Sky The Unwanted Kitten

Chapter Six

Sky woke up and yawned, stretching her paws lazily. Then she opened her eyes wide, remembering where she was. Lucy’s house. The thought of Lucy made her sit up eagerly. Lucy! Where was she? Last night Lucy had cuddled her to sleep on her knee – but now she was back in her basket. Sky hopped out and went to sniff at the kitchen door. She looked up at the handle thoughtfully. Her mum could jump and open door-handles, but Sky wasn’t big enough yet. She prowled up and down impatiently. Maybe Lucy would be down soon, and she’d have someone to play with.

When Lucy’s mum came downstairs, Sky wove around her feet, nearly tripping her up, but Lucy’s mum just laughed. “Are you starving, Sky? Poor kitten! Here you go.” She placed a full bowl of kitten food on the floor, and Sky settled down to eat it, keeping one eye on the door.

When Lucy finally came into the kitchen, Sky danced over to her delightedly. Where were you? I’ve been waiting for you! Cuddle me! she mewed.

Lucy gulped. She cast one quick glance at Sky, her tail pointing excitedly straight up, her whiskers twitching with happiness, and then dragged her eyes away. It was so unfair to keep doing this! Sky didn’t understand that she could only love her when no one was around. Quite soon, Lucy thought sadly, Sky’s going to give up on me…

Lucy’s parents watched as the kitten pawed eagerly at Lucy’s leg, and Lucy ignored her again. Lucy’s dad gave her mum a serious look and shook his head.

Sky gazed up at Lucy. After last night, she’d been sure that Lucy wouldn’t act all strange and cold again. Her tail hung low now as she slunk miserably back to her basket, ignoring the rest of her food.

Lucy didn’t touch her breakfast either.

“Wow, you must be starved,” Izzy said, watching Lucy munching swiftly through an apple at break.

“Mmmm,” Lucy nodded, swallowing. “Didn’t eat much for breakfast.”

“Well, we’ve got PE straight after, so you’d better have this as well.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a cereal bar.

Lucy gave her a grateful look. “Don’t you want it?”

“No. Mum keeps giving me them, but they’re yuck. You’re welcome,” Izzy smiled.

Lucy had looked for Izzy as soon as she got into school that morning, hoping that she would be there already. She’d been delighted when Izzy had seen her and rushed over. When they got into the classroom, Izzy had asked if she wanted to sit next to her – there was room, and she said Mrs Walker wouldn’t mind. Orla and Katie looked surprised, but they didn’t say anything.

“Hello,” Lucy muttered shyly, as she went past. It was the first thing she’d said to them since her first day, and they looked a bit confused.

It was amazing how different school was now she had someone to talk to. Lucy found she actually enjoyed their PE lesson, which was football skills. Izzy was terrible, but she didn’t mind and just rolled her eyes at Lucy and giggled hopelessly every time she had to run off across the field after the ball. Lucy was quite good at sporty stuff, and Mr Jackson said he’d have to keep an eye on her for the school team. Lucy couldn’t help feeling a bit excited.

When Lucy’s mum came to pick her up she was amazed that Lucy came running across the playground to her, rather than trailing slowly out after everyone else. She was with a pretty, red-haired girl who had a massive grin on her face. The red-haired girl grabbed a tall, red-haired woman, who had to be her own mum, then came to join Lucy.

“Did you ask her?” Izzy said anxiously.

Lucy shook her head. “Mum, please can I go to tea with Izzy? She lives across the road from us. Pleeeaase?”

“Oh, Lucy, that sounds great, but maybe another day?” said Mum. “We haven’t given Izzy’s mum much notice.” She smiled apologetically at the red-haired woman.

“Actually, if you don’t mind, it’s fine by me,” Izzy’s mum replied. “Izzy mentioned last night that she’d met Lucy, and she’d love to have her over. Lucky it’s a Wednesday actually, Izzy’s sister Amber has choir so I pick Izzy up. Usually the girls walk home together. You’ve just moved in, haven’t you?”

Izzy’s mum was really friendly, and as the four of them walked home she told Lucy’s mum about the neighbours, and which were the nicest shops in the area.

Izzy’s mum made a massive tea of pasta, and afterwards Lucy and Izzy hung out in her room. Izzy had a sleepover bed that slid out from underneath hers, and she promised to ask if Lucy could stay the night soon.

“Amber’s got a portable DVD player. I bet she’d lend it to us for the night,” Izzy told her.

Izzy also had a secret stash of chocolate left over from her birthday, and somehow, munching happily and chatting about the worst teachers at their school, Lucy forgot that she wanted to leave Fairford. It seemed all too soon that Izzy’s mum was calling up the stairs to say that Lucy’s dad was here to take her home.

“See you tomorrow!” Izzy waved cheerfully to her as she crossed the road. “Hey, ask your mum if you can walk to school with me and Amber!”

Lucy nodded and waved back. “I will, promise!”

Lucy walked into the kitchen, smiling happily to herself, and then stopped. Mum and Dad both had serious faces. “What is it?” she asked anxiously.

“Lucy, Mum and I have been talking. About Sky.” Dad’s voice was sad as he looked over at Sky’s basket.

Lucy looked, too. Sky was curled-up fast asleep – she was so cute.

“We really hoped that having Sky to play with and look after would make you feel better about the move. We know you’re missing Ellie and the others.” Her dad sighed. “But I’m sure you’ll settle down after a while. Izzy seems very nice – it’s great that you’re starting to make friends.”

Where is Dad going with this? Lucy gazed at her parents.

“Anyway, it looks like we made a mistake with Sky. We should have talked to you about it first, before we went ahead and brought her home.”

Lucy blinked stupidly. She could see that Dad was telling her something important, but she couldn’t quite seem to understand. Sky was a mistake? Lucy started to feel scared. She looked at Sky, who was still asleep in her basket, although she’d wriggled round and was now lying on her back with her paws in the air. She looked like a toy kitten.

Dad smiled sadly as Sky let out a sleepy half-mew, half-purr. “Luckily the breeder we got Sky from has been very understanding. Tomorrow evening Mum will take Sky back.”