A Friend Called Alfie

The day arrived when we’d try to get Marcus to take George to hospital with him. I prayed it would work, while George hopped around with nerves. He’d got up very early, washed carefully, before having breakfast and then washing himself again. I led him into the garden, for a last-minute pep talk.

‘You know what you’re doing?’ I asked.

‘Can we just go through it one more time?’ George asked as we shivered in the garden. The plan I had come up with was incredibly detailed, if I did say so myself.

‘Right, we know that Marcus is going to the hospital this morning, Hana confirmed that. So you go and wait outside Hana’s house, and the minute he comes through the front door you pounce on him. Make as much noise as you can to ensure he knows you’re following him. If he tells you to go home, ignore him, even if you end up at the bus stop with him, stay as close to his feet as you can.’ It was foolproof.

‘What if he picks me up and brings me home?’ George asked. Not quite foolproof then.

‘Then follow him again. You have to show him that you mean business and there is no way you are going to give up.’ Persistence was key.

‘Are you going to come with me?’ George asked.

‘No, son, this is your job and I will help and support you in any way but I know you need to do this on your own.’ I was learning as a parent too, you see.

‘Thanks, Dad.’

‘And I’ll be here when you get back, hopefully with a successful visit under your tail.’

I had to occupy myself while George was out, keeping myself busy, because I needed to prove to George that I was able to trust him. Of course I had Pickles for company. Since the back gate had been secured and Claire had more or less forgiven me, she was happier to leave Pickles in my charge once again. As Pickles grew up, he settled down a bit too. He still had a crazy side. He licked everything, even things no cat would ever dream of licking, and he still believed he could be a cat.

His training wasn’t going that well though. Even Summer’s shouting didn’t faze him anymore. He would stand when told to sit, and sit when told to come.

‘Pickles,’ I said, when he came to find me. George had been gone a good while without coming home so I was pretty sure the plan had worked. I hoped it had, because it would make George happy and also make things so much better between us.

‘Alfie, look what I can do,’ Pickles replied. He put his front paws up on the sofa and wiggled his bottom and his tail. He had his very cute face on, with hopeful eyes.

‘That’s great, Pickles, what’s it for?’ I asked.

‘I do it when the kids are eating and they feed me,’ he replied. No wonder he was growing so much.

‘Remember when we went to the hospital?’ I said.

‘I will never forget it,’ he replied.

‘Wasn’t the best part when we made everyone happy,’ I continued, a warm feeling spreading into my heart.

‘Yes, it was. Although the other best part was the bus. I liked the bus,’ he said.

‘I wasn’t so keen on the bus, but seeing the patients looking happy was amazing.’

‘It was worth the trouble we got into then?’ Pickles asked.

‘Yes it was, I guess especially as we didn’t get hurt. Apart from when the bus passenger trod on my tail.’

‘I don’t mind being in trouble, it happens a lot. The other day Polly gave me a bath.’ Pickles licked the sofa, and I shuddered. Baths were perhaps my least favourite thing. Or anything to do with water to be fair.

‘And?’ I asked.

‘Oh yes, I jumped out and got her soaking wet and she told me off. But then she laughed and hugged me. It seems being in trouble can be a good thing sometimes.’

‘You’re learning,’ I replied, proud of how well he was turning out.

It didn’t last. As I was fretting, I took my eyes off Pickles. I don’t know how long it was before I realised that he was gone, but I searched the house and because I wasn’t thinking too clearly I didn’t even think about the garden. I jumped through the cat flap, and lo and behold there was Pickles, his brown fur covered in mud. The rain was coming down now as well, so it was sticking to him. The worst thing was that he was busily digging up Claire’s favourite rose bush, and I knew she wouldn’t be happy. I had no choice but to brave the rain, and joined him.

‘Stop, Pickles, Claire will be so cross,’ I said.

‘Why?’ he asked. We still hadn’t quite got out of the ‘why’ phase.

‘Because that’s Claire’s favourite rose bush and you’re making a mess of it. And you look a wreck.’ I shivered, it was cold, wet and miserable. And now I was beginning to resemble a drowned rat. That would teach me to not pay attention. ‘Come on, let’s try to put the earth back,’ I commanded. As we did, I realised that putting it back wasn’t as easy as digging it up, despite our best efforts.Well, mine, because Pickles was too busy seeing how much more mud and earth he could get stuck to his fur.

‘Why were you digging anyway?’ I asked, exasperated by my lack of progress.

‘I wanted to go out, like we did the other day but the gate was closed so I thought if I dug up here I could get under the fence.’

‘Pickles, you would have to dig for hours to get anywhere close. All you’ve done is made a mess of the garden, and of yourself.’ I was beyond exasperated.

‘Oh have I?’ He was so innocent, I couldn’t stay angry with him, a little like I used to be with George. Babies were just too cute sometimes.

‘Yes, you have.’ But I grinned. ‘Maybe we should give up and go inside, this rain is horrible.’

‘Is it?’ Again he looked at me with his innocent eyes and I ushered him inside.

We sat on the back doormat, trying to shake the water off us. Before long Claire appeared, and did a double take.

‘What on earth have you two been up to? Stay there, don’t move a paw and I’ll be back.’

Pickles glanced over at me, and I nodded. We should definitely do as we’re told when Claire has that tone of voice on her. She returned with some towels and began drying us off in turn. I had managed to stay relatively clean, but was wet, whereas Pickles had black patches of earth all over his fur.

‘Right, Alfie, you find somewhere warm to dry off, but this one is coming to have a bath.’ She rubbed me in the towel a bit more, before she wrapped Pickles up in the other one and carried him off.

Yet again I was in trouble for something that I was trying to put right. Goodness knows what she’d say when she saw the rose bush.

I made sure I was properly dry before I went into the living room. Claire brought Pickles down, all clean and put him in his bed.

‘Stay in that bed,’ she commanded. ‘I’m going to get the kids but due to this awful rain I’m going to drive.’ She set off.

‘Are you alright?’ I asked, as Pickles sat up in his bed and panted, excitedly.

‘I might dig in the garden again another day,’ he said.

‘Pickles, why would you do that, you just got into trouble?’

‘It doesn’t feel like trouble, because I had a bath and I really like baths.’

I had no words.

Thankfully, he settled down for another nap, although I didn’t dare take my eyes off him in case he headed out into the garden again. Just as I felt that my eyes would explode, or more likely close by themselves, the front door opened and in bounded the children.

Henry and Martha ran up to Pickles and rudely woke him up by grabbing him. Toby and Summer hovered behind, wanting their turn. Then I was delighted to see Marcus carrying George in his arms. He put him on the floor, and Marcus followed Claire into the kitchen.

‘Everything alright,’ I asked George.

‘Never better, Dad, come into the kitchen, I want to hear what Marcus says.’ We both ran in.

‘I can’t believe you took George to the hospital,’ Claire said, she sounded more surprised than angry though.

‘He didn’t give me much choice. He followed me out this morning, and he also kept standing on my feet. I tried to get him to come home but he just yowled at me and then stuck to me like glue. I was going to phone you but I was running late, so I just took him with me.’

‘What did they say at the hospital?’

‘Luckily it was Jay in charge of the ward today, so I explained how much Dad was missing him and he said it was on me, and he’d turn a blind eye if I promised he’d behave. Dad was over the moon, he had tears in his eyes. Then he got me to do the rounds with George, so he could visit other patients. Claire, you wouldn’t believe how happy George made everyone. Dad gave me a lecture on how lonely some of the patients are and how much of a difference a cuddle from George can make.’

‘That’s amazing, and I guess my cats have always known how to cheer people up.’ Claire sounded quite emotional. ‘Alfie always did when he first came here to me as a kitten. I’ve been worrying about how much Harold has told us about the lonely people for a while actually. Can I help in any way?’

‘Ah, I’m so glad you asked.’ Marcus smiled. Marcus was tall, and he had glasses and sometimes he could look serious, but he had the kindest smile. ‘I was going to ask if you’d be my partner in crime and take George into the hospital with you when you visit Dad. I know it’s asking a lot, because you’re breaking goodness knows how many rules but …’

‘Of course I will. We can draw up a roster if you like, but I draw the line at taking Alfie and Pickles too.’

‘Meow,’ I objected, hopping onto Claire’s lap. ‘But then seeing the state the pair of them were in this afternoon, it might be safer.’

‘What did they do?’

Just then the doorbell rang, and we all followed Claire to answer it. Pickles was there first, wiggling his bottom excitedly. Sylvie stood on the doorstep. She didn’t look good. Her hair was soaking wet and sticking to her head, and she looked as if she’d been crying.

‘Oh you’re wet through, come in,’ Claire said.

‘No, no, I won’t,’ Sylvie snapped. Pickles lost interest and went back to the living room to play with the children. Sylvie looked angry now and Claire alarmed. I went to get Marcus.

‘What is it, Alfie?’ he said.

‘Yowl,’ I replied, come with me. Just then Claire called him, and he finally got the message. We walked to the front door, and he stopped short when he saw Sylvie.

‘What on earth?’

‘I should have known you’d be here,’ Sylvie snapped.

‘Well funny story, George—’

‘There’s nothing funny about this, actually,’ Sylvie said. ‘I knew you two are always together these days but do you think I’m stupid?’ she snapped.

I had seen this side of Sylvie before, the one who was so upset about her divorce that she was angry with everyone. It wasn’t my favourite Sylvie and I had no idea what was going on.

‘Sylvie, what are you talking about?’ Claire asked.

‘My best friend, not to mention next door neighbour having an affair with my boyfriend,’ she spat.

‘What’s an affair?’ Summer asked, having appeared suddenly. Claire’s eyes widened in horror as did mine and Marcus’s. George looked confused. ‘And what’s for tea, I’m hungry?’ Summer added.

Even Sylvie looked a little shamefaced as Marcus shrugged at Claire and then went outside, gently taking Sylvie by the arm and shutting our door behind them. Just what on earth was going on?

‘Finally, we’re on our own,’ I said to George. It had been a long evening. Claire was so upset about what Sylvie said, which still made no sense.

But that would have to wait, because I wanted to hear from George himself about his hospital visit.

‘I loved going to see Harold,’ George said. ‘He was so pleased to see me, and so was everyone else, it is so good to be doing my job again.’

‘And by the sound of it, you’ll be doing it without any risk now as Claire and Marcus are both going to take you to see Harold. So it’s a great outcome.’

‘Yes, but he’s not going to be in hospital much longer. He’s coming out soon, they said.’

‘Really? Marcus didn’t mention that, but then he got interrupted by Sylvie.’

‘Yes, she seemed a bit crazy,’ he said.

‘We shouldn’t say crazy, George,’ I chastised. ‘But she was upset about something and although we know that Marcus and Claire are just friends, something must have triggered it.’

‘Well Harold is coming home, I think in a couple of weeks. And then it’s going to be nearly Christmas,’ he said. ‘Then I’ll be unemployed.’

‘It is.’ We weren’t in December yet, but November was underway. ‘Although, George, you will have a job visiting Harold at home and making sure he’s OK.’

‘I know, but after Harold comes out of hospital, I think we should find a way to help lonely people still,’ George said.

‘You are the most wonderful kitten a cat could ever ask for,’ I said, meaning it.

‘I’m not a kitten anymore,’ George said, leaning over and swiping me with his paw.

‘You’ll always be my kitten,’ I finished.

I settled George into bed, and then went to Claire’s room where she and Jonathan were getting ready for bed.

‘It’s crazy, but Marcus phoned me after and said that Sylvie had calmed down, and that he or she would explain everything tomorrow.’

‘What brought that on? I mean I don’t have to worry about you and Marcus do I?’ Jonathan laughed, showing that he was joking.

‘Darling, of course you don’t, I’m too busy looking after your children, your pets and other people to do anything, and you know how much I love you anyway.’

‘And you’re a saint to put up with me,’ Jonathan said, giving her a hug. ‘But the good news is that my deputy is fully in place, and he’s so ambitious that he’s snapping at my heels, if he wants to try to get my job he might actually do a lot of my work.’ He laughed.

‘So not worried about him actually taking your job then?’ Claire raised an eyebrow. ‘Only you could see him as an asset rather than a rival!’

‘No, it’s fine, we’re both on the same page, he has a bit to learn but he’s keen and hard-working. I’ve said that I will be home for bath and bedtime for the kids every night unless it’s pre-arranged and I think now things are settling down we should make sure we have our date nights as well. I know I haven’t been the best husband and father the last few months but I will put that right now.’

‘Oh Jon, I do love you.’

I left with a grin on my face, and took myself to bed. I curled up, and thought about the day. So much had happened, it had been ridiculously busy, a mixture of good and bad. And as I prepared to drift into sleep I hoped that it would be a calmer day tomorrow.