A Friend Called Alfie

I managed to go to Hana’s early the following morning without George noticing, he was too busy trying to avoid me. And Claire was too busy shouting at Jonathan about the fact that he had to go on a work trip so she would be left holding the fort for a few days. I wasn’t happy about their argument, but it was on the hold list for now, because my first priority was to fix things for George.

I clattered against the cat flap to announce my arrival and then I hopped in. Connie saw me first.

‘Alfie, how nice to see you,’ she said scooping me up. Thank goodness, someone who was happy to see me. ‘I hear you’ve been in a bit of trouble,’ she continued stroking my head. I purred loudly to show her how much I was enjoying it.

‘Connie, you need to get ready for school,’ I heard Sylvie shout, she didn’t sound happy either. Connie sighed, put me down and then left, so I went to see Hana who was looking out of the back patio door.

‘Hey, Alfie,’ she said, in her sweet way.

‘Hana, I’m not sure I’m welcome here,’ I started, carefully.

‘You’re always welcome, Alfie, I know George isn’t exactly pleased with you, but I am your friend too.’

‘That’s an understatement about George.’

‘Well, you know what he’s like, he’ll cool off soon enough.’

‘I wish I felt as confident as you sound,’ I said. ‘But I’m here because I need to put things right—’ I heard shouting. ‘Is that Sylvie?’

‘Oh yes, she’s not happy at the moment. I heard her say to Marcus that she is tired, and snappy but she thinks that it’s something that all women go through at a certain age. And now she feels sick so she thinks she’s got a bug as well.’

‘It doesn’t sound nice. But is it serious?’

‘I don’t think so, not like Harold, but it’s not fun. I heard her tell Claire that if she carried on like this Marcus would run for the hills.’

Claire, Polly and Franceska were all of a similar age, so I wondered if it would happen to my other human friends too. Was that why Claire was so angry today? Another one for my hold list.

‘It seems there is a lot going on at the moment. But I have always said we should deal with one thing at a time, so firstly can I talk to you about George.’

‘Of course. He misses his job, Alfie, and he’s missing Harold, but I think he’ll calm down soon.’

‘I was going to suggest that he go back to see Harold but he needs to get Marcus to take him.’

‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. But how can he get Marcus to take him?’

‘That’s why I want to talk to him, but he won’t listen. I thought that if he followed Marcus when he went to see Harold one day, but made it obvious, so that Marcus knew he was following him, and then Marcus won’t have any choice but to take him with him.’ It sounded so simple when I said it out loud, but I knew that the execution might not be as simple.

‘What if Marcus says no?’ Hana asked.

‘I had thought of that, but Marcus is a softy, if George looks at him with those big eyes of his, he won’t be able to resist. Or so I hope. I mean George has to make a big fuss of following Marcus and possibly make a racket to show him how much he wants to go with him, but …’

‘It’s not a bad idea, Alfie, do you want me to talk to George for you?’ Hana offered, in her sweet voice.

‘Would you?’ I asked, raising my whiskers, hopefully.

‘Of course, I don’t think George should be cross with you all the time, and I have tried to tell him that. It’s understandable for a parent to worry.’

‘Thanks, Hana, I appreciate it. I better go home for breakfast, but if there’s anything I can do to help with the Sylvie situation, please let me know. Once I’ve sorted George out anyway.’

‘Thanks, Alfie.’

We briefly touched noses and said goodbye. At least I had another ally.

Bizarrely Sylvie was at our house by the time I got home, I stopped on the way to play with some leaves, every cat needs to indulge in hobbies. Claire was back from the school run, Pickles was asleep in his bed, George was nowhere to be seen.

‘I’m going to the doctor in a couple of days, I’m pretty sure I’m going through the menopause.’

‘Oh Sylvie, it’ll be good to know, and of course get something to help you. I don’t know how I’d cope, because I’m so stressed at the moment I’d probably explode.’

‘Things no better with Jon’s work?’

‘No, worse actually. You know how many times he’s told me it’s going to get better? Millions, and I’m bored of shouting at him, it’s getting beyond a joke. What with Christmas coming soon, it’s just a lot.’

‘Oh Claire, what a pair we are at the moment, what with Harold in hospital I feel so guilty for snapping at Marcus but I can’t control myself. Do you think we should do something?’

‘What?’

‘How about we get Franceska and Polly and organise a spa day? You know we probably all could do with a day off. And I can always organise for Connie and Aleksy to help with the kids?’

‘Oh my goodness, that sounds like bliss, I could really do with that. Yes, I’ll tell Jonathan tonight, and get the others on board.’

‘Oh hey, Alfie,’ Sylvie said, as I hopped on her lap. She gave my head a nice scratch and I purred.

‘I still haven’t quite forgiven him for the whole hospital escapade,’ Claire said.

‘I know, and I still have no idea how they managed it but Marcus said that Harold is miserable and he wants to see George.’

My ears pricked up, this was good news indeed, because it meant that Marcus really wouldn’t be able to resist George’s pleas, if we played it right. I could only hope that Hana convinced him to speak to me or at least listen to the plan.

‘Anyway, I’m off to work now, but I’ll let you know how I get on when I finally see the doctor.’ Sylvie gently placed me on the floor and stood up.

‘Call me.’ Claire kissed her goodbye. ‘Do you think I should see a doctor?’ She sounded serious and I rubbed her legs. I hated it when Claire wasn’t happy. I hated it when anyone was unhappy but Claire had been my first friend on Edgar Road – her happiness was entwined with mine in many ways.

‘No, but I think when Jonathan gets back from this business trip you two need to have a serious talk about how you are going to make more time for the family. You love each other too much not to sort it out.’

‘You’re right, thanks, and I’ll think it through before I shout as well.’

Progress was being made on all sides, paws crossed.

I had played hide and seek, ball and goodness knows what else with Pickles after Sylvie left, in an effort to wear him out. I ended up worn out though, but thankfully we both had a nap together, curled up on the sofa, because I could barely keep my eyes open. After the stress of the past few days, I could have used the cat equivalent of a spa day.

When I woke up, I stretched, and gently nudged Pickles who was still snoring, loudly I may add. The bigger he got, the noisier he seemed to become. Pickles didn’t stir, so I got up and went to the kitchen where I found George eating out of his bowl. My heart filled with love the way it did every time I saw him. I stood and watched for a moment, drinking him in. How I wished we could get back to the way we were.

He turned and looked at me.

‘Dad,’ he said.

‘Oh George,’ I replied. He came up and nuzzled me and it felt amazing.

‘I know I was angry but it wasn’t really your fault. Well it was, but I know that you only did what you did because you love me,’ he said, sounding so mature.

‘You don’t know how happy your words make me. Have you spoken to Hana?’

‘Yes, and she told me about your conversation. I would like, more than anything, to go and see Harold, but I also realise how much of a risk I was taking now. I mean if I got caught, I might not have ever seen you again.’

‘George, you know that would never happen. Remember when you were catnapped? I didn’t stop until I found you.’

‘I know and if it hadn’t been for Pickles …’

‘Yeah we might have got away with it, although that mean woman’s face when she saw him with the children was quite funny.’

‘It was and the whole ward did love him. And you. But you see what I mean, there are lots of lonely people out there and it was nice to do something about that.’

‘And I am so proud of you for it, George. But listen, I think we can get Marcus to take you to see Harold. He told Marcus he misses you.’

‘He does?’

‘Yes, Hana told me that she heard Marcus telling Sylvie that. So all you have to do is to figure out when he’s going to the hospital, and basically get under his feet. If you make a lot of noise he’ll know you are following him.’

‘I think I can do that.’ George sounded excited again.

‘I know you can, son,’ I replied.

The first part of the plan was in action. It was time to figure out part two.

Pickles suddenly appeared. He was snuffling around, waddling along, and wagging his tail at us.

‘George, I haven’t seen you in ever such a long time, and I miss you,’ Pickles said.

‘I’m sorry, Pickles, I’ve been swamped but I’m here now. So you can choose what you want to do, and I mean anything,’ George said.

‘I want to learn to climb trees again, it’s been such a long time since I practised that aspect of catting. I’m big now so I’m pretty sure I can climb trees.’

‘OK, come on then, race you to the back garden,’ George said, shooting off, with Pickles running as fast as he could behind him. For a fat puppy he was actually quite fast.

As I watched my boy – and my new boy – going, I felt my heart soar. Things were going to be alright, I could feel it in my bones. But I also knew there was no way Pickles would be any better at climbing trees.