Alfie and George

by Rachel Wells

  I knew I needed to be there for Tasha; I had to help her heal and let her know I understood how she felt. As I pondered how I would do that I heard George miaowing urgently from the kitchen. I had only taken my eyes off him for a second but I ran in to find him standing in my food bowl. In the crisis, Claire and Jonathan had obviously forgotten to put our food away as they usually did.

  ‘What are you doing?’ I asked, exasperated. He had flakes of tuna on his head.

  ‘I wanted to try your food, then I thought how much bigger your bowl was than mine, so I thought I’d see if it was bigger than me. I got in but I can’t get out again.’

  ‘George, if the humans find you they’ll be cross,’ I admonished as I helped him get out.‘Quick, clean yourself up before they get back.’ I supervised his clean-up and tried not to be annoyed that he had used up the rest of my breakfast with his experiment. After all, I had more important things than food on my mind right now.

  ‘Yum, I liked that,’ George said, licking his lips when he was clean again.

  ‘But that was my breakfast. You have special food because you’re little. Like Summer,’ I explained.

  ‘I’m going to get big now so I can eat like you,’ George declared before scampering off. I checked that there was definitely no food left – there wasn’t, George had either eaten what I had left or worn it – before chasing after him.

  I found him running round in circles.

  ‘What are you doing?’ I asked, mildly amused.

  ‘I’m trying to catch my tail but it keeps running away from me.’

  Oh, how I laughed as he determinedly ran round in circles. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he’d never catch it. In the midst of all the doom my kitten was cheering me up. He had this magical power and I wondered now if it was time for me to pass the baton. Should I train George up to help people the way I always did? It seemed like a good idea, and perhaps George could help me help Tash. I was already teaching George what I knew, so when it came to my families, and being a doorstep cat, George would be my apprentice. I grinned – what a nice thought that was.

  I looked around the living room. Tash was lying on the sofa, cuddling Elijah, who was asleep. George was curled up at her feet, which was sweet. I had asked him to spend time with Tasha and, actually, when he did the chasing-his-tail thing she had laughed for the first time, so it had worked. My gorgeous kitten was a tonic for us all, it seemed.

  Summer was napping in her bedroom, so I joined Claire and Jonathan in the kitchen, where they were talking quietly.

  ‘So he’s not going to change his mind?’ Claire asked.

  ‘No, the idiot’s met someone else. I suspected it already, so I tripped him up and he admitted it. Typical story, she’s younger, no kids and he probably thinks she’ll never make the demands of him that Tash does. Anyway, he was too cowardly to tell Tash. I’m afraid he’s moved on. He’s even talking about selling their place and splitting the money. It’s only been five minutes!’ Jonathan looked incredulous – angry and red faced. What made me most proud of Jonathan was how honourable he was as a person. He would never do that to Claire; I would put all the pilchards in the world on it.

  ‘Oh God, what are we going to tell Tash?’ Claire asked.

  Jonathan shook his head. ‘He really doesn’t care that she’s in pieces. He just seems to ignore that he’s hurt her, and when I tried to talk about Elijah he said that plenty of kids grow up with parents who aren’t together. He doesn’t seem to think he’s done anything wrong. I wanted to punch him – it was lucky he was on the other end of the phone.’

  Jonathan and Dave had never really been friends. They spent time together because of Tash and Claire but I heard Jonathan say he thought he was missing a few brain cells, and apparently he had committed an even worse crime than being allergic to cats: he supported Arsenal. Jonathan could never forgive that but I didn’t really understand why.

  ‘So what do we do?’ Claire was distraught. Jonathan held her.

  ‘Well, she can stay here as long as she needs to. I’ll tell Dave to get the rest of this stuff out of the house. And I know she might not be ready, but I’m going to get her a solicitor for when she is. He’s not going to do the right thing, so I’m going to take him on.’ Jonathan sounded pretty certain.

  ‘Oh, Jon, thanks, we have to help her. I can’t imagine how it must feel …’

  ‘Hey, you know I’d never leave you and Sum, don’t you?’ He looked at her as he spoke and, as I said before, I knew with certainty in my heart that, no matter what, he wouldn’t leave them. He was nothing like Dave.

  ‘I do, and I love you. But for now we need to get Tasha back in one piece. She did the same for me when I first moved here, and I didn’t have a child to think about like she does.’

  ‘Hey, baby, we’ll do whatever it takes to sort her out. Don’t worry.’

  I nuzzled against both their legs. I was going to help too, of course.

  ‘Oh, Alfie, I forgot how much you love Tash too. Well, between us all we’ll get her back on her feet,’ Claire declared, sounding determined.

  Satisfied, I miaowed and then went to the back door.

  ‘OK, Alfie, you can go out, but come to the windowsill when you want to come in,’ Claire said.

  ‘Miaow,’ I agreed.

  I found Tiger under a bush in her front garden.

  ‘Hi, Tiger, what’s going on?’ I asked. It had been a couple of days since I’d last seen her, and I realised that I’d missed her. I was so used to seeing Tiger almost every day, I wondered if I took her for granted a bit.

  ‘Well, hello, stranger. I’d almost forgotten what you looked like.’

  ‘This not going out lark isn’t easy. Nor is having a kitten to take care of. I can’t wait for you to meet him though, he’s so cute.’

  ‘Oh, Alfie, you keep saying that, you proud father. Stroll?’

  ‘Yes, I’d love to. I haven’t had nearly enough exercise lately.’ We rubbed noses and set off. We hadn’t gone far when a big cat shadow loomed over us.

  ‘Great,’ I said.‘First time out in ages and we have to bump into him.’

  ‘Well, fancy seeing you two here,’ Salmon said, baring his teeth at us.

  ‘We do live here,’ Tiger replied, flicking her tail angrily.

  ‘Well, I’m patrolling to check everything is OK. Can’t be too careful you know.’

  ‘Right, Salmon, and what trouble have you happened upon?’ I said, humouring him. Salmon’s owners ran the local Neighbourhood Watch; they were real busybodies and Salmon was cut from the same cloth.

  ‘Well, like my owners have noted, number twenty have put so much rubbish in their garden that they’re attracting vermin. They’re holding a meeting about it, you know.’

  ‘Great, and what about the cat pictures, do you know anything about that yet?’

  ‘I do,’ Salmon replied. ‘But unfortunately it’s classified information.’

  ‘What? What on earth does that mean?’ Tiger asked.

  ‘I am not at liberty to discuss it with you.’

  ‘Which, once again, means you don’t know anything,’ I retorted.

  ‘I see your girlfriend left you,’ he said, unkindly.

  ‘She didn’t leave him, she moved away,’ Tiger hissed. She glared at Salmon in her most aggressive way. Tiger was my best friend and also my self-appointed bodyguard.

  ‘Yes, well, same difference,’ said Salmon, hissing back at us before walking off.

  ‘That cat does not get any nicer,’ I said, fuming.

  ‘But he’s not important. Look at him, he has no friends, and you have loads. Speaking of which, let’s go and find them.’

  We made our way to a strip of grass surrounded by bushes at the end of Edgar Road, where our little cat community would sometimes converge. I was lucky: Elvis, Nellie and Rocky, three of my favourite cats, were hanging out there when we arrived. They all stood up to greet us.

  ‘Alfie, it’s been ages,’ Nellie said, yawning and rai
sing her whiskers.‘Is there any news?’ Nellie loved drama.

  ‘I’m sure Tiger told you, I’ve been preoccupied with a kitten.’

  ‘I know, fancy you having a real kitten and not a human to worry about,’ said Rocky. He was an older cat, well-meaning but sometimes a tad interfering.

  ‘Oh, I still have plenty of humans to worry about, but the kitten can’t go out yet so I’m restricted as to what I can do at the moment,’ I explained.

  ‘How are you, Alfie?’ Elvis asked kindly. ‘You know, after Snowball leaving?’

  ‘I miss her, of course I do. You don’t just get over someone that quickly.’ I felt emotional as I thought of her beautiful white fur and blue eyes.‘But George, my kitten, he’s keeping me busy.’ I smiled sadly, tilting my head to one side.

  ‘Well, we’re all looking forward to meeting him when he’s allowed out,’ Nellie said. ‘But try to come here more often, now the weather’s nice. There are some new neighbourhood cats you should meet.’

  ‘Really?’ I hadn’t even noticed any new families. I had obviously been neglecting my doorstep cat duties with everything going on.

  ‘Oh, not new families, just new cats. Two, actually, and nice they are, as well. One is so pretty we think she’ll probably get a picture up there soon,’ Elvis said.

  ‘Elvis, do you really believe there’s some kind of cat beauty competition going on?’ I asked.

  ‘Can’t see why not,’ he replied.‘And as I said, I’m guessing at least one of the new cats will be entered soon.’ He sounded sure but it made no sense to me.

  ‘Have you met them?’ I asked Tiger.

  ‘Yes,’ she answered shortly, slowly blinking her eyes to indicate the subject was closed.‘Right, I want to sunbathe while it’s still hot.’ She found the best spot and lay down. I had time to stay for a little while, so I settled down, stretching out next to her, and enjoyed the feeling of the sun warming my fur. I thought about the new cats and how Tiger had been so keen to change the subject. She could be a funny one, I thought, but it would be nice to meet new cats, it was something else to look forward to. After all, I always say, you could never have too many friends.

  As I left the others and walked back on my own, I saw some of the posters. I had seen four in total now. I looked at the pictures of the cats and had to admit that, yes, they were all nice looking cats. But still I was annoyed with myself – I knew somewhere deep down that I had the answer. As I reached the front door, I experienced a sudden flashback. My memory suddenly fell into place. When my families had thought I was missing, they’d put a picture of me on the lampposts (I wasn’t missing at all, I was ill at the vet, but that’s another story). Yes, I had figured it out. These cats were missing for some reason and their owners were trying to find out if anyone had seen them. Of course, it all made sense now. I remembered Aleksy showing me the picture he drew of me and telling me how he had put that up. That was what the lamppost cats were – missing cats! I would have to tell the other cats my discovery, but first I had to go and check on George.

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘Where’s George?’ Claire asked me. I looked at her and blinked. I had just been out into the garden for a few minutes to attend to my needs. How could they have lost him in that short time? I went off to find him. It didn’t take me long – he was under Summer’s bed.

  ‘George,’ I said,‘come out.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘George, I am not going to tell you again. Either you come out or I come to you,’ I warned.

  ‘No,’ George repeated. I wondered if he’d been taking lessons from Summer when my back was turned. I crawled under the small toddler bed and saw he was tied up in what look like a ball of wool.

  ‘George, what have you done?’ I asked, eyes widening. ‘Nothing,’ he replied, trying to back away and bumping into a wall.

  ‘Well, what’s this wool all over you?’ He tried to wriggle away from me but his legs were all tangled up with wool. I had to push him with my paw to get him out from under the bed. When I examined him, I saw that he had what remained of Jonathan’s scarf trailing behind him and the rest of it wrapped around him. He looked like a cat’s cradle. Ah, was that why it was called that?

  ‘What have you done?’ I asked in my sternest voice.

  ‘I was just playing with this thing.’ He gave me his most innocent look.

  ‘The scarf.’

  ‘Yes, if that’s what it’s called. I was playing with the scarf and suddenly it started to unravel and somehow it unravelled all around me and I couldn’t get it off. I was in Summer’s room anyway so I hid.’ He spoke as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

  ‘That’s Jonathan’s scarf,’ I said, wondering how much trouble we’d be in. Claire had taken up knitting when she was pregnant and had decided to practise by making Jonathan a scarf. It was the first and last thing she’d knitted but she was proud of it and insisted that Jonathan wear it all winter. Goodness knows how George had got hold of it.

  I tried to get it off him but he was more tangled than he looked, and I seemed to be making things worse. Reluctantly, I went to get Claire. She was in the kitchen preparing supper for later. Summer was at nursery, as was Elijah, and Tash was at work. I rubbed against her leg.

  ‘Hi, Alfie. Did you find George?’

  ‘Miaow.’ Yes. I nudged her leg with my head.

  ‘What? What’s wrong?’

  ‘Miaow.’ I repeated and led the way upstairs.

  ‘Oh, George!’ Claire said as she saw the tangled mess that was George and the scarf. She tutted and started trying to free him, but he was properly tangled.‘Oh goodness, I’ll have to get scissors.’ She returned with Summer’s nail scissors and started carefully cutting. I saw George close his eyes and knew how he felt. I hoped he wasn’t going to get a fur-cut at the same time. When he was eventually free, George sprang away quicker than I’d ever seen him move. I guessed he didn’t want another telling off.

  ‘Well, I don’t know what Jonathan will say, that was his favourite scarf,’ Claire said as we left the room.

  That evening, after dinner, Claire took Tash out for a drink. She thought a change of scene might do her some good. I thought it meant that at least she wouldn’t be crying. Poor Tash, she held it together when Elijah was awake but as soon as he was asleep she would crumble. I spent as much time with her as I could spare, but nothing I did seemed to make her feel better, not even one of my special snuggles. I knew she must feel like I did when Snowball left, so I understood her pain, and I knew that nothing would really help apart from time. Although she had her kitten, Elijah, and he would help, as George helped me.

  I sat with Jonathan on the sofa. George was asleep, curled up on an armchair. It was nice to spend some quiet time together, just the two of us; we hadn’t done that for a while.

  ‘Oh, Alfie,’ he said as he put his feet on the coffee table, switched the TV on and sipped a beer.‘Boy time. I have to say I was over the moon that George ruined my scarf. I hated that thing, I only wore it because Claire insisted, but it was really itchy and far too long. And thankfully she’s given up knitting so I know she won’t replace it. I might get a lovely cashmere one instead. I should buy that kitten some pilchards to thank him.’

  ‘Miaow!’ But what about me?

  ‘And you, of course. Right, well let’s enjoy some peace and quiet from the madness that is this place at the moment.’ I nodded and yawned. It was lovely to relax; it was something that had become very rare in our house.

  I was woken a little later by the sound of the door opening. I could hear someone giggling and a loud ‘shush’.

  ‘Oh God, they’re drunk,’ Jonathan said, bracing himself. Tash and Claire stumbled into the living room. Claire hugged Jonathan, almost falling on him and then me.

  Tash fell down on the chair, almost sitting on George who shot up in surprise and then settled back down next to her. As Tash stroked him, George purred with joy.

  ‘We have a plan,’ Claire anno
unced. Now I was sure she had too much to drink, as she was speaking very loudly.

  ‘Yes, we do,’ Tash slurred.

  ‘And are you going to share this plan?’ Jonathan looked amused.

  ‘Yes, Tash is going to see the solicitor you found, I’m making an appointment tomorrow.’ Jonathan had found a good recommendation from someone he worked with. ‘She’s then going to sell the house and move onto Edgar Road. Genius!’

  ‘Yes, it’s time for me to pull myself together,’ said Tash. Then she burst out laughing. I never understood humans and alcohol. I mean, I like a bit of catnip as much as the next cat but we never let it get this out of control.

  ‘OK, but is there a house available on this road?’ Jonathan asked.

  ‘No idea,’ said Claire.‘But it’s a big road.’

  I was excited by the idea; it would be nice to have Tash nearby and I’d have another home on Edgar Road, a bit like the old days.

  ‘Well, that sounds good. Look, Tasha, are you sure?’ Jonathan asked, gently.‘It’s still early days.’

  ‘Yes, I am. Dave isn’t coming back.’ She suddenly burst into tears, showing the sudden swing in emotions I had learnt was quite common with humans. Then George licked her face and she laughed as if to prove my point. ‘Oh, George. I love this kitten. And you, Alfie,’ she said, almost as an afterthought. But that was all right. I was used to George working his magic on everyone, and I was now sort of in second place. I had thought it would bother me, but actually, I was really happy, because I was under George’s spell too.

  ‘Right, well that’s all good then, and of course I’ll help out with whatever you need,’ Jonathan said.‘But for now, you both need to drink a big glass of water and get to bed.’

  I led George up to bed and left Jonathan to organise the women. I was pleased that Tash was looking towards the future, despite her tears. And I felt the same for me. I was taking little steps. I would never forget Snowball, but life did go on. When I was hurt, I wanted time to stand still, but it didn’t: life didn’t do that.