Alfie Cat In Trouble

Chapter Eight

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

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

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

‘Miaow.’ Of course they wouldn’t.

‘They don’t want me here.’

I looked around. My Adventure Cat photos and drawings were on the walls and his collections were laid out on shelves. He had made it very cosy here but I knew he needed to go back to the house.

‘I am never going back to the house,’ he said. So much for that.

I waited with him for ages but he wouldn’t move. It was getting cold and even a little bit dark. We couldn’t really stay here forever, could we? I knew I needed to act. When Stanley was calmer, I left him to get help. It was a job for more than just me.

‘Where on earth can he be?’ Mrs Clover was shrieking. I miaowed to tell them I knew, but they didn’t seem to hear me.

‘He can’t have gone far, Dear, after all we locked the front door and he can’t get out the back.’

‘He can’t have disappeared into thin air,’ Mrs Clover said. They both looked worried as they talked about calling the police. I couldn’t believe no one thought to check the shed.

‘What are we going to do about him?’ Mrs Clover asked.

‘Maybe you just need to talk to him,’ Viola said, sounding cross.

‘What?’ Her parents turned to look at her.

Viola sighed. ‘We’ve just moved here. Stanley has no friends apart from Alfie.’ I was moved by the mention. ‘And you’re so busy. He thinks it’s all about me and the piano.’

They both looked at her in confusion.Sometimes humans can be a bit silly.

‘So he keeps getting into trouble because we’ve moved?’ Mr Clover scratched his head.

‘It’s not just that but basically, yes. And it’s school holidays, so he’s bored and you just shout at him. He thinks you love me more than you love him.’ Viola had tears in her eyes.

‘Nonsense,’ Mrs Clover said. ‘We love you both the same. Why on earth would he think that?’

‘But we don’t do anything together, do we? When was the last time Dad took Stanley out? Or you, Mum? Or the last time we did anything as a family?’

‘Oh dear, dear,’ Mr Clover said, looking guilty.

‘I see, Viola. We’ve been so busy we’ve neglected him.’ They both hung their heads in shame.

‘We must find him,’ Viola pushed.

I had never heard her sound so bossy and I liked it.

Mrs Clover organised a search of the house, but of course I knew where he was. I stood between Viola’s legs and kept miaowing.

‘What is it Alfie?’ she asked. I nudged her leg and then I walked out into the garden. I turned back, yelped at her and she began to follow me.

‘Oh Stanley there you are! Mum and dad are really worried,’ she said, as I pushed open the shed door.

‘No, they just want to shout at me,’ Stanley huffed.

‘Honestly, they aren’t cross. They just want to know you’re safe.’

‘They don’t care. I’m rubbish at everything and they only love you,’ Stanley said. ‘They probably want to send me away.’

‘They don’t, Stan. I spoke to them and they realise they’ve been too caught up in their stuff. They’re really sorry.’

‘Are they?’ Stanley looked hopeful.

Viola nodded. ‘Hey, what’s all this?’ She looked at the pictures.

‘Alfie the Adventure Cat,’ Stanley replied quietly.

‘You did all this?’ Viola asked.

‘Yes.’ Stanley stood up. ‘See, here are my photos of Alfie the Adventure cat, and over there are drawings of our missions,’ he explained, pointing to a picture of the den and the dug-up lawn. ‘And I’ve done descriptions and maps of ideas for new adventures.’ Stan was animated as he showed Viola round the shed.

‘Wow, Stan, it’s brilliant!’

‘Really?’ Stanley asked.

‘It really is. So amazing. I know it hasn’t been easy moving here. I’ve been scared and Mum and Dad, well they are—’

‘Always too busy for me unless they’re shouting.’

‘They only tell you off because they care. They wouldn’t bother if they didn’t.’

I miaowed. Viola was right.

‘I suppose,’ Stanley replied.

‘And I thought we were friends now. I haven’t got any friends here, either, you know.’

‘Sorry Vi, but I was jealous. You never get into trouble.’

‘But I don’t mean to be like that. And I’m jealous of you – you know how to have fun much more than I do.’

‘OK,’ Stanley stood up. ‘Let’s make a pact: we’ll try to be a bit more like each other – I’ll get in less trouble and—’

‘I’ll get in more!’ Viola giggled. ‘Come on, let’s go. Mum and Dad are far too silly to even think of looking for you in the shed, and they were talking about calling the police.’

Viola hugged Stanley and he hugged her back. I miaowed. This was exactly the outcome I wanted.

‘Oh Stanley, we were so worried,’ Mrs Clover said as she grabbed him, holding him so tight I wondered if he could breathe.

‘I’m sorry that I keep doing things wrong,’ Stanley said. He hung his head as I sat at his feet.

‘Well, that is how we learn; I mean, you don’t think I just painted a piece of fruit and that was that – no, I made plenty of mistakes,’ Mr Clover said.

‘Um, well anyway, we need to make more time for you – for both of you, but especially you, Stanley. So we are all going on a family holiday,’ Mrs Clover announced.

‘Hooray!’ both Viola and Stanley replied.

‘And we will start by making your favourite tea.’

‘Sausages and chips?’ Stanley was wide eyed.

‘Whatever you want,’ Mrs Clover added.

‘As long as it’s not custard soup,’ Viola said and everyone laughed.

I knew my work here was done. For now.

Quietly, I let myself into my home through my cat-flap. It was late and I was tired after such an eventful day, hungry too.

‘Oh Alfie,’ Claire said as I walked into the kitchen. ‘We were worried about you.’ She scooped me up and cuddled me.

‘I know we’ve been grumpy but we missed you, Alfie,’ Jonathan added. I purred with happiness.

‘And to show you how much we love you, we’ve got your favourite tea.’ Claire rubbed my head.

‘Pilchards,’ both Claire and Jonathan said at the same time. I licked my lips and felt my whiskers quiver in anticipation.

This had turned out to be the best day ever.