The Other Kitten

by Patricia St John

  Then he looked up. He saw the boat swing round the curve in the coastline, much sooner than they had expected. Mark gave Gran such a push that she nearly fell sideways off the rock.

  “Gran!” he yelled, jumping up. “It’s coming. Look! Can you see her?”

  They stood together shading their eyes against the sun. Suddenly Gran gave a great sigh and sat down.

  “She’s there,” she said. “Thank God!”

  Mark rushed to the entrance of the little bay where the waves lapped against the wall. The coastguard drew in. He waved cheerily to Gran and lifted Carol on to the steps. She and Mark stood with the water right over their sandals and hugged each other. Then Carol ran to Gran.

  “Gran,” she said in a surprised voice, “why are you crying? Can’t you see I’m safe?”

  “Yes, I can,” said Gran, holding her tight. “That’s why I’m crying.” And then they all started laughing instead.

  They were all quiet driving back up the hill. Mark and Carol knew that they had both been very naughty. If Gran was going to be cross they really could not blame her. But Gran was not cross. She just seemed very tired.

  We’ve all had such a fright, thought Gran. Let’s all be happy now. Perhaps we will talk about it another time, or perhaps they have learned their lesson without any talking.

  It was too late to go to Hartland Point, so they decided to go the next day. But they all enjoyed their lunch. When they had finished, Carol was so tired that she fell asleep in the armchair. Then they went to the farm and fed the calves and they both had a ride on the horse. Mark did not say that Carol was too little. He helped her on and off and held the reins so that the horse would not trot too fast.

  They went to bed tired but happy. When Gran came for the goodnight story, both Mark and Carol felt that it would be a special sort of story. So they both listened hard. It was about ten men and they all had a terrible illness called leprosy.

  “In some places in the world, people still get this disease,” said Gran, “but now it can be cured. There was no medicine for it then. They became covered with spots and sores. Then they had to leave their homes and towns in case anyone else caught it. They had to live out on the hills and no one would go near them. Their families would leave food for them to pick up. But these ten men heard about Jesus. They came and stood waiting for him on the hillside. They didn’t dare come too near the road. When they saw Jesus coming they all started shouting at the tops of their voices, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’

  “Jesus stopped. He was not afraid of leprosy. He just wanted to help the men. He told them to go back to their homes. He knew that, by the time they got there, they would all be well.

  “And they believed him. They all started rushing down the road. As they ran, their illness was healed. Their spots and sores disappeared. They were going home strong and well.

  “All except one! He suddenly stopped. He was a stranger from another country. Then he turned round and came running back to Jesus! He fell down in front of him and began to thank him with all his heart.

  “Jesus was rather sad. ‘I healed ten,’ he said. ‘Where are the other nine? Has only one stopped to say thank you?’

  “But he was glad about the one. ‘You may get up and go,’ said Jesus. ‘Your faith has made you well.’

  “And the tenth man went home much happier than the others. The others had been healed, but the tenth had talked to Jesus and come to know him. And he had made Jesus glad by saying thank you.”

  “Shall we say thank you because I was rescued?” asked Carol. “You know, Gran, when I was there in that cove, I remembered about Jesus walking on the water. I asked him to help me, and then I saw the boat.”

  “It wasn’t Jesus, it was the coastguard,” said Mark.

  “But that’s how God answers our prayers,” said Gran. “We can’t see Jesus walking about on earth any more. But his love and power are still here, working through other people. It was God who made those people outside the shop notice where you had gone, Carol. It was God who made the coastguard come so quickly. It was God who helped you to wait quietly instead of trying to climb the cliff or swim or do anything silly. We were praying and he was helping us all the time. So we must certainly thank him.”

  They all shut their eyes. Gran thanked God for looking after Carol and keeping her safe. Carol remembered that terrible moment when she knew that the water was all round her. Gran and Mark remembered how they had sat on that rock and wondered if Carol had drowned. But it had all come right in the end. Even Mark knew that someone bigger than them had been there, listening to them and helping them.

  And Mark and Carol both remembered something else. Since coming home from the beach, no one had talked about the kittens at all. Those kittens needed a lot of thinking about!

  Chapter seven

  Next morning Mark awoke to the sun pouring in through his bedroom window. It was a perfect day for Hartland Point and he jumped out of bed.

  “Gran!” he shouted. “Let’s have breakfast soon and let’s take a picnic to the lighthouse.”

  Gran was in the kitchen in her dressing gown, making herself a cup of tea. She promised they would set off as early as possible.

  “I could go to the shop by myself this morning,” said Mark, “and Carol could help you get ready. It would be quicker that way. Can we have crisps with our picnic, Gran? Mum won’t let us eat crisps at home… well, only sometimes.”

  “All right,” said Gran, “and, as a great treat, we might finish up with a cream tea at a farm. But Carol likes going to the shop too, so we must wait and see what she wants.”

  To Gran’s surprise, Carol seemed quite pleased with the idea of Mark going shopping alone. In fact, she seemed in rather a hurry to get him out of the house. As soon as he had left, she pulled Gran down on the sofa beside her.

  “Gran,” she said. “It’s about the kittens.”

  “What kittens?” asked Gran.

  “The kittens we had a fight about,” said Carol. “We didn’t tell you, but that’s why I ran away. They’re in the house up the hill behind the shop. They’re free. You don’t have to pay anything. I wanted the grey one – he’s so sweet, Gran, the sweetest little kitten you ever saw. But Mark wanted the black and white one. So we had a big argument and I ran away, and then…”

  Carol was suddenly quiet.

  “Well?” said Gran. “Go on.”

  “Well, when I was on the beach,” said Carol very slowly, “I just thought I didn’t want to argue with Mark any more, and I thought I’d let him have the black and white kitten after all. And Gran, could we go and get it now? Could we go across the field so we shan’t meet him? You see, I want it to be a surprise.”

  “But,” said Gran, “what will your mum say? Does she want a kitten as well as a new baby?”

  “She won’t mind,” said Carol. “There’s lots of room for both at home. And if she really says we can’t have it, you could keep it, Gran! We’d play with it when we come to stay.”

  “Well,” said Gran, “I wouldn’t mind. I thought I heard a mouse in the shed the other day. I did think about getting a cat. Let’s go at once, before Mark gets back.”

  They found a basket with a lid. Then they went out through the back gate and crossed the field. It was a longer way but much prettier. The dew still lay on the grass, silver and shining. The daisies and dandelions were beginning to open their faces to the sunshine. Carol walked slowly and she did not say anything at all. It was going to be very hard to see that grey kitten again and then leave it behind. As they came near to the cottage she took Gran’s hand and held it tight.

  The woman who had showed them the kittens the day before had gone out. Her husband opened the door. He was pleased to see Gran.

  “Come for a kitten, have you?” he said. “My wife told me about your two young’uns yesterday. Made up your mind now, have you? Well, looks like we’ve found homes for two kittens today. A lad came in not long ago and took one, just after my wife went ou
t.”

  Carol gasped. Supposing someone had taken the black and white one and she couldn’t give Mark a surprise after all? She ran into the woodshed. It was all right! The black and white one was still there, clawing over the side of the basket. It was the grey kitten which had gone and Carol was glad. It would have been hard to see Fluff and then to leave him behind.

  She held Tippet in her arms. He was very soft and fluffy. He looked up at her with big, baby-blue eyes. She stroked him softly. “Sweet little Tippet,” she whispered. “You are not quite as nice as Fluff but I love you very much.” Then she grabbed Gran’s hand. “Gran, come quick,” she cried. “I want to show Mark. He’ll be home by now.”

  They hurried home up the road, carrying the kitten hidden in the basket. When they reached the cottage, Mark was hanging over the gate, looking very pleased with himself.

  “Where have you been?” he said. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Carol, you’d better come into the kitchen ’cos I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  “I’ve got a surprise for you, too!” said Carol. She rushed into the kitchen and there, in the middle of the table, was the grey kitten, lapping milk out of a saucer.

  “It’s Fluff!” cried Carol. “And here’s Tippet!” She opened the basket and Tippet leapt out and tried to push Fluff away from the milk. They both jumped into the saucer and the milk went all over the tablecloth. The kittens stuck their tails in the air and lapped the milk up.

  “For goodness’ sake, put them on the floor,” said Gran who thought, for a moment, that she was seeing double. “Look what they’ve done to my tablecloth! They can’t drink out of my best china tea service, either. Mark, there’s a tin plate over on the sink. Until they are house-trained, they must sleep in the shed. I don’t know what your mum is going to say about it all.”

  “Can we take the kittens on the picnic?” said Mark.

  “We couldn’t leave them behind,” said Carol.

  So, when they had made some sandwiches and packed the picnic and swimming things, they set off. Mark, Carol, Tippet and Fluff all sat in the back of the car. The kittens travelled in a big cardboard box lined with an old woolly pullover. They snuggled down and looked very warm and comfortable.

  They reached the lighthouse and had lunch. Then Mark and Carol and the kittens played among the daisies. In the afternoon, they went to a little beach. Mark and Carol both swam while Gran sat on a rock and the kittens rolled in the sand. Then they had a yummy cream tea at a farm. What a beautiful day it’s been, thought Carol.

  All day Mark felt love for Carol because she had given him Tippet. And Carol felt loving toward Mark because he had given her Fluff. Because they were loving, they were happy. And that, thought Carol, was why it was such a beautiful day.

  Chapter eight

  When they came home, they phoned Mum. Gran spoke first. Of course, Mark and Carol could only hear what was being said at one end of the phone. But they more or less knew what was happening by listening to Gran.

  “How are things going, dear?” asked Gran. “Not long?… Good… Oh, they’re fine, but they wanted me to ask you something. Would you mind if they each brought home a kitten?… Well, yes, I know and I’m sorry, but it was a mistake. They each got one for the other… Yes, it was meant to be only one; it was all a mistake. I’ll write and explain… No, the kittens won’t be having kittens of their own, they’re both males… Yes, dear, I do realise there’s going to be a baby in the house. Yes, I know it’s all an extra expense but I’ll help pay for the cat food… Well, just think it over, dear, and let us know.”

  Mark grabbed the phone and Carol listened anxiously.

  “Mum, it will be all right about the baby,” he said, very fast and loud. “I know cats like to sit where babies are. But I’ve got a friend whose mum had a baby and she kept the cat off it by putting up a little net… OK Mum, ask Dad, and tell us tomorrow, but please say yes!”

  Carol snatched the phone from him. “Mum,” she squealed, “they’re the sweetest little kittens you ever saw! Their names are Fluff and Tippet. And Mum, there was only going to be one and we argued. I ran away and the tide came up and I was nearly drowned. The coastguard rescued me. Then we both went and got the other one by mistake… No, Mum, it’s all right, I didn’t drown! I’m all right… I was just telling you…”

  Gran took the phone from Carol.

  “Carol’s fine,” she said firmly, “I’ll write and tell you all about it. Just let us know at once if the baby comes. Bye now and God bless. We’ll phone tomorrow.”

  But they didn’t phone the next day because Dad phoned them first. And it wasn’t about kittens. When they heard Gran’s phone ring, Mark and Carol went on eating their tea because they didn’t think it would be a call from home. Then they heard what Gran was saying.

  “A little boy!” cried Gran. “Oh, I’m so very thankful… you’re naming him after Grandpa? How lovely! How’s the new mum?… Splendid!”

  “It’s a boy,” whispered Mark. “Yes!”

  “I don’t mind,” said Carol, and she really didn’t.

  They spoke to Dad on the phone and he told them both about Richard John, who was being named after Grandpa. Richard John weighed nine pounds three ounces and had lots of dark hair and a very loud voice.

  When Dad had finished talking, Carol said, “And about the kittens? Can we have them?”

  “Kittens?” said Dad. “What kittens?”

  “Our kittens, Fluff and Tippet. Did Mum forget to tell you?”

  “Well, she’s been rather busy, hasn’t she?”

  “Well, can we have them, Dad? One kitten each?”

  “Oh sure, if you’ll look after them. A couple of kittens shouldn’t be too much trouble. Have them ready in a box when I come on Friday.”

  “Friday!” cried Carol. “That’s the day after tomorrow!” She turned to Gran. “Couldn’t we go home tomorrow, Gran? I just can’t wait to see the baby.”

  Mark looked thoughtful. He went to Gran and put his arms round her.

  “It’s not that we want to leave you, Gran,” he said. “We’ve had a really good time. It’s just that we’re longing to see the baby. Couldn’t you come with us?”

  Gran rumpled his hair. “It’s all right, Mark,” she said. “I understand. I’m longing to see the baby too. I was hoping you might all come and stay in the summer holidays. That’s less than three months away.”

  The children thought that this was a lovely plan and, after all, the time went quickly. They went into the town of Bideford the next morning and bought presents for the baby with their pocket money. They bought a bib with a robin on it and a rattle with a bell inside.

  In the afternoon, they had a last swim. Then it was time to say goodbye to the farmer and the animals. They packed their things and watched the kittens have their supper. Then, at last, Carol was in bed and Mark was sitting cross-legged at the other end with the blanket round him. Gran leaned back in the armchair. She looked quite tired.

  “Tomorrow,” said Carol, wriggling her toes, “I shall be holding the baby.”

  “And me,” said Mark. “You’ve got to take turns.”

  “What a happy baby he’ll be!” said Gran quickly, before an argument could start. “And how blessed he is to be born into a family like yours, with a loving mother and father, brother and sister!”

  “And two kittens,” said Carol.

  “And four rabbits,” said Mark.

  “And all our toys,” said Carol. “Oh, I just can’t wait! Gran, tell us a story, a special one because it’s our last night.”

  “All right,” said Gran. “We’ve been talking about the baby born into your family, so I’ll tell you about a man who wanted to be born again.”

  “How silly,” said Mark.

  “You couldn’t be born again,” said Carol.

  “Wait and see,” said Gran.

  She told them how the religious leaders of the country where Jesus lived became very jealous of Jesus. “Jesus was healing il
l people and making the blind see. So of course everyone loved him and followed him and no one listened to the ordinary teachers. Everyone wanted Jesus.

  “So the leaders and teachers got together and they made a plan. They told the people that Jesus was a wicked man and they must not go to him or listen to him. But one leader, called Nicodemus, wanted to listen. He knew that Jesus was good and loving but he was afraid to be seen visiting him. So he waited till it was quite dark and then he crept along the streets and knocked at the door.

  “‘Come in,’ said Jesus.

  ‘Sir,’ said Nicodemus, ‘I know that God has sent you, and I want to know how you do all these wonderful things.’

  “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to understand, you must be born again.’”

  Mark interrupted the story. “That’s really silly! I said so before.”

  “Gran, what did Jesus mean?” said Carol.

  “That’s just what Nicodemus wanted to know,” said Gran. “He was like Mark. We’ve been talking about your baby, born into your family, belonging to Mum and Dad. Jesus is God’s Son. When we come to know Jesus and love him, then we become God’s children too. God becomes our heavenly Father. We are born into God’s family and all the other people who love Jesus are like our brothers and sisters. We all love and help each other.”

  “So we’ve got to know Jesus before we can become God’s children,” said Carol thoughtfully.

  “Yes. And shall I tell you how to know Jesus?” asked Gran.

  “Yes, please,” said Carol.

  “We’ve just got to ask him,” said Gran. “We can tell God we want to belong to him, and live his way. Then we can call God our heavenly Father and he makes us part of his family.”

  They talked for a little longer and Gran prayed. She thanked God for the new baby. And she asked that Mark and Carol would understand what it meant to be born into God’s family. Then she tucked Carol up and kissed them both goodnight. “Go to sleep quickly,” she said, “and then it will be tomorrow.”