen when you have ten restaurants all over the country?’ said Jonathan.

‘I know, it’s not easy, but if I get these two right then I feel I can step back and let others do more work, no?’

All the men shrugged.

‘Anyway, Jon, you’re OK, aren’t you?’ Matt asked.

‘Who thought this would turn into a sharing afternoon? Quick, better put the football on,’ Jonathan replied, changing the subject.

After that depressing interlude I went into the kitchen.

‘So I said to him, he can formalise the child support or we’ll have to go to the CSA and I’ll take him to court to sort out the house as well. I’ve been more than reasonable but he’s just being so awful. Anyway, we have a mediation booked in. Sounds like fun, right? Means I have to see him again, which I’m dreading, but I have to do what’s best for Elijah.’

I took a drink of water before going to sit with Franceska. If she was going away, I wanted to spend a bit of time with her.

‘I hope it does good,’ Franceska said. ‘I have to tell you, we’re going to Poland for the summer, me and the boys, not Tomasz.’

‘Oh goodness, that sounds great,’ Claire said. Really? It didn’t sound good to me, a whole summer apart from her husband, not to mention me. I would miss them terribly.

‘Yes, well, Tomasz is so busy, so I thought we could see family and have a holiday, and the boys don’t remember much about home, so it’s good for them. Tomasz is not happy but he is all work, work, work.’

‘Maybe that’s what Matt and I need, a holiday,’ Polly mused.

‘Can’t you take one?’ Claire asked.

‘No, I wouldn’t get time off work, being so new. And anyway, I’m not sure Matt would want to take a holiday, not when he hasn’t got a job sorted and he’s feeling so down. No, actually, I know he won’t. Maybe next year.’ She smiled. ‘Anyway, Claire, at least you’re OK.’ I marvelled at the difference between the way the men and women talked. They were kind of saying the same things, but just in a very different way.

‘Oh yes, we’re fine,’ Claire said with a loud sigh.

‘Changing the subject,’ Tash said. ‘You know that neighbourhood watch couple?’

‘Oh God, Vic and Heather,’ Polly groaned.

‘Yes, the ones in the matching jumpers,’ Tash laughed. ‘They cornered me the other day talking about the increase in missing cats. Apparently six have been reported missing from the area now.’

I pricked up my ears.

‘I know, we’ve seen the pictures on the lampposts. Makes me really sad. Imagine if Alfie or George went missing.’ I shuddered as Claire said this.

‘Well, they seem to think something sinister is going on,’ Tash continued. ‘Apparently they’re going to hold a meeting soon.’

‘Oh no, not a meeting.’ Polly put her head in her hands.

‘Their meetings go on for days,’ Claire explained.

‘But these cats, no one knows what’s happened?’ Franceska asked.

‘No. Jon thinks they just didn’t like their owners or fancied a change of scene.’

‘Matt said maybe there’s a cat snatcher, like the child snatcher inChitty Chitty Bang Bang,’ Polly said.

I put my paws over my ears.

‘Shush, Polly, not in front of Alfie,’ Claire chastised. ‘And that’s ridiculous. Besides, if anyone tried to take our cats we would sort them out.’ Claire looked at me as she said this and I felt marginally reassured.

It wasn’t good, these missing cats — I could feel it in my fur. But for now there was little I could do, so I went upstairs to see the children, following the trail of their laughter. At least they were having fun, and I needed to join in with that while I came up with a plan for what to do with my troublesome grown-ups, and tried not to worry about this cat problem at the same time.

Chapter Nineteen

[Êàðòèíêà: i_019.jpg]

It never rains but it pours. My very first owner, Margaret, used to say that a lot. I didn’t always understand what it meant but I think I do now. After family day I spent quite a lot of time fretting. I worried about all my families, including Tasha, who had been in floods of tears after mediation had gone horribly wrong. She was now talking about taking Dave to the cleaners — wherever that was — and saying that her parents were going to pay her legal bills so she could do so. She was refusing to hand over the money for the house sale, which the solicitor held in an account, until it was all settled, and things had turned a bit nasty. Jonathan said that if Dave came near her he would get involved, but thankfully Tasha hadn’t told her ex where she was living and anyway, she said, he was too lazy to do anything. It was all in the hands of the law now and Tasha was refusing to speak to him, or have anything to do with him apart from through solicitors. It was a bit complicated for me to follow, being a cat, but I was trying. Oh, and he’d still only made half-hearted attempts to see Elijah which upset everyone. We all loved Elijah and I couldn’t understand any father who didn’t want to see his child as much as possible. Look at me and George.

It was also literally pouring. As George and I sat on the windowsill watching the rain drip down the pane, I was worrying about everyone and everything.

I was feeling helpless and hopeless. I couldn’t help Tasha, but actually knowing that she had this solicitor person as well as Claire and Jonathan made me feel better. I couldn’t seem to help Matt and Polly, who seemed to be barely speaking whenever I saw them. I couldn’t help Franceska and Tomasz, who were going to be apart. Aleksy andlittle Tomasz were so excited for their holiday but I worried that it meant Franceska might never come back! I couldn’t imagine losing them from my life. And it seemed I couldn’t help Claire and Jonathan, who only the previous night had had a massive row.

‘Did you have to say that to the social worker?’ Claire had shouted the previous evening as we sat in the living room.

‘I only said there was no history of criminal activity or insanity in my family …’ Jonathan tried not to smile.‘It was a joke!’

‘Then you said you weren’t sure about my mother! Did you really think that was funny?’

‘Well, your mother can come across as a bit bonkers.’ He laughed.

‘This is just a big joke to you, isn’t it, us getting a child, a sibling for Summer, another child for us to parent? I can’t believe you sometimes.’

‘Of course not, it was just a stupid joke, Claire. The social worker needs to know we have a sense of humour, surely?’

‘Well, you’re not funny.’

Claire had slept in the spare room, the room that Tash had only recently vacated. I know she cried herself to sleep too, because I slept with her, leaving George for the first time since he’d moved in, although I did check him regularly, which of course meant I was feeling a little sleep deprived myself.

The atmosphere had been strained here all day, a bit like at Polly and Matt’s. So far, Claire was refusing all of Jonathan’s efforts to make up and when they left for work and to take Summer to nursery it was a relief to have that atmosphere out of the house along with them.

‘What is wrong with people?’ George asked me, chasing a raindrop with his paw and bringing me back to the present.

‘Oh dear, where do I start?’ I began to tell him all I knew. As I started feeling more and more fearful, I tried to downplay the situation for George’s sake. Yes, he needed to know how humans worked, especially if he was going to take after me, but he was still so young — I had to protect him. As I was thinking of how I was going to fix each of my humans, from Tash, who had suddenly gone from the top of my worry list almost to the bottom, to Matt and Polly, Franceska and Tomasz and now Claire and Jonathan, George jumped down from the windowsill and ran off. I pulled myself from my reverie and went to find him.

When George had first come to live here, Claire was pretty careful about where he was allowed to go. All the bedroom doors were kept closed, as was the bathroom and the downstairs loo, so he was basically confined to the kitchen/dining room and living room. Despite the stair gate, he could get up the stairs, but once he was there he was confined to the landing. Now that he was bigger, however, they didn’t bother to close the doors, the argument being he knew what he was doing (he didn’t) and he was still never left alone (he was). But he had more freedom and now I had to locate him, with so many more places he could be.

He wasn’t in the kitchen. I knew he hadn’t gone outside or I would have heard the cat flap, so I did a quick look around the utility room, especially the washing machine, before heading upstairs.

‘George,’ I called out loudly, but there was no answer. I tried to stem my growing panic as I checked the bedrooms, telling myself that he couldn’t be far, he was just a kitten after all … The bathroom door was closed, as was the door to Jonathan and Claire’s en suite, so at least I didn’t have to worry about him having fallen into the loo again. But still, I couldn’t help but panic. I knew he was here but because I couldn’t see him there was this irrational worry that I couldn’t quite keep away. I went back into the spare room.

‘George,’ I shouted again. I heard a little muffled sound. I traced it to the wardrobe where Claire kept some of her clothes, and saw that the door was a tiny bit ajar. I hit at it with my paw until it opened a bit more and I saw George lying on one of Claire’s jumpers which were piled up on the bottom of the wardrobe.

‘George, I was worried! I’ve been calling you. Why didn’t you answer me?’

‘But, Dad, if I answered you it wouldn’t be hide and seek would it?’

‘Hide and seek?’

‘Yes, the children taught me the other day, it’s so much fun. One person seeks and the others hide.’

‘Yes, thank you, I do know how to play, but the point is that we weren’t playing hide and seek, I was sitting on the windowsill with you one minute and the next you were gone.’

‘Oh, maybe I should have told you.’ George had confusion in his beautiful eyes. ‘Right, now why don’t you hide?’ He didn’t seem contrite or even aware of the worry he caused me.

‘I don’t really feel like it.’ I was still busy fretting over my families, and now that I’d found George, I had to calm myself down again.

‘Please, Dad, it’s the best game ever!’ His eyes were wide with hope and I couldn’t help but smile. I remembered when Aleksy had first played the game with me — it had been such fun. How could I disappoint? Besides, it was raining outside, so there was nothing else we could do.

‘OK, you count to ten and I’ll hide.’

‘But I don’t know how to count!’

‘OK, well just give me a bit of time then.’ I wasn’t sure if I could count either. It wasn’t the most useful skill for a cat, after all.

I went to Summer’s room and decided to climb into her toy box, which was overflowing with her collection of soft toys. By my reckoning, if it took George ages to find me, I would at least be comfortable.

I woke some time later to George licking my head. I opened my eyes and stretched.‘Sorry, I fell asleep.’

‘Wow, you are really good at hiding!’ he exclaimed.‘My turn, my turn.’ He ran off. I felt a bit better for my catnap, but I didn’t rush as I climbed out of the toy box. I could hear George running down the stairs, so I waited a bit on the landing. I noticed that the rain had slowed and I jumped up onto the landing windowsill to see a glimmer of blue sky peeking through the clouds. I wondered if we could go out in a bit — it would be good to get some exercise and perhaps we could pop in to see Matt … Suddenly, there was a loud bang, which made me jump.

‘Yowl,’ I heard George cry. Honestly, I really must stop getting so distracted, what kind of parent was I? I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. I stopped when I saw that one of the cupboards was open, its contents over the floor, and George was poking out of a plastic bag, tangled up in the handle.

‘George, what have you done?’ I asked, using my paw to get the bag off him.‘Bags are dangerous, you must be careful,’ I chastised. Although of course there was a big hole, which was how he’d got in, so I didn’t really need to be too worried. And us cats did like bags, I used to climb into Margaret’s shopping bags all the time when I was little.

‘I was just trying to move it and I fell into it,’ he replied. Honestly this kitten was getting a bit too defiant.‘But I like it!’

‘Not the point. What is this mess?’ I asked, surveying the packets and boxes scattered across the floor.

‘I managed to open that cupboard, which I thought was quite clever, and I wanted to hide but to make it really good hiding I decided to take everything out and hide right at the back, but then I didn’t know how to get it back in …’

‘Oh, George.’ I started trying to figure out how to get things back in the cupboard before realising that I had no chance, so I left it like it was, knowing I would probably be the one who got told off. I wasn’t best pleased with George but I was also cross with Claire and Jonathan. They had put those funny childproof things on most of the cupboards to stop Summer, so why hadn’t they done this one? Honestly, parenting was going downhill these days.

I was exhausted after my attempts to tidy up, but George was hopping around wanting to play. He had far too much energy, so I decided that we would brave the outside. I led him out through the cat flap.

‘It’s wet!’ he screeched as he stood in a puddle and a big fat raindrop plopped onto his head.

‘OK, look, we’ll go and see Matt, come on, I’ll take you the back way.’ I led him over and under fences in the direction of Polly and Matt’s house. Luckily it was a dog-free route. Although George still didn’t like the rain I was hoping that the exercise would wear him out a bit. He wasone exhausting kitten at times.

We let ourselves in through the cat flap, and as we both dripped a bit onto the kitchen floor, Matt appeared, talking on the phone. He smiled at us.

‘Polly, calm down. I’ve said it’s OK. I’ll pick the kids up, get them ready for bed and if they’re not too tired they can stay up and see you when you get home.’ He listened for a bit. ‘OK, love you.’ He put the phone down and then looked at us.

‘You guys are pretty damp. Stay in here until you dry off.’ He put the kettle on and I shook my fur. George went and lay in the warmest spot he could find.‘Right, well, nice to see you boys. This being at home on my own is a bit dull, to be honest. Don’t know how Polly did it, but she neverseemed to complain … I miss going to work though, I miss the pressure as well as the actual job.’ I went to him and rubbed his leg, but carefully, so he didn’t get too wet.‘Thanks, Alfie. Anyway, I’m trying to make the best of it. I love spending more time with the kids, I really do enjoythat, and it’s nice because I’m seeing them do things I’ve never been around for before. But the school gate is a bit scary, all those women. And in this day and age it still is mainly women, I’m not even being sexist. I got asked to go for coffee today but I was too afraid so I made an excuse. If I’m not careful they’ll draft me onto the PTA!’

‘Miaow?’ I had no idea what he was talking about, none whatsoever.

‘I really do need to get a job. I mean, I might have got the hang of being a househusband, nearly, but it’s just not me, and I miss Polly. I miss us being together and not arguing. I honestly think if I had a job then we wouldn’t argue as much.’

He sat down with his tea and George started chasing his shadow across the kitchen floor.

‘If only life were that simple, eh, Alfie?’ Matt said, looking at George. I purred my agreement. If only I had just my shadow to worry about, but no, I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. Or the weight of Edgar Road at least.

We stayed with Matt until he had to leave to go to the supermarket before picking the kids up. George was very entertaining, being a bit of an exhibitionist, showing Matt how he could jump onto counters and climb up the kitchen blinds— which very nearly didn’t end well. But at least he made us both laugh. It was nice to see Matt smile; now I understood why people watched funny cat videos on the internet for hours, it was better than catnip for lifting a mood. I was so pleased when we left; Matt was smiling, he looked smart and the house was spotless. Maybe he was turning a corner, and it seemed we had definitely cheered him up.

As we left, we bumped into Tiger at the front of the house. The rain had stopped and the sun was almost shining.

‘Hey, guys, how are you?’ she asked, giving George a big nuzzle.

‘Exhausted and in need of a nap,’ I said. I really was. I also wanted time to think about my humans, but with George it was impossible.

‘But I want to play!’ George said. He was still far too full of energy.

‘Hey, Alfie, I can watch him. I’ll take him to the park or something and bring him home after?’ Tiger looked hopeful. An offer of babysitting? How could I refuse, especially as I knew Tiger would never let anything happen to George.

‘You’re on. Now, George, be good for Tiger and I’ll see you later.’ I nuzzled him goodbye and headed home for a well-earned rest.

I enjoyed my nap but I didn’t relax fully while George was out. I knew he was safe with Tiger but still … He hadn’t been out without me before. When I heard the cat flap bang, I rushed to the back door. I put my head through, and saw Tiger sitting with George in front of the cat flap. I grinned; he looked so cute. Theylooked cute together, in fact: my best friend and my kitten.

‘Hi, Alfie,’ Tiger said.

‘Has he been good?’ I asked.

‘Good as gold. We’ve had so much fun,’ Tiger replied.

‘Oh, Dad, I love the park! We climbed a tree and teased a chubby dog. It was great!’ George was full of enthusiasm and I was both relieved that he was all right and thrilled to see how happy he was.

‘Right, come on in, it’s teatime. Thanks, Tiger, thank you so much.’

‘Can Tiger-Mum come home with us?’ George asked. My heart melted and I looked at Tiger and could see she felt emotional too.

‘I’m afraid not, she has to get home now, but you’ll see her soon. Thanks again, Tiger.’

‘My pleasure. Any time you need some time to yourself, I’m there,’ Tiger replied, then bade us goodbye. I stood back so George could hop through the cat flap.

‘I missed you,’ I said, and I really had. It was strange — I did need time to myself every now and then, but when I had it, I missed him. Was that parenthood? I guessed it must be because I was pretty sure I had heard my humans saying something similar.

‘Me too, Dad. What’s for tea?’

Later that evening I lay snuggled up in the armchair, with George curled up next to me. It was dark outside; Jonathan was watching the news on TV and Claire came in to join him. I felt nervous; they had been perfectly civil to each other while Summer was around, but now she was in bed, I was unsure how the land lay.

‘Hi,’ Jonathan said.‘Are you OK?’

‘Yes, I just spoke to Tash.’ Claire sat down.‘It looks as if it’s all being sorted. I think Dave has had some kind of wake-up call. She’s not sure, but he has apologised and said he does want to be a good dad to Elijah. They’re going to meet up this weekend, with his mum, and she seems hopeful.’

‘She won’t take him back will she?’ Jonathan looked concerned and I sincerely hoped not.

‘No, I think the way he acted, cheating, moving out, not to mention the lying and the way he behaved since, means she’ll never fully trust him again, but Tash is a good mum and she wants what’s best for her child. At the moment that means having his dad around, no matter how useless he is.’

‘I agree, although I’m not Dave’s biggest fan. But I am Elijah’s, of course.’ Jonathan touched Claire’s arm.

‘Jonathan, we have our own issues to deal with, I know that, and we need to figure them out, so this weekend I want to go and see Mum and Dad with Summer, and I want you to come.’

‘OK, what’s brought this on?’

‘I’m not going to pretend. I could do with a change of scene, but also … Dad is a social worker, you know that, and he’s going to help us with the adoption — just explain how it works and what we need to do, if we decide to push forward with it. I thought it might help you to speak more to him about it.’

‘You mean your dad is going to talk me into it?’ Jonathan bristled.

‘No, I told him that I found it all a bit confusing and I explained how you felt, and he said perhaps if he talked us through the process, and all the options available to us, then maybe we’d stop arguing and come to a decision we were both happy with.’ I was proud of how reasonable Claire sounded.

‘Right …’ Jonathan still sounded doubtful.

‘Look, I know how single-minded I get, so does Dad. I wanted us to get married when we did, I wanted Summer when we did, I know how I am and, well, I think Dad is probably more likely to be on your side than mine.’

‘It’s not about sides, you know that. I just don’t know if I can do this.’ Jonathan sounded sad rather than angry.‘I wish I had your belief, I really do.’

‘And that’s what this weekend is about. Having a chat, a change of scene and then hopefully we can make a decision together. Besides, Mum and Dad are dying to see Sum.’

‘Blimey, you sound more reasonable than I’ve ever heard you,’ Jonathan said.

‘That’s my dad. He kind of gave me a bit of a talking-to. Anyway, can we go?’

‘What about Alfie and George?’

‘Frankie said they could both go and stay with them. We can drop them off on the way and either pick them up on our way home or Tomasz will drop them back here. The boys want to spend time with Alfie, and George, of course, before they go on their holiday.’

Wow, I was going to spend the weekend with my Polish family, which was great, and George was going to have his very first weekend away. And we’d see Dustbin! I was already excited.

‘You’ve got it all sorted then.’ I saw Jonathan raise his eyebrows.

‘Sorry, I know, I’m so bossy. But you kind of knew that when you married me.’

‘True, I did. Look, Claire, about the adoption—’

‘I know you’re worried you won’t be able to love a child that you didn’t make.’

‘Yes, that’s it.’

‘But I think you can.’

I felt a tingling in my fur. I looked at George, curled up next to me. I couldn’t love him any more than I did, yet I didn’t make him. I looked at Jonathan and Claire, who appeared to be deep in thought. I had adopted George, hadn’t I? Yes, it had been an enforced adoption at first, but still … And now I would be distraught without him; I loved him so much. I needed Jonathan to understand this. Surely that was the answer. He had to see that, if I could love George, he could love an adopted child. I just wasn’t sure how I could make him see that — at least, not yet.

Chapter Twenty [Êàðòèíêà: i_020.jpg]

‘Oh, Mama, look, George is playing with the sardine!’ little Tomasz exclaimed with joy. I had told George that food was not to be played with, but he loved how slippery it felt between his paws and he was chasing it around the kitchen — although of course it wasn’t alive — and pouncing onit. The boys thought it was hilarious. Aleksy was laughing so hard he couldn’t speak.

‘George, eat the fish, is not a toy,’ Franceska chastised, winking at me. She then grabbed it, chopped it up and put it back in his bowl. He obediently ate. We had arrived a little while ago, just after the boys had got back from school. They were excited, not only because we were staying with them but also because it was the start of the summer holidays. They were leaving next week for their holiday in Poland, which I felt sad about, but I didn’t want that to tarnish this weekend. I wanted us to have as much fun as possible.

We ate tea and then the boys put on a film,Star Wars, which I couldn’t quite figure out, but it was quite exuberant. There were lots of flashes of colour across the screen. George jumped up onto the TV stand and tried to chase the flashes before Aleksy moved him away.

‘You’ll be in trouble if you break it,’ he said, echoing my thoughts. George looked at me, and I tried to give him a stern look but he just smiled that adorable smile of his. I think he was enjoying his first holiday.

Just as the film finished, big Tomasz arrived home.

‘Ah, the cats, my boys, how lovely to come home to you all.’ He smiled broadly and kissed everyone, and then he kissed his wife.

‘Kochanie, I have bought some champagne home from the restaurant for us tonight.’

‘What are we celebrating?’ Franceska asked. Big Tomasz looked a bit sad, but didn’t say anything. It was yet another ‘not in front of the children’ moment.

‘Right, boys, bedtime,’ Franceska said.

‘Oh, Mum,’ Aleksy said. He sounded like an English boy now, although I knew big Tomasz and Franceska were teaching their sons Polish. ‘Can we stay up a bit, with Alfie and George?’ he begged.

‘Half an hour,’ she conceded. ‘Tomasz, I’ll put supper on, you spend time with the boys.’ I noticed that Franceska didn’t exactly sound happy, but I was distracted as Aleksy picked me up while both big and little Tomasz started playing ball with George. Aleksy carried me into his bedroom. As my first child friend, Aleksy and I had been through a lot together. I had been his first friend in England and I’d also helped him when he was being bullied at school a couple of years ago. He confided in me, and as he placed me on his bed I knew we were going to have a chat.

‘I’m worried, Alfie. Mum and Dad aren’t really speaking and now we’re going to Poland for the whole holiday without him. I’m going to miss you, and home, but I’m going to miss Dad the most.’ He looked sad as he stroked me. I snuggled into him and purred my understanding.

‘I’m worried we won’t come home. I mean, Mum said we will when I asked her, but what if we don’t? Or what if our parents split up like Elijah’s and my school friend Justin’s did? I love Mum and Dad, and I get we don’t see enough of Dad at the moment because he’s too busy but they have to fix it.’ He thumped his hand down on his bed and looked so sad. I really felt for him. Aleksy was ten but very sensitive and mature, I thought, a little like me. I tickled him with my tail, which normally made him laugh and then I put my paw up in a high five.‘You’ll make sure that they’re OK, won’t you, Alfie?’

‘Miaow.’ Of course I would. I had no idea how, but I would. I was giving Aleksy my cat promise.

‘I’m excited to go to Poland. I don’t really remember much about it and Tommy has no memory at all. We’ll get to see family and Mum says it’ll be really cool but I want to come home to both my parents, Alfie. I’m relying on you.’

‘Miaow.’ Oh goodness, I had just been given even more responsibility.

After the boys had gone to bed, Tomasz let us out the back. He and Franceska were speaking to each other using only one word at a time, which I knew wasn’t good, and he was going back to the restaurant downstairs to quickly check everything was fine. He promised Franceska he wouldn’t be long, but she just grunted in response.

‘It’s dark,’ George said as he tentatively stepped into the yard.‘Yowl!’ he shrieked.‘What was that?’

‘Your shadow, George. Don’t worry, I’m here.’ I felt brave. After all, I’d been in this yard loads of times, and yes, it was a bit scary, and there were some nasty creatures around, but Dustbin would be here somewhere and he’d take care of us.

‘Yowl!’ he shrieked again. ‘What’s that?’ A figure loomed towards us.

‘George, that’s my friend, Dustbin.’ Dustbin emerged from behind a bin, licking his whiskers.

‘Nice surprise, Alfie.’ He looked at George. ‘And who’s this?’

‘This is George, he’s my kitten.’

‘I heard the boys talking about someone called George when they were down here the other day. I didn’t know you were a kitten. Nice to meet you, George.’ Dustbin’s voice softened as he spoke; even he wasn’t immune to George’s charm.

‘We aren’t allowed out for very long,’ I explained.‘But it’s safe, isn’t it?’

‘Don’t worry, Alfie, I won’t let anything happen to your lad. Will you come to see me tomorrow?’

‘Yes, I’ll miaow to be let out after breakfast and we can have a proper catch up.’

‘Looking forward to it, and getting to know the little lad a bit better too!’

Big Tomasz came out again, leaving a big plate of food for Dustbin, before taking us back upstairs. I noticed George was still shaking.

‘It’s OK, Dustbin is really nice,’ I said.

‘I know but it was so dark and it smelled funny in the yard. Dustbin smelled funny too.’ I couldn’t argue with that. He was a little fragrant, but he had a heart of gold.

George and I settled down in my bed in the living room as Tomasz and Franceska drank the champagne that Tomasz had brought from the restaurant, but neither of them looked as if they were enjoying it. They barely said a word, until finally they both started speaking really quickly in Polish, which meant that I couldn’t understand what they were saying. They didn’t sound very happy, I had to admit. I went to sleep worrying about them and feeling bad for Aleksy. And for myself — after all, I had promised to fix it.

The following morning, the sun was shining brightly as George and I waited to go out into the yard. In the daylight, George felt more confident, and ran straight up to Dustbin.

‘MIAOW!’ he screamed, as Dustbin, taken by surprise, dropped what he had in his mouth. It was a very fat mouse, or perhaps even a rat. George jumped back, the rodent jumped towards him, and before I knew what to do, Dustbin had grabbed it and flung it out of the way.

‘Oh dear, that was a bit close,’ Dustbin said as I went to comfort George.

‘What was that?’ George asked, wide-eyed.

‘It was a small rat, not very nice, but my job is to keep them away from the restaurant.’

‘But what do they do?’ George said.

‘Good question. All they seem to do is eat rubbish and spread disease.’

‘Are they worse than dogs then?’ George asked.

‘Not exactly, but as bad as.’ Dustbin was very patient with him; it was gratifying to see.

‘But you know what, Dustbin, Dad, I wanted to leap on it, I had this feeling inside me.’

‘That’s your cat instinct,’ Dustbin explained.‘Cats are natural hunters, it’s in your nature and that’s why you felt that urge to do that.’

‘Dad, do you hunt too?’ asked George.

Dustbin exchanged a look with me.

‘Well, George, I’m not so keen on hunting. There was a point in my life when I had to, and I’ll tell you all about that later, but now, well, I try not to get involved.’ I saw Dustbin smirk but he didn’t contradict me.

‘But I can do it?’ he asked.

‘Look, George, come with me and I’ll give you a lesson. But honestly, I do this as a job, it’s not something you domestic cats need to worry about too much.’

‘Thank you! Can I, Dad?’ he asked, looking at me hopefully.

‘Of course, George.’ I sat back on the doorstep as I watched my boy go hunting with Dustbin. And I have to admit he was already much better at it than me. My boy, a total natural.

‘So, Alfie,’ Dustbin said, when we were all sitting in the sun by the restaurant back step.‘How’s your broken heart?’

‘Oh, well, now you come to mention it, it’s still a bit sore.’ I gestured to George.‘He keeps me busy, which may have been Claire’s idea, but there are moments when I feel pangs of loss. I still wonder what Snowball’s doing …’ I looked wistfully at the sky, although I wasn’t sure why.

‘You know, I thought about it after you left last time,’ Dustbin said.‘It’s as if you give a bit of your heart to everyone you love, and sometimes they stay around and sometimes they don’t. The point is, Alfie, that you have a very big heart, with enough pieces for everyone.’ I felt emotional as he said this, thinking of those I’d loved who had taken pieces of my heart with them: Margaret, Agnes and Snowball. I knew Dustbin was right.

‘For such a feral cat you’re very wise,’ I said, touched and full of love for him.

‘That’s what friends are for.’

‘But I don’t understand,’ George said, looking bewildered at both of us.

‘You’re far too young,’ we both said at the same time.

We had a lovely time with Dustbin and I filled him in on the lamppost cats. I did it while George was distracted, as I didn’t like talking about them in front of him. I didn’t want to scare him.

‘Interesting,’ Dustbin said after a while. ‘I wonder what’s going on? They can’t all have decided to leave home.’

‘That’s what I think. My humans have been all preoccupying me as usual with their own problems, but this is beginning to make me worry. What if the worst is right and there’s some kind of threat to all the cats in the neighbourhood? No one from Edgar Road has gone missing, but still, it seemsa bit close to home to be comfortable.’

‘Look, Alfie, I can ask around.’ Dustbin had this amazing network of cats who generally knew or could find out anything; they had helped me in the past.

‘I’d be really grateful if you could.’ I still wasn’t sure what the lamppost cat issue really was, or if I should be worried about it, but having Dustbin dig around for me wouldn’t hurt at all.

When we went back inside, big Tomasz took the boys out for lunch so Franceska could pack. George and I followed her into her room where there were two suitcases on the bed, one big and one small.

‘So much easier to pack for the boys than for me,’ she sighed as she started putting clothes into the bigger case.

‘Miaow,’ I said, staying close to her. I followed her to her wardrobe and then, when she had an armful of clothes, back to the bed.

‘Where’s George?’ she asked. I looked around; he was nowhere to be seen. Oh no, not hide and seek again. I started looking round the room as Franceska put the clothes in the suitcase. Suddenly they all flew up in the air.

‘Ahhh!’ Franceska screamed as George jumped out from the suitcase. ‘You gave me such a fright!’ Then she started laughing. George purred with joy, and I felt relieved he was all right, although he’d made a mess. After that, he kept climbing into the suitcase as if it was a new game. In the end, Franceska shut us both in the living room, saying if she let us stay she’d never get packed before the boys got back. I told George off; although of course he had just been playing, I had hoped to spend some time with Franceska.

‘Right, I’m done,’ she said a while later, coming into the living room, closing the door behind her, and flopping down on the sofa. ‘Having a kitten is like having a baby, you can’t take any chances,’ she said. I purred in agreement as I jumped onto her lap. ‘I’ll miss you, Alfie. Iknow it’s only for a few weeks but it will be the longest I haven’t seen you since we met,’ she said, stroking my fur and scratching my head — which I loved. I snuggled further into her lap, hoping she would miss her husband too.‘I’ll miss Tomasz of course,’ she said, as though reading my mind.‘But he works so much, I hardly ever see him anyway. I tell him he needs to spend more time with his family. The boys, they grow up so fast.’ I miaowed: yes, they did, all the children did, even George seemed to be growing at an alarming rate. I often found myself asking where my tiny kitten had gone.‘I guess we’ll be back before you know it but, just in case we don’t get time alone again this weekend, take care and be good.’ Franceska kissed my head. She often talked to me a lot when it was just the two of us. I liked to think I was one of her best friends — I almost had too many to count.

‘Mama, Mama, look what we got, a Happy Meal!’ little Tomasz ran into the living room carrying a box.‘It has a toy in it!’

‘You took them to McDonald’s?’ Franceska asked, sounding surprised.

‘Mum, we begged Dad to take us, we never get to go and all our friends do,’ Aleksy said. He looked worried — being such a sensitive child, he didn’t like arguments.

‘It’s fine, your dad is soft. It’s not good for you, but it won’t hurt. Tomasz, I guess it was a special treat.’

‘It was,kochanie, and I would have taken them wherever they wanted to go. I’m going to miss you all, you know.’ He sounded a bit down.

‘I know, and we’ll miss you too.’ Franceska sounded warmer towards her husband than she had done in a while. I wondered if she meant it or if it was for the boys’ sake.‘But later we eat healthy food, no more junk,’ she smiled.

‘Pizza?’ little Tomasz asked.

‘I said healthy,’ Franceska laughed.

‘Pizza with vegetables on it?’ Aleksy suggested, and everyone laughed.

The rest of our weekend whizzed by. Aleksy and little Tomasz made an assault course for George, which he loved. It had tunnels, jumps, balls and toy cars, and George enjoyed being the centre of attention— which he usually was anyway — as they timed him going round it. It wasn’t without incident: at one point he got stuck in one of the tunnels, which was made out of cardboard and a bit small. But after much pushing, prodding and coaxing, he was freed at last, no worse off for his experience. Franceska was in a better mood too, and Tomasz stayed with us, which seemed to prove to me that he didn’t need to be in the restaurant all the time.

As we said goodbye later that evening, I was sad. I would miss them all, including Dustbin, who had really helped me yet again. It was good to know he was going to try to get to the bottom of the lamppost cat mystery. Aleksy, of course, I would miss so much, but little Tomasz and Franceska too. When they all went to Poland they would each take a piece of my heart with them. I just hoped— really, truly hoped — that they would return with their pieces before too long.

Chapter Twenty-one

[Êàðòèíêà: i_021.jpg]

Polly was at our house when big Tomasz drove George and me home. Matt and Jonathan had gone to the pub. Matt was no further forward in his job search and Polly was worried that he might still be feeling depressed. Claire thought a trip to the pub might do both him and Jonathan some good.

We settled the children in front of the TV. Claire said it was frowned upon to use it as an unpaid babysitter but she defied any normal mum to actually be the one who frowned on it. They were arguing about who got to cuddle George and so they all had to take turns. George didn’t mind being passed between them — as always, he quite liked the attention. Polly, Claire and I sat in the kitchen; all doors were open so we could hear the kids, but at least we could also have some grown-up time.

‘How are things with work and Matt? I feel I haven’t seen you in ages,’ Claire said.

‘That’s the job. Honestly, I do like it but I want to cut down a bit on my hours. I can’t though, we need the money and at the moment I have two big projects on, and of course everything has to be finished yesterday so I’m working most evenings. I feel I hardly see the kids and when I do, I’m so knackered I just let them watch TV.’

‘Like now, like me, you mean? Don’t beat yourself up, Polly — you need a break. It’s not like we’re terrible mothers, you need to cut yourself some slack.’

‘You’re right. Been there, done that. I know I can be tough on myself sometimes, but it’s hard not to feel guilty, you know?’ When Polly had postnatal depression with Henry, she felt she wasn’t a good mother to him and I know she still beats herself up about it, but she’s a great mum — I see it every day.

‘You’re enjoying your job though?’

‘I love it. And I love that they appreciate what I do. I know it sounds silly but I feel really proud of myself. I don’t think I could go back to not working again. But I don’t know what the future holds. I just wish Matt would get a job, not because I want to give mine up — to be honest, Ireally don’t — but because he hates being at home so much. I can’t bear how miserable he is.’

‘There’s nothing you can do though, is there? I mean, apart from being supportive. And he’ll find a job soon, Pol. He’s applying for them, isn’t he?’

‘Yes, and I’m trying to be optimistic but, well, his glass is definitely half empty at the moment. You know how happy go lucky he normally is but now he’s all doom and gloom.’ She sighed.‘Anyway, how was the weekend?’

‘Good and bad. Dad put it all into perspective for me. If we want a child sooner rather than later, then we need to be open to adopting an older child. The process still takes a long time, although, thanks to Dad, and the contacts he has, we are quite a way along. But as soon as we’re approved,if we’re approved, if we want a baby or a young child, then the wait begins. I think an older child would be great, they’d be at school and it would be an older sibling for Summer, like Henry, maybe, but Jonathan thinks it’d be even harder for him to love an older child than a baby.’

‘His argument?’

‘It does make sense. Well, to him it does, only because it’s the way he feels. He thinks that he loves Summer so much because we made her. He’s scared that if we adopt a child he won’t feel the same and he doesn’t want a child to live with us and feel second best.’

‘It’s kind of sweet, in a way,’ Polly pointed out. And I agreed. Jonathan did have a sensitive side, it was just kind of buried beneath designer suits and bluster.

‘Oh yes, he wouldn’t want to treat the child differently, but more importantly he wouldn’t want to feel about them differently, even if they didn’t realise it. He said it was important for him to love any child equally and if he didn’t he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.’

‘So what are you going to do?’ Polly asked.

‘We agreed to see if we got approved before we made any decisions, but to be honest, he’s freaked out a bit and let’s just say we aren’t on the best of terms right now.’

‘Oh God, we’re all arguing.’ Polly looked at the table.

‘Yes, we all are. And Tash, who is the only one of us whose relationship is actually broken, is probably doing better than we are now!’

‘I’m glad for her. She’s really been so strong through all this, it’s amazing.’

‘Yes, well, that’s the thing. I have someone I want her to meet, one of Jonathan’s colleagues, so I thought I’d arrange a dinner. Here, next Saturday night. Can you get a babysitter?’ Claire asked.

‘I can, but are you sure it’s wise to fix her up? It hasn’t been very long since she split up with Dave.’

‘No, and it might be terrible, but she’s been stuck in that flat since she moved in, she only sees us and she needs a confidence boost. It might end in tears but, on the bright side, they’ll probably be mine.’ Claire laughed and Polly smiled at her.

‘OK, I think you’re mad but I’ll come. I mean we’ll come. What does Jonathan think?’

‘That I’m too bossy for my own good! But I think he loves me for that in a weird kind of way.’

‘And Tash?’ Polly drummed a manicured finger on the table.‘Surely she has a say?’

‘Well, she’s not exactly jumping at the idea but she eventually agreed with me that a night out with some company and food would do her good.’

‘So you wore her down too?’

‘I absolutely did.’ Claire grinned and gave Polly’s arm a squeeze.‘We’ll work things out, our little gang, we always do.’

‘Miaow!’ I jumped onto the table. Thank goodness, some positivity at last, although I knew that I would be the one to sort it out in reality.

‘Mummy, Mummy! Summer won’t let me have my turn with George.’ Martha appeared at the door looking cross.

‘Come on,’ said Claire.‘Let’s go and sort this out.’ The two women smiled as they went into the living room. It seemed there was only so much the TV could do.

Jonathan came back from the pub quite late. Claire had waited up and so had I. George was sleeping next to me, snoring softly. I loved hearing the sounds he made while sleeping— I could watch him for hours. Well, until I fell asleep anyway.

‘Hi, Jon, how was your night?’ Claire asked as he kissed her.

‘Good. I did try to come home ages ago but Matt wouldn’t let me,’ Jonathan said.

‘That’s OK. Was he all right though?’

‘Not really, but I think he’ll be fine, he just needs time. Right, I’ve got a really busy day ahead of me tomorrow so I’d better get some sleep.’ Without waiting for Claire to respond he left to go upstairs. Claire looked a bit sad as she cleaned up the kitchen before following him.

‘George,’ I said, nudging him gently. I did think about leaving him to sleep here but I wanted my bed. He opened one eye and looked at me.‘Bedtime.’

‘Dad?’ he said, stretching his little legs out.

‘Yes?’

‘Why is everyone so unhappy?’

‘What do you mean?’ I asked, but I felt a quiver in my fur; had my boy picked up on the tension?

‘I had a lovely weekend, but it was clear that Franceska and Tomasz were sad, then Polly looked a bit miserable and Claire talked about them all falling apart. Tash as well. I only just met these people but what happens if they don’t get better?’ He sounded so sad, and although my heart was breaking for him, I was also incredibly proud. He was learning to be a very perceptive little cat: a chip off the old block, as Jonathan would say.

‘George, please don’t worry, we are going to fix this, both of us. My job is often to help my families, and you’re right, now they need us more than ever, but we’ll figure it out. Trust me.’

‘I do trust you, Dad,’ George said as he got up and made his way to bed.

Snuggled up next to little George, I began fretting. I had now promised both Aleksy and George that everything would be all right, but I had no idea where to start. There were often hurdles to get over but this time there seemed to be so many. One thing my families had in common was that they did love each other, and I knew they wouldn’t ever fall properly apart, but I could also see they needed help. Urgently. Yet again my to-do list had grown.

I also had to deal with my own heartbreak— although that had been pushed far down the list — George, who needed guidance and a lot of taking care of, as well as all my humans, or the adults anyway. At least the children seemed to be all right. Although Aleksy knew something was amiss with his parents, so how long would it be until allof the children were affected by the less-than-congenial atmospheres in their respective homes? Children, just like kittens, did pick up on things, even the little ones. So, I had the children to protect, the adults to sort out and I had promised George and Aleksy we were going to find a way to do it soon.

I tried to sleep but my brain was whirring.

Franceska was going to be so far away, so how on earth could I get big Tomasz to see that working these long hours for his family was making him risk them all? How could I get Polly and Matt to see that although they had a role reversal, and it wasn’t perfect for either of them, they could make it work? And Claire and Jonathan, well, they worried me most of all in a way. They were so far apart, despite Claire’s dad trying to talk some sense into both of them. Jonathan still thought he couldn’t love someone he didn’t make but that was crazy — look at the way I felt about George. Even if he were biologically mine, I couldn’t love him any more than I already did. So why couldn’t Jonathan see that? Why couldn’t Claire point it out to him? Yet again, it all came down to me. I had a heavy burden on my little cat shoulders and a long, hard road ahead to ensure everyone was happy. And on top of that, there was the mystery of the lamppost cats to solve. If there was something sinister going on, we needed to get to the bottom of it. And quickly.

My whiskers ached at the thought of how I was going to do it, but somehow, do it I would.

Chapter Twenty-two [Êàðòèíêà: i_022.jpg]

Franceska had gone and Tomasz had been round to have a beer with Jonathan and see us. He seemed very lost without her. Matt was no closer to getting a job and he was feeling useless. Polly was settling into a routine now; she was juggling the job and the children quite well, I thought, but she still didn’t talk to Matt properly about work because she was afraid how he would react. Claire and Jonathan had had lots of meetings with a social worker and were told that they would hear if they were approved for adoption soon. This seemed to create an even bigger gulf between them and they were still very distant with each other. I heard all of this, and yet I still had no idea what to do.

Tonight, Tash was coming over for dinner with all of them and one of Jonathan’s friends or colleagues I hadn’t met, and I was hoping the dinner might give me some inspiration. When little George kept asking if things were going to get better, I kept fobbing him off, saying that soon they would and that I was working on it. But really I had no idea.

‘Tiger, this is different,’ I said.

‘It’s always different, Alfie. Remember what you’ve done so far — you’ve been in more scrapes than I can count, from getting yourself stuck up trees to almost being killed. Don’t you think that now, with George to think about, you’d be better off keeping out of it and letting the humans sort themselves out?’ Tiger made a good point but she wasn’t going to deter me. That wasn’t the sort of cat I was.

‘The reason I’m doing this isfor George. Well, for him and all the children. The adults need to see what they’re in danger of losing. It seems to be only when I put myself in danger that I manage to bring people together, you know that.’

‘Yes, but what are you going to do this time? Set fire to yourself? There’s only so much danger you can get away with and I think you’ve probably reached your limit.’ Tiger looked stern.

She had a point. I had been through a lot in my life and perhaps there wasn’t much more I could do. How many more of my nine lives could I afford to lose? I might have to come up with a less dangerous way of fixing things.

‘OK, look, I know you’re right, so I’ll give it some time, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll all sort themselves out. But if they don’t … then we’ll have to come up with a plan.’

‘Deal,’ Tiger said. ‘But what about the missing cats?’ She knew me too well.

‘I’ve asked Dustbin to ask around about them. I’m still hoping it’s just something weird rather than something serious. But all we can do on that one is wait and see.’

‘Mew, mew, mew.’ I looked up to see George clinging to a branch by his front paws.

‘I tried to catch a bird,’ he said,‘but now I’m going to fall.’

Oh my goodness, my poor little boy.‘Just stay where you are, George, I’m coming,’ I shouted, starting to panic. Tiger shot me a look.

‘It’s OK,’ she said calmly,‘George, you can jump from there. Look it’s grass here, and if you let go, you’ll land on your legs.’ George looked at us uncertainly and I realised that, actually, Tiger was right — he wasn’t far from the ground. I must learn not to panic so much.

‘Tiger’s right, George, you’ll be fine and we’re right here.’ Eventually George let go and landed on all fours.

‘Wow, that was fun, can I do it again?’ he asked, giggling.

‘Another day,’ Tiger and I said in unison. I smiled at her and she grinned back; we were getting good at this parenting lark, I thought, as a flash of affection for Tiger flooded me. But I couldn’t think about that, I had bigger fish to fry.

Talking of fish, a little while later, George and I made our way home to eat our supper of sardines. I told him to make sure he bathed thoroughly: we had company coming so we both needed to look our best. Claire looked very pretty as she started to cook the food that she’d prepared earlier in the day. She was wearing a dress and high heels and her hair was swept back off her face. She had put on some make-up but still looked natural. She hummed to herself while she worked. I heard Jonathan upstairs. He was bathing Summer and getting her ready for bed, and seemedin a slightly better mood as he laughed with his daughter. We heard splashes and shrieks of joy coming from her. I was always excited when we had friends coming round. Being a sociable cat, I enjoyed people, and I also guessed that no one would argue tonight, because they tended not to in public. So we were in for a nice, harmonious evening with friends and I for one felt it was just what the vet ordered.

Tash arrived first. She was wearing jeans, a sparkly top and heels. George jumped up at her, and she scooped him into her arms after handing a bottle of wine to Claire.

‘Easy, George,’ she said, smiling. He was mesmerised by her top. It was like lots of tiny mirrors and I knew he was trying hard to look at his reflection in it! She petted him before carefully putting him down and accepting a glass of wine from Claire.

‘Are you OK?’

‘I’m nervous. Not only because of tonight and you trying to set me up with some bloke I’ve never met, but because Elijah’s withhim.’

‘I know, honey, but he’s also with Dave’s mum.’ The stipulation to an overnight visit had been that it had to be at his mum’s house, because Tash seemed to think that Dave would expose Elijah to danger if his mum wasn’t there. I didn’t know much about it but the situation seemed to begood for Dave’s mum, who adored her only grandchild.

‘I know, thank God for Pat. Poor woman feels so guilty on her son’s behalf but I keep telling her that it’s important she feels she can see Elijah whenever she wants. Anyway, I need to stop being so silly about it.’

‘And as for tonight, it’s just dinner with friends. Yes, there happens to be a single man you’ve never met coming but what’s the worst that can happen?’

‘I get drunk and make a fool of myself?’

‘Tash, you don’t do that, it’s more likely to be me, now sit down and relax.’

I went to sit on Tash’s lap, and as she stroked me I could feel her calming down. I purred ‘you’re welcome’ to her as she smiled at me. Jonathan entered the kitchen. He looked very handsome in his jeans and a clean, pressed shirt.

‘Hi, Tasha,’ he said, kissing her cheek. He then kissed Claire before grabbing a beer from the fridge and hovering. ‘Can I do anything, darling?’ he asked.

‘No, it’s all under control.’ And it was, but then Claire was pretty organised when it came to things like this. The table was set with candles and cutlery, but it wasn’t too cluttered; wine glasses gleamed and the food smelled delicious, although I could tell there was no fish.

‘So, tell me about this guy,’ Tash said.‘I know I’m supposedly not being set up, but I certainly feel like I am!’

‘Tash, you are being set up, my beautiful wife knows what she’s doing!’ Jonathan laughed. I saw Claire smile, which was rare lately, but tonight was a great example of how united they could actually be. ‘Anyway, Max is forty-four, divorced, one child who’s at university — so he started young by the way — and he was married for twenty years. No big drama, he and his wife just drifted apart apparently.’

‘And he works with you?’

‘Yes, he trades the same stocks as me. Good job, nice guy and actually quite fun, although he does like to play golf but I try not to hold that against him.’ I didn’t know what golf was but Jonathan was a strictly football guy, and whether he watched it at home or in the pub it always involved beer. Maybe golf was like that?

‘He sounds great, but I’m just not sure how I feel about dating again, it might be too soon,’ Tash said.

‘Oh, nonsense,’ Claire cut in.‘I’m not saying marry the guy, but it doesn’t hurt to meet new people and maybe even have the odd date. After all, a girl’s got to eat.’

‘Anyway, aren’t you ladies forgetting something? Tash might not fancy him,’ Jonathan teased.

‘Oh, she will, he’s really good-looking,’ Claire said. Jonathan shot her a look of mock hurt.

George was grinning as I joined him on a soft chair in the corner of the dining area. I knew what he was thinking, that it was lovely to see everyone laughing and relaxed for once. We were interrupted by the doorbell, and as George and I settled down to watch the evening’s events unfold, I began to feel positive. Maybe Tiger was right and everything would sort itself out after all?

Well, Claire turned out to be right. Max was very good-looking: he was tall, with greying hair, and he had a lovely smile. I immediately liked him as he made a huge fuss of both me and George. I could see that Tash was quite taken with him too, she kept blushing and twiddling with her hair. Polly and Matt were on good form, and were even being affectionate to each other. They were usually the most touchy-feely of my couples, always holding hands or hugging or doing that kissing that you see in films, but lately they hadn’t been doing that so much. So to see them back to their old selves was heart-warming. They weren’t doing film kissing but Polly kept putting her hand on Matt’s arm and he had his hand on her leg when he wasn’t holding a fork. There was more laughter and fun than we’d had in a long time and I think, for George, ever in the time he’d lived with us.

I couldn’t help marvelling that even though he’d only been with us for such a short time, I almost couldn’t remember life without him. I hadn’t forgotten my time with Snowball, but it was as if George belonged in my life more than anyone or anything else ever had. The time before him felt like it had happened to a different cat. Did that sound crazy?

‘So, Claire, we have to go to this dinner with my bosses next week, can you babysit?’ Polly asked.

‘Sure, what night? I’d be happy to if Jon can stay home.’

‘Thursday.’

‘No problem,’ Jonathan said.

‘It’ll be funny, Polly often had to endure dinners when I was working, but now I’m the spouse who has to charm her bosses. Not sure I’ll be as good at it as she was,’ Matt said, but he didn’t sound bitter.

‘They’ll love you, but I agree it will be odd. Gosh, over the years I’ve been to so many of these corporate dinners with you.’

‘I know, and you’ve always dazzled. Never mind, I’ll just have to do my best,’ said Matt, kissing her cheek.

‘Well, you are charming all the school mums I used to hang out with,’ Polly teased.

‘Charming?’ Matt replied, ‘I spend most of my time running the gauntlet so I don’t get cornered by them. Not only are they scary but they keep wanting me to join them for skinny lattes and Pilates.’ Matt laughed and everyone else joined in.

‘What do you do, Matt?’ Max asked. I held my breath.

‘At the moment, nothing. Well not nothing, I’m a househusband. I worked for a digital design agency, which went belly-up. And despite numerous applications there aren’t any posts senior enough for me at the moment.’

‘Oh God, you’ll have to take up Pilates, mate,’ Jonathan teased.

George had fallen asleep beside me, but I was concentrating on the conversation. It seemed that Max’s brother co-owned a company like the one Matt used to work for, and Matt had heard of it. And although Max didn’t know if he had any vacancies, he said he’d be happy to ask. Matt seemed very pleased and I thought about what a small world it could be. As Tash flirted, Claire and Jonathan looked happy and Matt and Polly were affectionate; I wondered if they would sort everything out without my help. For once. With that lovely thought swimming around my head, I fell asleep.

I woke as Tash and Polly came to say goodbye to us. George didn’t stir, but I decided to follow them out, just to make sure that everything was all right. I don’t think anyone noticed as I went out the front door, they were all so effervescent and excited. As I stood by our gate, I saw Matt and Polly head off in one direction holding hands, which made me feel warm in my fur. Then Max offered to walk Tash home before getting into the taxi that was waiting for him. I hung back slightly as Max spoke to the driver and then he and Tash set off the short walk to her flat, the opposite way to Matt and Polly.

‘I know things are raw but I had fun tonight. So if you fancy going to dinner sometime …’ I heard Max say. I decided I really liked him: not only was he handsome, he was kind.

‘I would like that,’ Tash said. She could barely keep the smile from her face and she looked so pretty in the moonlight. Max stopped and pulled out his phone as Tash gave him her number. Satisfied, I made my way home.

I went to jump through the cat flap.

‘Yowl!’ I flew backwards. Yet again, I had forgotten that the cat flap was still locked at night. When would I learn? I panicked slightly; what if I was locked out for the night? What if George woke and I wasn’t there? I jumped on to the kitchen windowsill and was relieved to find myself looking at Jonathan. He was holding a glass and seemed to be staring at the sink.

‘Miaow!’ I shouted as loudly as I could, tapping the glass with my sore head.

‘What the?’ Jonathan jumped and dropped the glass. I ran to the back door. ‘You gave me the fright of my life, Alfie!’ Jonathan shouted. I walked past, giving him my sternest look. Take away your freedom and then see how you feel, I wanted to say, but of course I couldn’t, being a cat.

Chapter Twenty-three

[Êàðòèíêà: i_023.jpg]

Vic and Heather had called a neighbourhood watch meeting. I watched through our living room window as people crammed into their house. Polly and Claire went; Polly said that Matt was so down she didn’t think he’d survive it, so Claire offered to go with her in solidarity. Tash couldn’t go as she had to look after Elijah and to everyone’s amusement she was actually a little disappointed. But as they told her, there would be plenty more meetings to attend in the future. But despite the joking, I knew the nature of the meeting might help me so I was disappointed that I couldn’t go either.

I felt a little sad as I watched Polly, still in her work suit, and Claire, wearing jeans and a jumper, walk through the Goodwins’ door. All I could do was settle down with Jonathan and wait for Claire to come home. Summer was in bed, George was asleep on the armchair and Jonathan and I sat side by side on the sofa watching the news. There was no mention of any cats on it as far as I could see, so I didn’t think that this lamppost cat thing had reached epic proportions yet, but still I found it troubling. Despite the increase in posters, none of our cat friends had gone missing, so it didn’t make sense. I still hadn’t heard from Dustbin, and I wondered if Edgar Road was somehow protected from whatever was goingon. But then just whatwas going on? Anyway, I was sure they would be discussing it at the meeting, so I would hear about it later.

Jonathan fell asleep on the sofa at some point, as he often did, snoring a bit and dribbling sometimes, but then when he woke up denied he had been asleep at all. Glancing at George, who was also fast asleep, I went to stretch my legs in the garden. As I slid through the cat flap I was surprised to see Tiger by my back step. Her fur glinted in the moonlight, and she looked very serious.

‘What are you doing here?’ I asked.

‘Thank goodness you’re here, I thought I’d have to risk coming in.’

‘Tiger, I’ve told you before, I’m sure Claire and Jonathan wouldn’t mind!’ Jonathan would probably huff and puff a bit but actually he’d be all right. Besides, he was snoring away just now anyway.

‘I’ve been waiting for ages and getting cold, but I had to come and see you.’ Tiger’s eyes shone with fear.

‘What is it, Tiger?’

‘The lamppost cats, it is serious after all.’

‘Ah, I worried it was. That’s why the Goodwins called their meeting.’

‘Yes, it is. My owners were fussing, telling me to be careful, saying they might have to stop me from going out! Anyway that’s not the worst bit. There was a new poster tonight and it’s …’

‘Come on, Tiger, spit it out.’ Tiger often got a bit flustered when she was upset. I tried to be patient but it wasn’t one of my strong points.

‘Pinkie! It’s Pinkie on the poster.’

‘Are we sure she isn’t just in a fridge somewhere?’ I asked, but I had a bad feeling.

‘She’s missing, Alfie. Her poster is on a lamppost. So finally, after all our musing about whether this was a proper problem, someone we know has gone missing, an Edgar Road cat. It’s time we stopped burying our heads in the sand. I think that something bad is going on and you know I’m not a dramatic cat. But I can’t just sit by and watch our friends go missing.’ I had never seen Tiger this agitated before.

‘Calm down, Tiger. Right, let’s think this through. Pinkie wouldn’t just leave home — she liked her owner.’

‘Exactly. She really was happy there.’

‘OK, so you’re right, something is going on. I need to think about this, and I need to go and see Dustbin again. I mentioned it to him before but with Franceska and the kids in Poland I haven’t seen him since. I need to go there but what will I do with George? It’s too far for him to walk.’

‘How about I look after George and you go. I’d go with you but one of us needs to take care of the kitten.’

‘OK. And don’t worry, Tiger. Alfie is on the case.’

‘Oh, Alfie, I just don’t want anything bad to happen to any of us.’

‘Hey,’ I said, with all the confidence I could muster,‘I won’t let it.’

I went back inside, legs shaking. I was more troubled by this latest development than I cared to admit. It had hit home now and no longer could we ignore the problem. Jonathan decided he was too tired to wait up, so I took George to bed, and although I tried to stay awake, sleep claimed me. I was asleep before Claire came back.

At breakfast, I was delighted that Claire discussed the meeting with Jonathan.

‘I know they are quite mad but it does seem there are a spate of cats going missing. The Goodwins have done a spreadsheet and everything. And you know, Jon, it’s more than is comfortable, even for London.’

‘You’re kidding?’ Jonathan said through a mouthful of toast. ‘What’s a spreadsheet going to do?’ Trust Jonathan to focus on that.

‘Well they have charted where the cats went missing and it does seem to be a triangle of streets around us. They’ve also got all the owners together and everyone is searching. Jon, you have to admit that it’s too many now for it to be cats running away or getting run over.’ As Claire lookedworried, I thought of poor Pinkie. ‘And for once the Goodwins are actually being helpful, not just interfering.’

‘Yeah, they have got a point. But what are they going to do?’

‘They’ve asked us all to search around the area, look out for anything suspicious and most of all keep our cats safe.’

Jonathan looked at her.‘You don’t think anyone would take Alfie or George do you?’ Finally he sounded as if he was taking it seriously.‘Has anyone spoken to the police?’

‘Yes, but I don’t think missing cats are their top priority, and the point is that if we can get to the bottom of it soon then they won’t get the chance to take our cats. We were all wondering if we should keep them inside.’

‘But Claire, Alfie would hate that. Look, maybe we use that as a last resort.’

‘Well, this better get sorted, Jon, or we’ll have no alternative.’

‘Right, I’ll call Matt and after work we can go and do a bit of a search.’

It didn’t sound like much of a plan but at least it was something. I really didn’t want to be locked in the house — how would I help the lamppost cats or my families then?

‘George, stop that and come here,’ Claire shouted. She had been cleaning up after Jonathan left for work and George had taken the opportunity to play. Having recently discovered the cupboard where the plastic supermarket bags were kept, he had decided they were his favourite things. He had climbed into one now and was sliding all over the kitchen floor. Summer was chasing him and giggling, but Claire was cross.

‘It’s dangerous,’ she shouted. I knew it wasn’t, there were holes in the bag and he could definitely breathe, I wasn’t that neglectful a parent. Finally Claire caught him and removed him from the bag. ‘When Jonathan gets home I am getting him to childproof that cupboard, George. No morebags for you.’ George looked distraught. I made a mental note to tell him how much fun boxes could be later on. Claire looked flustered as she put George down on the floor and went to get Summer dressed. She was going out with Tash for the day with the kids, as they both had a day off work. Tash had had a date with the lovely Max last night so Claire wanted to hear all about it. I did too, but disappointingly I couldn’t go with them, although it did mean I could go and see Dustbin, with Tiger kitten-sitting for me.

‘I wish we could go out with them,’ George said.

‘Well, they won’t let us. It would mean stowing away in Summer’s pushchair or something,’ I mused as I strolled towards the living room, where I could watch the world go by through the window.

‘Bye, Alfie, bye George,’ Claire shouted later. I lay down on the sofa and thought about having a nap, before I suddenly sat up with a start. Something was wrong. I wasn’t sure what, or if I was imagining it, but something didn’t feel right. I went to find George. I searched the house, but couldn’t see him. I sighed, it was tiring but he kept playing hide and seek without telling me, which was beyond annoying. So I looked for him in all the places that he normally hid, but there was no sign of the mischievous little kitten. Once I was certain he wasn’t in the house, I went out. Hemight have snuck out while I was in the living room. Honestly, what kind of parent was I? I searched the garden, but he wasn’t there so, trying not to panic, I went to find Tiger. Thankfully she was in her front garden.

‘What do you mean “gone”?’ Tiger asked.

‘Claire went out and I can’t find him anywhere.’ Oh, this was so worrying. I felt a bolt of real fear as I thought of the lamppost cats. My George!

‘Are you sure you looked everywhere?’ asked Tiger. She looked panicked too.

‘Yes, of course, I checked and double-checked. You haven’t seen him?’ I was frantic.

‘No, Alfie, if he went out he didn’t come this way. Let’s check the park, he loves the park.’ Tiger was staying calm, something I was finding difficult. I felt an emotion I had never felt before: total fear. I was always a bit panicked when he was hiding, but in the house I was a little more confident. However, outside … anything could happen to him.

‘I told him never to go out without me!’ I knew I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off him, but then I didn’t expect him to be so irresponsible. Hadn’t I warned him about going out on his own? Of course I had — time and time again.

Tiger and I were silent as we made our way to the park as quickly as possible. I had never felt fear like this before. He was still so young, and didn’t even really know how to cross roads on his own. There were dangers everywhere and I had taught him so much, but still, it wasn’t enough.

He wasn’t there.

I collapsed back at my house. I wanted to cry, my back legs ached from all the running and I still hadn’t found my boy. I couldn’t help but yowl.

‘Look, you wait here, Alfie, and I’ll go and see if the others have seen him.’ Tiger was distraught but was trying her best to hide it.

‘Tiger, I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘I’ll be quick,’ she said, and bounded off. I lay in the front garden and said a prayer to the god of cats to bring my boy home safely. We had checked the park, every tree, bush and flowerbed, anywhere he could possibly hide, but there was no sign. Where on earth could he be? I promised if hewas brought back safely to me I would never take my eyes off him again, not for a minute. How could I have been so irresponsible?

It felt like ages before Tiger came back. She looked downcast.

‘No sign. Oh goodness, now I’m beginning to really worry. Although if he had come outside, someone would have seen him. It doesn’t make sense,’ she said, and I had to agree with her. ‘Not even Salmon, and he’s been watching for ages. He said he saw Claire leave with the pushchair but nothing else. The other cats are all looking for him right now.’

‘What could have happened? It’s as if he’s just disappeared into thin air. What if the lamppost cats are something really bad and someone’s taken him?’ I was feeling so hysterical that I didn’t think I could breathe anymore.‘I can’t bear the idea that someone could have taken my boy.’

‘Oh, Alfie, I don’t know what to say—’ She stopped suddenly. ‘Look.’ I turned and saw Claire and Tash approaching. Claire was pushing Summer in her pushchair, and Elijah was walking next to them, holding his mum’s hand. I was flooded with relief as I saw, sitting bold as brass on Summer’s lap, George. I tried to slow my breathing down to a normal level as they approached us but my heart was still beating out of my chest.

‘Oh, Alfie, were you looking for George?’ Claire said as they reached us.‘The naughty little kitten stowed away in the pushchair, in my bag.’ She lifted George out.‘We were on our way to soft play but of course we couldn’t take him in. Now, George, stay here. We have to go back before the kids get mutinous.’ She shook her head, gave me a pat and left.

When they’d gone, Tiger and I exchanged a glance.

‘Don’t ever do that to me again,’ I said crossly. I had never felt so cross and yet so relieved in my life.

‘Why?’

‘We were worried sick,’ Tiger added.‘George, you can’t just go with humans, and if you do then you need to tell Alfie.’

‘Why?’

‘Because we were worried and we love you, but at the moment I am very cross with you. What were you thinking?’ I didn’t want to scare him by telling him about the lamppost cats — he was too little for that — but he needed to be aware of the dangers. Parenting wasn’t as easy as it looked.

‘You said you’d like to go to hear about Tash and that man. And by the way, she had a lovely time, he took her to something called French restaurant, they drank something called champagne and they had a great evening, and they are going to see each other again but they’ve both agreed to take it slowly. Tash doesn’t know if she’s ready but actually she admitted she really did enjoy herself,’ said George.

As much as I liked hearing this, I was still angry and scared. Although I was delighted for Tash, and it was brilliant that George had listened so well, I wasn’t going to tell him that.

‘I know I said I wanted to go but I also said that we couldn’t go. We just can’t go anywhere we fancy it, no matter how much we want to.’ I once stowed away in a bag and went all the way to the seaside with my families but I wasn’t going to tell George about that.‘It’s dangerous, it’s reckless and your mum and I were worried sick. Now you will go inside and stay there, and think about your behaviour,’ I said crossly.

‘But I’m sorry,’ George said, trying to look cute.

‘No, George, you need to be punished. Come on, inside now and never, ever go anywhere without telling me again.’

I hustled him round the back, with Tiger following us. As I told George to get through the cat flap, Tiger hung back.

‘I’m so relieved,’ Tiger said. ‘The feelings I had when he was missing were awful.’

‘I know, it was horrific, I really can’t begin to tell you.’

‘I think I understand. I love him too, you know.’

‘I know we’re his parents, and just like with my families, I’ve seen how parents worry and I totally understand it now. I worry enough about all my humans, but even that isn’t the same as the way I feel about George,’ I tried to explain.

‘Because he’s your kitten,’ Tiger said.‘Anyway, I’d better go and let the others know he’s safe, they’re probably still looking for him.’

‘Great. And Tiger …’

‘Yes?’

‘He’s not my kitten, he’sour kitten.’

Tiger nuzzled me and left. I went inside to deal with our kitten feeling an odd cocktail of emotions.

George behaved impeccably for the rest of the day. He didn’t go near anything he shouldn’t and he asked me before he did anything. I wished he could always be this good, although of course I’d probably miss his mischievous side just a tiny bit. When Summer came home, she grabbed George and took him upstairs to play dress up. After having to wear bonnets, scarfs and dolly dresses, I think he’d been punished enough. However, the idea that he could really go missing haunted me. I needed to get to the bottom of the cat mystery sooner rather than later.

Chapter Twenty-four [Êàðòèíêà: i_024.jpg]

I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. That morning, after delivering George into Tiger’s care, I set off to see Dustbin. She was such a good mum, and I felt lucky to have her. Glancing back, I saw the two of them looking after me and I felt a pang in my heart. I needed to do this for all my friends, but especially Tiger and George. I went as fast as my legs would carry me, knowing the way and knowing what dangers to look out for — usually just cars and maybe the odd dog. I took the back route into Dustbin’s yard without too much trouble, feeling pleased with myself for making such quick time.

‘Hi, Alfie,’ Dustbin said.‘This is a pleasant surprise.’

‘Well, Dustbin, you might not feel that way when I tell you why I’m here.’ I filled him in on the latest developments.‘So it seems the lamppost cats might actually be more of a problem than we first thought. God forbid any more cats are in danger.’

‘Right, Alfie, sounds like we need to sort this out before it gets out of hand. I’ll go this afternoon and talk to my colleagues again and we’ll ramp up the urgency. I’m sure that between us we can get some information. In the meantime, you stay vigilant and let me know of any developments as soon as you can.’

‘I think I’ll set up a network here, so that when I can’t get to you I can send Tiger or something. I really do need to keep a close eye on George, I shudder to think anything might happen to him.’

‘Right, well, it might take a bit of time, but I’m on the case and I’ll come and find you if I have any news.’

‘But do you know where I live?’

‘Yes, I was interested once so I followed Tomasz.’ I raised my whiskers.

‘OK, so maybe I was being a bit nosey. I fancied seeing where you lived. I miss the boys by the way.’

‘Me too. I wish they’d come home. And I wish all the missing cats would get to go back to their homes too. Oh, Dustbin, I wish the lampposts were just lampposts again.’ My eyes were full of worry, but Dustbin, more than anyone, reassured me.

Life has a funny way of turning round in circles; time passes, things change. One minute everyone’s sad, then they’re happy, and then, well, where do I start?

Tash was over at ours when I got back from seeing Dustbin, gushing about Max, who she’d been on another date with. I couldn’t believe how happy she seemed. She’d come to realise that perhaps she had fallen out of love with Dave before he left her, without realising it, and although she was cautious, she was beginning to see that she deserved happiness. And as Claire said to her, you didn’t know when it would come along so you had to snatch it when you could. Also, because Max was a father himself, he understood her need to put Elijah first. I felt very hopeful although I did worry she would get hurt again. But I was a cat who worried about things, that was just what Idid.

‘Anyway,’ Tash said,‘he’s great, puts no pressure on me at all. But you know, whatever happens, he’s made me see that I tried so hard to make the relationship with Dave work, whilst he did nothing. If I’m honest, I think having Elijah was my last-ditch attempt to save us. I don’t think I realised it at the time, but it does make sense.’

‘I had no idea,’ Claire said.

‘He was just so lazy. Anyway, I put up with him for so long and I really believed I loved him. Well, I did love him, but actually, he’s not worth it,’ said Tash as she watched Elijah eat his sandwich at the kitchen table. Summer was sitting opposite him, pulling her sandwich apart and dropping bits on the floor, where George was waiting, hoping it might be something he liked. Luckily for him, it was grated cheese. George loved cheese.

‘Summer, eat that — don’t drop it,’ Claire said, sounding exasperated. ‘Well, sometimes you lose something and you realise how much you miss it, and other times you lose something and realise that actually it wasn’t right in the first place.’

‘Was that what it was like with your first husband?’ Tash asked. I had never met Claire’s first husband. She moved here after they divorced and she was sad then.

‘He was a control freak and then, remember, I moved on to Joe who was the same only worse. I think with Dave, you were together so long you were used to him, you know, he was part of your life, you might not have seen that you weren’t actually happy.’

‘I think you’re right. But did you see it?’

‘Honestly? No. I mean I never really got to know him that well, and Jonathan was never overly keen, but then Jon’s ambitious and he doesn’t understand men who don’t have ambition.’

‘Dave didn’t, did he? I thought he was laid back but I didn’t realise how lazy he was. I worked twice as hard as him, I found the house, I did pretty much everything. Anyway, enough about me, what’s going on with you? Elijah, do you want some fruit?’ I marvelled at the way parents managedto have conversations but always seemed to remember what they needed to do for their children. I needed to learn that skill with George. Elijah nodded, and Claire handed Tash a banana.

‘Look,’ Claire said. She took an envelope out from behind the toaster and handed it to Tash.

‘What’s this?’ Tash took the letter out and read it.

‘But, Claire, that’s fantastic, you’ve been approved!’ Tash jumped up and hugged Claire.

‘Yes, we’ve been given the green light for adopting and the social worker said that if we’re willing to take an older child it won’t take as long. But, well, I haven’t told Jonathan yet.’

‘When did you get this letter?’ Tash asked.

‘Last week. I know it’s silly, but I want this more than anything, I don’t know how I’d feel if Jonathan said no.’

‘And you’re sure about taking care of an older child?’ Tash looked concerned, as did I.

‘Yes. Tash, I’m doing this for the right reasons and I’ve thought long and hard about that. I want Summer to have a sibling, and I want to add to our family. A baby isn’t realistic. We’re a bit older now and the waiting list is so long, Summer would probably be at university before we even got a baby.’ Claire looked thoughtful. I thought she was being optimistic: Summer at university? She was so bossy she’d probably be kicked out of school long before then.‘Anyway, we have a lovely home and a lot of love here, so any child would be welcome. And I hate to think of any kid not having a loving family, I really believe that this child needs us and we need them.’

‘That’s lovely, Claire.’

‘But the thing is that Jon is scared and I can’t seem to get through to him, so I just don’t know what to do.’

I jumped onto the kitchen table. I wanted to tell Claire that if she was a bit more supportive as to how Jonathan felt, and told she him understood, yet explained why they would be such great parents to any child, then he would come round. But how could I convey that? It seemed that she was on her road and he was on his and they didn’t seem to be going to the same place. I nudged Tash.

‘Claire, tell him you understand,’ she said, as if reading my mind.‘Do it gently.’

‘I railroad people, don’t I?’ Claire asked.

‘You do make up your mind and then go for it, which is great, and a real asset in so many ways and why we all love you, but in this case, maybe try a more gentle approach?’

‘I’ll try but I can’t promise. In my head I’m already decorating the spare room for him.’

‘It’s a boy?’

‘It would be a boy, yes, I just feel it.’ Claire laughed.‘I see what you mean.’

I tried not to despair. She knew what to do but, being Claire, she wasn’t sure she could do it. I wanted another child here. I could see the value for all of us, and with the way I felt about George, I knew that adoption was a great, positive thing, but Claire needed to convince Jonathan, not tell him, and that was where I worried. If they couldn’t agree on this, then what would happen to them?

Tash took Elijah home for a nap, and as Claire took Summer upstairs for hers, George and I went out. None of the cats seemed to be around so after playing with some leaves and chasing a fly we decided to go and see if Matt was in. I missed Polly on days like this, she and I hung out together quite a lot before she got her job, but I loved Matt too— it was just that these days he wasn’t quite as much fun.

George and I headed through the cat flap and into Polly and Matt’s house. Imagine my surprise when we went to the living room and saw big Tomasz sitting in the armchair with Matt on the sofa. It had been ages since I’d seen Tomasz — since the rest of the family had gone on holiday — so I jumped up onto his lap and snuggled in. George sat at Matt’s feet.

‘Ah, our friends the cats,’ Tomasz said, making a fuss of me. I purred happily, it was so lovely to see him. ‘I know, I miss you too, Alfie,’ he said.‘And of course my wife and children.’

‘Jeez, Tom, it feels like they’ve been gone for ages, although I know it hasn’t been that long,’ Matt said, which I agreed with.‘When are they back?’

‘Another two weeks, before school starts. I asked her to come home sooner but Franceska says they’re having a lovely time and anyway I’d only be working.’

‘Tom, you know, me being at home this way, not the way I’d choose, by the way, has taught me something. I see more of my children than ever and they do something different, something new, every day. I love that. I spent so long worrying about losing my job and the fact I was no longer the “man” of the house, but actually, when I think about it, I really enjoy spending more time with the kids. I’ve made myself a promise that if, or when, I get another job, I’ll always make sure I spend enough time with them.’ George hopped onto Matt’s lap and licked his face. Which was very clever of him because I would have done the same had I not been busy being stroked by Tomasz.

‘I know you’re right, but the business … We have two restaurants now. And I do this for my family, you know.’

‘Yes, and you’re brilliant — look how successful you’ve become. But mate, you have managers, you need to delegate, take more time off. There’s no point in doing this for your family if you don’t see them.’ I couldn’t have put it better myself. Matt had come a long way since learninghow to load the dishwasher.

‘I know, you’re right. And since they’ve been gone I’ve missed them like crazy, I just need them to come home so I can let them know.’

No, I felt a tingling in my fur. Tomasz was wrong, he didn’t need them to come home, he needed to go and get them. He needed to go to Poland. But how did I tell him that? I looked at Matt, willing him to have the same idea.

‘Changing the subject, I’ve got a meeting. Long story but the brother of one of Jon’s colleagues has a design agency. He’s got some work, it’s freelance, not a permanent role, but it’s a good company and if I get it I might be able to be more flexible, so Polly can keep working if she wants to, and I can still do more with the children.’

‘Have you spoken to Polly about it?’

Matt shook his head.‘We’re not communicating very well right now either.’

‘When did our lives get so complicated?’ Tomasz asked. I didn’t know the answer to that. It was complicated, and I couldn’t help but feel a little exasperated that neither man seemed to know what to do about the situation.

Chapter Twenty-five

[Êàðòèíêà: i_025.jpg]

‘So what you’re saying is you need yet another plan?’ Tiger said, sighing. We were all crouched under a bush in the park: me, Tiger and George. George was making a pile of leaves to nestle into and his nose was covered in mud. He looked very sweet.

‘Basically, yes. I tried to leave them to sort it out but to no avail. The thing is, it has to be a big plan,’ I pointed out.‘The biggest plan of my life.’

‘What are you hoping to achieve?’ she asked.

‘Well, I want Tomasz to go to Poland to get his family back. I want Claire and Jonathan to work together on this adoption, not both on different paths. I want Matt and Polly to talk again, to be as close as they normally are and to agree on how they can both work with jobs and the children. Oh, and I want Tash to feel more confident about having a new relationship because my cat instinct tells me Max could be wonderful both for her and Elijah. Although out of everyone, Tash actually seems the happiest right now. And of course I want to get all the lamppost cats back with their owners, including Pinkie.’

‘Is that all?’ I could detect sarcasm in Tiger’s voice. She could be one sarcastic cat.

‘I know it’s a lot but hey, there’s a lot to do at the moment.’

‘But how are you going to do it? Where do we even start? I mean, nearly getting yourself killed or being stuck up a tree won’t achieve all that,’ she said, referring to my previous plans.

‘I know, and I’m also aware I only have so many lives left, so let’s not risk them.’

‘But Dad,’ George piped up. ‘How can you make Tomasz go to Poland?’

‘I don’t know. What I need to do is find a common thread.’ I started thinking. Thinking made me hungry. It wasn’t lunchtime but I could hear the gentle rumble of my stomach, and then I saw a butterfly, which I decided to jump for. I missed, of course, and landed in a flowerbed. I rolled offand Tiger laughed.

‘Right, well Dustbin is on board with the cat problems but for all the others I want us to have a good think. We’ll meet tomorrow to see if we’re any closer to a grand plan.’ George looked confused, Tiger amused. As I brushed a petal off my head, I tried to muster all the dignity I had left.

As George and I walked home, we saw Tash approaching.

‘Hello, boys,’ she said. George rubbed up against her legs. She scooped him up, holding him so tightly he began to wriggle.

‘Sorry, my little angel, hope I didn’t squeeze too tight.’ George purred in response; he was such a flirt. Then I saw her eyes were red. Although we were still in the street, I rubbed against her legs. ‘Oh, Alfie, I’m so confused,’ she said. She slumped down on someone’s front wall, still holding George. I jumped up next to her.

‘Miaow?’

‘It’s Max. I really like him, but I’m so afraid, and I’ve been arguing with Dave about Elijah and money.’

‘Yowl,’ I said, to show my disapproval of Dave.

‘I know, I know, he’s such an idiot. But Max … Well, he’s lovely, but I told him I needed to take some time out from us. I just don’t know if I can do it, a relationship, it’s too confusing.’

I was cross. Not because of Tash— I understood how she was feeling. After all, I still couldn’t even contemplate replacing Snowball, but then she wasn’t an idiot like Dave. I needed Tash to remember that thing about snatching happiness whenever you could. As I tried to comfort her, along with George, who was being so affectionate, I remembered that when I got Claire and Jonathan together, after Claire had had a disastrous relationship with a man — I couldn’t bring myself to say his name — Claire had said it was too soon for her to think about dating Jonathan, and Tash had pointed out that if she lost a good man like Jonathan because of a bad man likehim, then she’d regret it. Where were her wise words when it came to herself?

‘Miaow!’ Give yourself the chance to be happy, I tried to say, but she didn’t seem to be listening.

That night, yet again, I couldn’t sleep. I was wide awake, wracking my brain for a plan. George was fast asleep, thankfully, but I could hear voices coming from Claire and Jonathan’s room. I moved closer to the door to listen.

‘Just shut up, Jon, you’re being really mean,’ I heard Claire shout. Her voice wobbled and she sounded close to tears.

‘No, I’m not. But, Claire, this is the truth, you wanted the truth, I don’t think I can love a child who isn’t mine, especially an older one. They will already have a personality, probably come from a terrible background and will need extra-special care. It’s not about whether I want to do it or not, it’s that I simply don’t feel I can. How many times can I tell you that I don’t think I can do this!’ He sounded particularly angry.

‘I think you can. I think we can. This isn’t about just you, Jonathan, this is about us as a family.’

‘A family which at the moment seems close to falling apart,’ Jonathan hissed.

‘So now you’re threatening me?’

‘No, Claire, I’m trying to tell you how I feel but you can’t seem accept it, or even have a rational discussion about it.’

‘No, I can’t, because the man I love wouldn’t threaten me.’ Jonathan made a frustrated noise and then went quiet. I watched from the shadows as the door opened and Claire went into the spare room, where once again she cried herself to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-six

[Êàðòèíêà: i_026.jpg]

‘We are now in a state of emergency,’ I announced the next day, having gathered all my cat friends at our usual spot. I needed the whole gang. I felt a little bit like I was commanding an army as I strode backwards and forwards, although they weren’t exactly standing to attention. Elvis was lying on his back, enjoying the sun; Tiger sat with George lying between her paws, looking very sweet; Rocky and Nellie were sitting together; and Tinkerbell was cleaning the back of his legs in a move that would make most yoga enthusiasts jealous. Only Pinkie was absent, which was a stark reminder of one of the reasons we were here.

‘Oh, that sounds very incredibly serious,’ Nellie said excitedly. She loved drama.

‘Not only do we need to find those missing cats, but I also need help with all my humans.’

‘Right, Alfie, so what do you want us to do?’ Elvis asked.

‘Firstly, the cats. We are all feeling under stress now that Pinkie is gone. I mean, we don’t know who or what this threat is and when it might come for any one of us.’ I glanced at George, who thankfully was being nuzzled by Tiger and didn’t seem to be listening.

‘I heard that in some places they eat cats,’ Nellie said. We all shuddered.

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Rocky said, but he looked terrified. ‘No one would eat a cat.’

‘What could be happening to all these cats though?’ Elvis said.

‘I have no idea, but listen, my pal Dustbin is on the case for us so I think our best course of action is to wait until we hear back from him. If anyone can find out anything it’s him. But then I also have the other issues and I need you to help me come up with a big idea. A grand plan.’ I explained the problems with all my families to them, leaving no stone unturned.

‘When my family wanted to go overseas they went to a travel agent,’ Rocky said, not very helpfully.

‘I don’t think that’s the issue,’ I pointed out.‘I know I can’t literally make Tomasz go to Poland to get his family but I need to make him realise that that’s what he needs to do.’

‘Oh, I think I understand,’ Tinkerbell said.‘You need to do something to make all your families understand how much they love and need each other.’

Thank goodness.‘Yes! Exactly!’ Tinkerbell was suddenly my new favourite cat. I was glad that he had become a regular part of our gang. I shot a look at Tiger but she was gazing lovingly at George. Oh blimey, everyone was so obsessed with that kitten, me included. ‘Tiger, can you drag yourself away from George for long enough to pay attention?’ I snapped.

‘That’s it!’ Rocky said.

‘What?’ I asked. Tiger looked up.

‘The boy. Everyone is besotted with the boy, so use him in your plan.’ Rocky looked pleased with himself.

‘Everyone loves me,’ George said.

‘Um, George, it’s important you don’t become too big-headed,’ I said.

‘Well, we all know who he takes after,’ said Tiger. The others laughed; I did not.

‘But anyway, he’s got something there,’ said Elvis. ‘For example, you could put the kitten in danger and then the humans will all come together to save him, or something.’

‘You can’t put him in danger!’ Nellie snapped. George looked scared and hid behind Tiger.

‘No, of course you can’t. I didn’t mean literally, but if they think he is,’ said Elvis.‘Look, we need to try to find the lamppost cats, but what I was thinking was that if your families thought George was one of them, then they would put their problems aside and all get on with it.’

‘Make them think that George has been taken like one of the lamppost cats?’ I felt my brain whirring. ‘You might be right, Elvis. Remember when I was very ill at the vet, it brought all my families together — Claire and Jonathan even fell in love and the others all became friends because ofme.’

‘Yes, but you absolutely can’t put him in danger,’ Tiger said. ‘Not like you do with yourself.’

I felt an idea hatching, and my whiskers and fur tingled with excitement.‘What if we just pretend he’s missing?’ I asked.

‘How do we do that?’ Tiger asked.

‘Well, Tiger, I’m not completely sure yet but let’s say we find somewhere to hide him, and you go with him. He’ll be safe because you’re taking care of him, but everyone else will think he’s lost.’

‘How long? You couldn’t do it for too long, it wouldn’t be fair,’ Tiger pointed out.

‘Yes, that’s true,’ I agreed. ‘Not too long, I mean, he was only missing for a short time the other day and I was terrified, but he has to be lost for just enough time to trouble them all and get them talking.’

‘Ohhh,’ said Nellie.‘Then we can all look for him.’ We all turned our eyes on Nellie.

‘He’s not actually going to be lost, so we won’t have to look for him,’ Tiger said scathingly.

‘Oh, I see,’ Nellie said, but she didn’t look as if she did.

‘Isn’t it mean? To make people worry?’ Tinkerbell asked, looking uncertain.

‘Not in the long run. We need something drastic to make them realise that they love each other. If we hide George, they’ll all look for him and talk properly, and then when we find George alive and well they’ll be so relieved and happy that they’ll sort out their problems. It’s foolproof.’ Well, I hoped it was.

‘Are you sure about this?’ Tiger sounded dubious.

‘No, but have you got any better ideas?’

‘Other than me kidnapping George, making everyone sick with worry before he’s found, and then bringing them all back together again? No, not really.’

‘You aren’t really kidnapping him,’ I pointed out.

‘You know what I mean. Look, Alfie, think about this for a while. They’ll be really worried, and Tinkerbell’s right, it does seem mean. If they’re already upset they don’t need any more stress.’

‘I know, but these humans need a wake-up call, they’re all forgetting about what’s important. Yes, it’s awful that they’ll worry, but it won’t be for too long. We’ve been here before: if they have something else to focus on they begin to see how much they really love each other. It’s the way humans work. I don’t think we have a choice, Tiger, we have to do this. And in the meantime, Dustbin is going to get to the bottom of the real lamppost cats, I just know he is.’ I felt excited; I knew this was going to work out. I just knew it.

‘On your paws be it,’ Tiger snorted. ‘But yes, before you ask, of course I’ll help you, it goes without saying. And I’d be happy to keep George safe for a while, although we need to work out the logistics. Where will we go? What will he eat? How do I keep him warm?’

‘We’ll all help you, Alfie,’ Nellie said.‘It brings us together too, doesn’t it, these plans of yours?’ I was relieved, Nellie had finally got it.

‘See, Tiger,’ I said.‘I know what I’m doing.’ I couldn’t help but feel a little bit smug. It made sense. Everyone chasing after a lost George would make them all see how much they needed each other, and then they’d talk, really talk, to each other. Matt and Polly, Claire and Jonathan,and then Tomasz would realise he had to go to Poland to get his family, and Tash would see how important love was and would give Max a chance. I know it seemed I was always chasing a happy ending for everyone I loved, and I was, but there was nothing wrong with that. It’s just what any loving catwould do.

Chapter Twenty-seven [Êàðòèíêà: i_027.jpg]

I was busy working out the finer points of my plan; I was still not one hundred per cent sure of all the details. Though my idea for getting my humans together was not dangerous, it was logistically complicated, and that was keeping me occupied. I also had a visit from Dustbin, who, true to his word, had his cat network— some feral like him, others domestic — all working on the mystery of the lamppost cats.