The Killer Cat Runs Away

17

‘Haven’t You Heard?’

Suddenly, through the tangles of unthreaded wool covering half the cage, I thought I saw somewhere I recognized.

Yes! Mrs Patel’s grocery shop. (She hates me napping on her vegetables.) Arif kept walking and I thought I recognized the pizza parlour. (No need to ask. My order’s pepperoni.) And then I reckoned that we must be getting near to Ellie’s school because I saw the crossing guard. (Since that fur fight in the playground, she’s tried to shoo me off each time we’ve met.)

Behind me, I heard voices. Children were gathering to cross the road, all chatting merrily.

‘What’s in that box you’re carrying?’

‘That’s Harry, my stick insect. What’s in your jar?’

‘Bertha, my beetle.’

‘I saw George bringing his rabbit.’

‘Surina is bringing her mice.’

My heart leaped. Thursday! ‘My Wonderful Pet Show’ evening. So maybe Ellie would be walking along the street. I could yowl really loud, and maybe she would recognize my voice. I might be rescued after all!

Almost at once my hopes were dashed. The very next thing I heard was, ‘Isn’t it a shame about poor Ellie?’

‘Poor Ellie? Why? Isn’t she coming tonight?’

‘No. Haven’t you heard? Her pet’s been catnapped.’

‘Who, Tuffy? That wonderful cat she used to talk about all day?’

‘Yes, that’s the one.’

‘So beautiful, she told us.’

‘And strong.’

‘And clever.’

‘She misses him so much! She’s spending all her pocket money on “lost cat” flyers, and hands them out everywhere she goes.’

‘Perhaps she’ll come tonight so she can give a flyer to everyone in the audience.’

‘Maybe she will. But I don’t think so. How could she bear to watch us all walking out of the hall so happily with our own pets? Surely she can’t do that? Not even for her most beloved Tuffy!’

‘Poor Ellie. Oh, poor Ellie!’

My heart sank in my boots. If Ellie couldn’t bear to come, then it would be ‘poor Tuffy’ too!