Timmy in Trouble

Chapter Nine

It was the saddest Christmas Day ever. The whole family was sitting in the living room, with the Christmas tree lights on, trying to be enthusiastic about presents. Carols were playing, and it looked like a perfect Christmas scene. Even Timmy had tinsel round his collar. But there was a cat-shaped hole, where Misty should have been perched on the back of the sofa, waiting to pounce on the crackly wrapping paper. Everyone was thinking about her.

“Your turn, Jess!” Mum said brightly.

Jess stared at the pile of parcels in front of her as though she wasn’t really seeing them. She was holding a plastic packet in her hands, with a picture on it that looked very much like Misty. Katie looked over at her miserably. She’d been with Jess at the pet shop when she’d bought it – the luxury cat “chocolates” that were meant to have been Misty’s Christmas present.

Tears started to seep out of the corners of Jess’s eyes, and Mum sighed. “Let’s leave the rest of the presents till later.”

Dad stood up. “Come on, Katie, it’s time for Timmy’s best Christmas present!”

Katie nodded. She and Dad had planned ages ago to take Timmy for his first walk on Christmas Day. Katie had been looking forward to it ever since they got Timmy – they’d had to wait until he’d had all his vaccinations before he could go out and meet other dogs. They were going to take him just as far as the park near Katie and Jess’s school, so as not to tire him out too much. “Timmy, walk, come on!”

Timmy raced to the front door, leaping excitedly around Katie’s legs, squeaking and whining with delight. They were going out! Katie had his lead. He’d seen other dogs at his old house with them on, and he knew it meant a walk.

“Timmy, calm down! Sssh! Look, if you don’t keep still, I won’t even be able to get it on you!” Katie was half-laughing, half-cross. She was trying to clip the lead to Timmy’s collar, but he kept licking her hand and barking, and then rushing to scrabble at the door.

Katie’s dad grabbed his coat, and stuffed a handful of papers into his pocket.

“What are they?” Katie asked.

Her dad sighed. “Just some more posters. I promised Jess.”

“Oh…” Katie nodded. Suddenly the excitement about their first walk faded a little. Jess had papered their neighbourhood with “lost” posters over the last couple of days, but no one had called to say they’d seen a fluffy grey cat. Katie wondered if she should go and ask Jess if she should take some too, but Jess still wasn’t speaking to her.

Timmy looked up at them, and whined again. He felt the change in Katie, that suddenly she wasn’t happy any more. He guessed it was because of Misty – everyone was unhappy about her. He missed her, too, even though she would never play with him. He hung his head sadly.

Jess wandered into the hallway, followed by Mum, who was looking at her watch. “I need to sort out the roast potatoes and things. You go with them, Jess. You can’t sit around all day. I know you don’t want to, but honestly, getting some fresh air will make you feel better.”

“Oh, Mum, no…” Jess murmured.

“I mean it, Jess. Go and get your coat on.” Mum gave Jess a quick hug, and a gentle push in the direction of the door. “Go!”

Even Jess trailing along in a miserable cloud couldn’t stop Timmy dancing about and winding his lead round Katie’s legs as they headed out of the front door. There was so much to see, so many delicious new smells. He was sure there must be at least a hundred other dogs on this street, he could smell them all! Timmy suddenly stopped, nearly tripping Katie up with his lead.

“I think Timmy might need some obedience classes soon,” Dad said, laughing.

Katie tried to coax him to move, but Timmy wasn’t listening. He’d had a brilliant idea. He could smell all those dogs, so clearly. He was good at smelling things. So maybe he could sniff out Misty! He bounded ahead, his nose busily at work. There were lots of cat smells, too…

Misty was hiding out behind a big, smelly bin, in a tiny yard behind a row of shops on the way to Katie and Jess’s school.

It was horrible. There were rats, and although Misty liked to hunt mice, the rats were not the same thing at all, they were big and frightening. She was huddled inside a tattered cardboard box, and every so often a rat would scurry past. The only good thing about the yard was that there was quite a lot of food around, although it wasn’t as nice as those special tins Jess gave her.

Jess… Misty got up and turned round, anxiously. She didn’t want to think about Jess. She missed Jess so much, but Jess didn’t care about her any more. Jess had let a dog into the house. Even into Misty and Jess’s room. That wasn’t Misty’s home now. Jess didn’t love her any more.

But what was she going to do? Another rat scuttled past, baring its teeth at Misty. She couldn’t stay here, but she had no idea where to go. I need a new home, Misty thought miserably. But I don’t want one. I want my old home back!

And I’d even share it with that dog, if it meant I could still be with Jess…

Timmy was the only one enjoying the walk. He danced about, snuffling and scrabbling happily as they reached the shops, and all those interesting smells. There were definitely cats here, too.

Jess was silent, trudging along with her head down – except when they happened to see a cat, when she’d look up hopefully, then sigh and stare at the pavement again.

“I think it’s going to snow.” Dad was looking up at the sky. “The clouds have got that yellowish look. And it’s certainly cold enough. I’m freezing. Shall we turn back, girls?”

“Mmm. Come on, Timmy.” Katie tugged gently on his lead. But Timmy wasn’t listening. He was straining forwards against the lead, looking excited. Then he turned and gazed anxiously at Katie, and uttered a sharp, urgent bark.

Can you smell what I smell?

“Timmy, we’re going home, come on, boy.”

No! Not now, we have to go this way!

“Tim-my!” Katie’s voice was starting to sound cross.

Timmy looked worriedly up at her. How could he make her understand? He had a horrible feeling she wasn’t going to. But he was sure he recognized that smell and he had to investigate… Timmy gave Katie an apologetic look with his big, dark eyes, and moved a step towards her, loosening his lead.

“Good boy, Timmy,” Katie said in a relieved voice.

Then Timmy jumped back suddenly, dragging his lead out of Katie’s hand, and dashed away down a little alley, following that familiar scent. Now where was it coming from…?

Katie stared down at her hand for a second, as though expecting the lead still to be in it. Than she raced after Timmy, calling anxiously to him.

“Katie! Timmy!” Dad had been staring at the snow clouds and looked back just in time to see Katie vanishing down the alley, too.

Timmy bounded into the little yard, trailing his lead, and stopped, looking around. Now he was here, there were lots of other smells, too – old food, and strange animal smells that he wasn’t sure about. But yes … there was a definite hint of Misty’s scent, as well. She was this way. He trotted over to the bins, poking his nose between them hopefully. Yes! There she was! Curled up in an old cardboard box, and staring fearfully back at him.

Timmy barked for joy. He’d found her! He called excitedly for Katie to come, then rushed at Misty. He was just so glad to see her. Now everyone would be happy! He licked Misty’s nose lavishly, and she shuddered and hissed, backing further into the box. Timmy stepped back doubtfully. Aren’t you pleased to see me?

Misty gave a sad little mew. Where was Jess? Maybe the dog could show her? She edged slowly out of the box, the fur on her spine slightly raised. Don’t lick me again, she was telling Timmy. But I’m not cross. Yet.

Katie skidded into the yard, calling anxiously. “Timmy! Timmy, where are you?” She spotted his red lead, trailing out between the bins. “Oh, Timmy, are you eating something horrible?” She ran over, squeezing herself between the bins, and Timmy stared up at her proudly.

Look! I’ve found her! he barked.

“What is it?” Katie asked, peering a little reluctantly into the box. She had a horrible feeling Timmy had found something yucky. “Misty! Oh, Misty!” Katie whirled round. “Jess, Jess, come here, quick!”

Jess and Dad were just following them up the alley. “You’ve caught him,” cried Dad. “Thank goodness.”

“Yes, but look!” Katie picked Timmy up and hugged him lovingly. “Jess, come and see!” She stood back so Jess could get to the box. “Timmy’s found her. He must have sniffed her out. That’s why he ran off. He’s so clever.”

Jess dropped to her knees beside the box. “Misty!” she whispered.

Misty shot out of the box and Jess swooped down and picked her up. Misty snuggled into Jess’s coat, purring so hard her sides were shuddering.

“Katie, he found her!” Cradling Misty in her arms, Jess turned to her sister and Timmy. “I can’t believe it…”

Timmy reached out from Katie’s arms, wriggling and wagging his tail happily, and amazingly, Misty didn’t snarl or hiss at him. She shut her eyes slightly as he licked her nose. She didn’t look as though she was enjoying it, but she let him.

“They’re friends!” Katie said in amazement.

Misty glared at her, as if to say, Don’t push it…

But it was true. And above them, the first Christmas snowflakes were starting to float gently down.

“Misty, Timmy, turkey!” Katie laughed at Misty and Timmy, both standing eagerly by their food bowls. “Just a little, look, it’s your Christmas dinner.”

“Get on and eat yours, Katie,” Mum said. “Dad’s nearly finished.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be having seconds,” Dad said with his mouth full.

Jess wasn’t eating very much either. Both girls just kept stopping and staring happily at Misty and Timmy wolfing down turkey.

“I hope Misty likes her new blanket,” Katie said, ignoring the roast potato she was waving around.

“I bet she will, look, she’s about to try it out. It’s a gorgeous present, Katie.” Jess smiled at her, and Katie grinned back. It felt like the first time in weeks that Jess had smiled so easily at her. The angry wall between them seemed to have just crumbled away.

Misty prowled thoughtfully over to the new pink, fleecy blanket that lay neatly by the radiator. Katie had bought it weeks ago on a trip to the pet shop. She’d seen how old and tatty Misty’s blanket had become, and had decided it was the perfect Christmas present.

Misty walked round it a couple of times, then graciously stepped on to it, testing it with her paws. She lay down, the picture of a comfy, turkey-fed cat, and purred.

Timmy finished licking the last possible taste of turkey out of his bowl, and gave Misty’s bowl a quick lick just in case she’d left any. He sighed happily. Then he trotted over to Misty’s blanket, and gazed hopefully at her.

Misty gave him a resigned look. If you must, she seemed to be saying.

Katie and Jess watched, holding their breath, as Timmy whined eagerly, and snuggled down next to Misty, putting his nose next to hers.

Misty put a firm paw on one of his long, curly, brown ears. Clearly, if Timmy was on her blanket, he had to keep still.

Timmy looked up at Katie lovingly, and yawned. Two minutes later, both cat and puppy were fast asleep.

Jess put her arm around Katie’s shoulder, and Katie smiled. It was a perfect Christmas after all.