A Cat Called Alfie

by Rachel Wells

  I thought I heard a loud voice and then I heard a door slam. Then another one. Then I heard a strange sound, followed by miaowing, and more door slamming. I knew I shouldn’t, I knew this was a bad time and no one wanted me there, but I couldn’t help myself. Without thinking it through, I hopped through the cat flap and into the kitchen, which was shrouded in darkness. The house was empty. Snowball wasn’t there. I looked everywhere – upstairs, downstairs – she was nowhere to be seen. What if something was wrong?

  I knew it was wrong to break into someone’s house, but I had to wait for them to come back. What if they had had enough and decided to flee regardless? I felt panic. What if I never saw Snowball again? I curled up under an armchair in the living room trying to control my fear. I felt as if I had been there for years before I heard the pitter patter of paws.

  ‘Alfie!’ Snowball exclaimed. ‘What are you doing under the chair?’

  ‘I was worried.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘I thought you’d gone. Polly told me about the Goodwins and the police today and then Claire and Polly wrote a letter to you all to say we supported you. But I heard shouting and door slamming and thought you must have fled. I thought I’d never see you again. I was so worried I had to wait here. I couldn’t risk leaving.’

  ‘Blimey, Alfie, you have got an overactive imagination.’

  ‘Well, yes perhaps I do, but look at you; yesterday you were all doom and gloom and today you seem different.’

  ‘I was actually out looking for you! So guess what happened? The police came to say they had Simon. Although they might not get the money back, Tim will get his reputation restored and Simon will go to prison. My family are so much happier.

  ‘Karen picked up the letter from your family, read it to Tim and they both hugged. Then the kids, well, with a bit of prompting from me, asked their parents if maybe things could go back to normal a bit. Their first act of normality was that they went out to get a take-away, together as a family. I was so happy I ran round to find you but you’re here after all!’

  ‘So what was all that shouting?’

  ‘Well they were quite loud admittedly, but happy loud.’

  ‘Oh, I feel like a total fool now.’

  ‘You, Alfie, are a fool, a soppy fool.’

  It was too late for me to leave before the front door opened and chatter flooded in, happy, lively chatter. Snowball smiled.

  ‘Come on, you might as well meet them all properly.’

  ‘Won’t they be cross?’

  ‘Today they wouldn’t mind if you were a lion.’

  I followed Snowball into the kitchen where the family were dishing up food and pouring drinks.

  ‘Wish it could be Champagne, darling,’ Tim said, as he handed Karen a glass of wine.

  ‘I think we’ve had enough Champagne to last a lifetime, don’t you?’ she replied, smiling.

  ‘Can I have some wine?’ Daisy asked.

  ‘A small glass,’ her father replied, pouring her one.

  ‘What about me?’ Christopher asked.

  ‘Oi, Daisy’s sixteen, but you’re only fourteen! ’Fraid not.’ Tim ruffled his son’s hair affectionately.

  You would think it was a totally different family to look at them and I smiled at Snowball, who couldn’t stop grinning at me.

  ‘Is that the cat from next door?’ Karen asked, spotting me.

  ‘Yes, it’s Alfie,’ Christopher replied. ‘Remember I told you I rescued him? I think he and Snowball are friends.’

  ‘Even the cat next door is nice, then,’ Karen mused. ‘I was touched by that note and I feel quite bad for acting like a total nutcase in front of them, but I’m not sure I’m ready to tell everyone what we’ve been through.’

  ‘I agree, it’s still so raw,’ said Tim.

  ‘We still probably need a bit of time,’ Karen said.

  ‘Not to mention getting the dreaded Goodwins out of our hair. Did you hear the police say they were hiding in bushes trying to catch us out?’

  ‘Clearly bonkers,’ Daisy said.

  ‘Yes, but I’m not ready to deal with them yet.’ Karen sounded upset.

  ‘Kids, Karen, I would like to say that I am really sorry for how bad things have been. I know moving was awful and adjusting to new schools, but now that Simon’s been caught, I do feel that we might start to get back to normal. Well, a new kind of normal anyway.’

  Tim looked sad again. I could see there had been a giant step forward but it wasn’t quite giant enough.

  Quietly, Snowball led me outside.

  ‘Wow, things have changed quickly,’ Snowball exclaimed when we were alone. ‘I know Tim will never forgive himself for trusting Simon, but at least now he’s been caught, it’ll make him feel there’s some justice.’

  ‘Do you think they’ll get the money back?’

  ‘I think it’s probably long gone. It was spent on bad investments and gambles from what I heard, but they have a home. It might not be what we were used to but it’s better than many people have, you taught me that.’

  ‘Everyone seemed happier. Well, apart from Christopher,’ I pointed out.

  ‘He’s still missing his old life. I don’t think he’s made friends at school; I haven’t seen him with anyone and he seems so withdrawn, more than any of the others. I’m Daisy’s cat and Christopher doesn’t like me half the time. Whenever he rows with his sister, he seems to blame me.’

  ‘Is he mean to you?’ I asked.

  ‘Not really, just says the odd thing, calls me a scraggy moggy when he’s really annoyed but I know deep down he doesn’t mean it. He pretends not to like Daisy but deep down he loves her too,’ Snowball explained.

  ‘I think we need to get my families and yours together. Honestly, it’ll really make yours feel welcome and wanted.’

  ‘They might, one day. But I am glad I met you, Alfie.’ Snowball nuzzled my neck and I felt like a million dollars.

  - CHAPTER -

  Thirty-Five

  ‘Goodness, this is a bit like when Claire and Jonathan go out with Matt and Polly,’ I said.

  Three faces looked at me. Tiger, Tom, Snowball and I were at the park, playing in the flower beds. It was like a double date, I thought. Although for now Snowball was in the friend zone, I knew it was only a matter of time before we became more romantic.

  Tiger wasn’t exactly romantic towards Tom, but he followed her around like a lovesick puppy. She obviously liked him but she was, like Snowball, playing a bit hard to get. However, we were spending a very pleasant afternoon together so I wasn’t complaining. Surprisingly, Tiger and Snowball had hit it off and Tom was definitely more charming than we had ever known him. I could see us becoming a tight little unit which made me feel more content than ever.

  Although there was nothing wrong with my life before, having Snowball come into it had definitely added another dimension. My eyes shone a bit brighter, my smile was a bit wider, and when I slept, my dreams were filled with happiness.

  And Snowball: her slow thaw towards me had accelerated at great speed – next stop love. Her family were also slowly thawing. I had seen quite a bit of them. Snowball said I was always welcome, so I had kind of added them to my list of homes, despite being there the least. I wanted them to meet my families, become friends, which is what a doorstep cat wants more than anything: to bring people together. Despite the fact they were happier and had been pleased to receive Claire and Polly’s note, they hadn’t rushed round with open arms. I understood. When you’re hurt like that, when you lose everything and especially with betrayal added into the mix it takes time to heal and gain back the confidence to trust new people.

  We still needed to find a way to get them to be friends the way we were. Gathered in the park, it seemed a good time to try to come up with a plan.

  ‘Last time you brought humans together you nearly died,’ Tiger pointed out.

  ‘Well I’m not going to do that a second time,’ I mused. ‘I’m down to my last six lives I thi
nk, so I still need to do something and it has to be big.’

  ‘Like getting stuck up a tree again,’ Tiger teased.

  ‘No, that’s too—’ I stopped, they had just given me an idea.

  We were distracted by a low flying butterfly; Tom tried to swipe it at the same time as Tiger and their paws collided.

  ‘Sorry,’ Tom mumbled looking bashful.

  ‘Well I don’t know, Alfie, maybe it’s enough that they are happier now. And they did say they’d speak to the neighbours. Maybe that’s enough?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so.’ I was a determined cat.

  ‘But none of us have a clue what to do.’ Snowball lay down and looked sad as she put her head in her paws. ‘I’m worried they’ll leave. I know they said things are looking better but they’re still not happy. I really don’t want to leave Edgar Road.’ Snowball looked so sad, lying there, that my heart went out to her. I couldn’t let that happen.

  ‘I think I know what to do,’ I exclaimed, remembering my earlier brainwave.

  ‘Oh no, I’m not sure I want to know,’ Tiger said, covering her ears with her paws. ‘Knowing you it’s going to be dangerous!’

  ‘I want to know. Come on, Alfie, tell us,’ Tom pushed.

  ‘No, you are all going to have to wait and see. Tiger, tell Snowball how good I am at getting humans to do what I want.’

  ‘He is, Snowball. He can convince any human of anything. He doesn’t pull the fur over my eyes, but those humans fall for it every time.’

  ‘I guess we’ve got nothing to lose.’ Snowball sounded doubtful.

  ‘And everything to gain,’ I finished.

  I felt a sense of purpose as we strutted home. I walked beside Snowball, whilst Tiger and Tom frolicked behind us. They definitely brought out the playful side in each other. We were almost at Snowball’s gate, when Salmon jumped out on us. I had almost forgotten about him.

  ‘Well, what do we have here,’ he said, licking his lips ominously. ‘You all look cosy together.’ Snowball hissed, but I stood next to her protectively.

  ‘Salmon, it’s time you got lost. You and your nosey family. The Snells have nothing to hide and you might as well give up now.’

  ‘What, because you tell us to?’ He laughed nastily.

  ‘No, because you’re all making huge fools of yourselves. You’re going to be the laughing stock of the street soon.’ I sounded braver than I felt.

  ‘You already are,’ Tiger piped up from behind, reinforcing my confidence.

  ‘Yes that petition didn’t work, and we cats are thinking of getting a petition going against you,’ Tom joked. He actually did have quite a good sense of humour now he was with Tiger.

  ‘Cats can’t write,’ Salmon shot back.

  ‘We’ll use mouse blood to write it all over your yard,’ Tom replied, but he didn’t sound serious. I don’t think he did anyway.

  ‘You wouldn’t dare?’ Salmon looked afraid for the first ever time.

  ‘Try us,’ I challenged.

  Salmon turned and ran back across the road.

  ‘My hero,’ Tiger said. ‘Impressive.’

  ‘You’re my hero too,’ Snowball whispered to me.

  - CHAPTER -

  Thirty-Six

  Claire was disappointed. I think she believed that after the note they’d sent, Karen would be round, thanking them and perhaps inviting them for a cup of tea at the very least. She ranted a bit to Jonathan that the note Karen had sent back, which Claire referred to as a ‘perfunctory’ thank you, was far from satisfactory. So it was lucky that I had my plan. They needed a helping paw and luckily I was here to provide one.

  I always thought that happiness was infectious. You know, contagious. I looked at all my families up and down the street, and even further afield, and realized how happy everyone was. Even us cats had nothing to worry about. We were all elated and I knew, if we could reach them then the Snells would catch it from us. We would literally infect them with happiness.

  I breakfasted in Claire and Jonathan’s happy house. Claire had let Jonathan give me tinned or fresh fish for days now, so I was pretty lucky. Something told me that when the baby came along they would be a bit distracted and I might not get the same attention, but if they were I had back-up. I refused to have any of my joy stamped on. Not even by Salmon who had taken to staring with hostile eyes at all us cats, although from a safe distance. He really was a coward after all.

  He was extra-annoyed because Polly seemed to blame him for digging up her flowers. After my grand gesture, I’d forgotten about the slightly destroyed flower bed but Salmon had been caught lurking by her front garden, so when she jumped to that conclusion it suited me just fine.

  ‘Alfie, you are probably only going to be gone for a few hours; you’re acting as if this is your big farewell,’ Tiger said, as I went to see her before implementing my plan.

  ‘I am not. And anyway, if something goes wrong, then you’ll wish you had treated me a bit more fondly.’

  ‘Alfie, you’re such a drama cat. You yourself said that there was no danger attached to this plan.’

  ‘I know, but I would like everyone to appreciate what I am going to do.’

  ‘But we don’t know what it is!’ I could see Tiger was exasperated, so I decided to confide in her and, for once, she actually listened carefully.

  ‘Alfie, you are mad, after last time,’ Tiger said. She didn’t look every impressed.

  ‘That’s why it’s so perfect, I’ve got experience in it now. But don’t tell anyone,’ I said. ‘It’s supposed to be a secret.’ Tiger raised her whiskers, shook her head and smiled.

  ‘You will never change. Be careful, Alfie, and hopefully you’ll get what you want.’

  It was afternoon before I headed into Snowball’s house. I told her I would be there and she was in the kitchen waiting for me. She still had no idea what I was planning, so I thought I’d better tell her.

  ‘Right, I’m going up the tree again,’ I said.

  ‘Why?’ Snowball asked.

  ‘Because then your family will go and get my family, they’ll bond over the need to rescue me.’ I was pretty confident with this plan. I had thought it out. My grand gesture hadn’t worked exactly as I planned, but it had given me an idea. I was going to climb the tree again, pretend to be stuck (as this time I would ensure my legs didn’t seize up), and then Snowball would go and get help from our families. I could just picture the scene: that as they all talked about rescuing me, the Snells would realize what a good thing it was to have friends on the street, and whilst they were distracted I’d just climb down again. Of course, they’d all be so happy that I was safe that everyone would be friends. It was foolproof.

  ‘What if Christopher just gets the ladder again?’ Snowball asked.

  ‘I thought of that. I’ll go even higher so the grown-ups will have to get involved.’ I remembered that the ladder only reached the branch I was on which wasn’t that high, this time I would climb further.

  ‘And you think that will work?’

  ‘Yes, of course. Don’t you?’

  ‘What about your legs?’

  ‘You worry too much. Right, wish me luck. And trust me, this will bond them, somehow, it really will.’

  ‘Good luck. And, Alfie, either you’re mad or a genius; I just hope it’s the latter.’

  Snowball followed me to the garden. I looked at the tree, feeling confident. I’d done it before I could it again and this time I was unencumbered by flowers so it would be easier. With confidence I started to climb. I began to enjoy myself. It was early evening and still pleasant; the sun was fairly warm, the sky blue. I saw some birds overhead and listened to them singing as I made my way, branch by branch into the tree.

  I easily passed the place where I’d been when Christopher had rescued me and continued further on up. I could feel the wind in my fur as I carried on, brimming with determination with each branch I passed.

  After a long, arduous climb I suddenly realized how tired I was,
so I stopped to see if I was high enough. I got myself in position on the branch and looked down. ‘Oh my goodness,’ I thought, ‘what has happened?’ Snowball had shrunk – she was tiny! I looked again and saw just how high I was. I felt dizzy as the ground seemed to spin beneath me and I clung onto the branch for dear life. I cried out, but not as part of the plan; it was a cry of genuine terror as fear rushed through my fur. I had never been this high in my life and I was terrified. I thought about getting down, aborting the plan, but I couldn’t move. It was as if I was literally paralysed by fear.

  I couldn’t see her face but I could see Snowball heading inside, yelling loudly. Thankfully she soon came out with Karen and Tim. Christopher and Daisy followed them and they all looked up at me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear what they were saying; the wind seemed to take their words away and I was truly stuck in every sense of the word as they all stood below, looking up at me.

  There was activity on the ground, as Daisy ran out back round the side of the house and disappeared. Making sure my back legs were securely on the branch, I put my paws over my eyes to see if that stopped me feeling sick, but then I couldn’t bear not being able to see. I cemented myself to the branch wondering if I would have to stay here forever; would this be my new home?

  After what felt like hours, Polly and Matt appeared in the garden. I fleetingly wondered where Claire and Jonathan were as I saw them all staring up at me, shaking their heads. Matt came to the bottom of the tree and shouted something up, but all I could hear was my name. I miaowed as loudly as I could but I couldn’t be sure he heard me. I wanted to cry. This was not the amazingly straightforward plan I’d thought it was going to be.

  No one moved from the garden now and although I couldn’t see much, I did see Tim making a call. Matt was still trying to shout up to me, but the wind kept stealing his words so I couldn’t hear him. I wished I was in his arms right now. Anyone’s arms. I felt sick to my stomach as I huddled and clung on for dear life.

  After about half an hour of being stuck to the branch, I heard the sirens from quite far away and instinctively knew what it was. Oh the indignity! My worst fear. Matt and Tim ran round to the front of the house, and after a while they came back with four firemen who looked up at me. I covered my eyes again. I would never live this down and if this didn’t bring my families together then it would be the ultimate humiliation for nothing. They disappeared and then reappeared with a ladder that looked enormous. As they rested it against the tree, they started extending it before one man started climbing. Finally, I found myself face to face with a friendly looking fireman.