Tara and the Talking Kitten Meet Angels and Fairies

by Diana Cooper

  This book is dedicated to my grandchildren

  Isabel, Finn, Kailani and Maya

  and children everywhere who love kittens.

  Text © Diana Cooper 2011

  Edited by Elaine Wood

  Illustrations © Kate Shannon 2011

  Interior design by Thierry Bogliolo

  ISBN 978-1-84409-551-3

  All rights reserved.

  Printed in the European Union

  Published by

  Findhorn Press

  117-121 High Street

  Forres IV36 1PA

  Scotland, UK

  www.findhornpress.com

  Parents’ and teachers’ note

  In Tara, Ash-ting and the Angels, we explore how children can handle difficult situations and unwelcome attention. The children are encouraged to speak to an adult. This is a sensitive but important subject and you may like to read this book with your child and discuss the issues with them. Tara also learns about angels and how to ask for their help.

  Discussions points and exercices for children are available on relevant page of publisher website www.findhornpress.com

  Diana Cooper is well known for her books on angels, fairies, unicorns and the spiritual world, all written from her own personal experiences. For more information about these subjects see her website www.dianacooper.com – there is also a children’s corner.

  If you wish to talk to someone about the subjects in this book, the Diana Cooper School website lists teachers throughout the world: www.dianacooperschool.com

  Tara, Ash-ting and the Angels

  “Tara’s reading is very poor,” Mum said to Dad in a worried voice. “She’s way behind the others in her class.”

  “She’s only seven,” replied Dad.

  “Yes, but her teacher says she’s slightly dyslexic and she gets extra help already. Now she’s got to do extra reading practice every day after school,” Mum sighed, “as if I don’t have enough to do already.”

  Tara looked miserable. She tried explaining how the letters muddled themselves up, but no-one really understood, so she stopped telling them. The only one who understood and believed her was Ash-ting, her beautiful grey kitten. No one knew their secret. They could talk to each other. She told him everything, even how the words on the pages sometimes laughed at her, or waved to her.

  Ash-ting agreed that it was much more fun to be outside watching the flowers grow and the butterflies flitting from flower to flower.

  So Tara sat for a long, horrible time struggling to read a book while Mum tried to be patient with her. But it was clear to Tara that she must be bad because Mum was cross with her. At last the reading was over for the day – but then something worse happened...

  At tea time Dad announced that Uncle Steve was coming to stay for a whole week. He was an old school friend of Dad’s (not a real uncle), but they had always called him Uncle. Tara groaned, “Oh no,” and her mother told her not to be rude.

  Mel, her older sister, said she suddenly felt sick and couldn’t eat any more food.

  Dad did not seem to notice that Tara and Mel disliked Uncle Steve. He said they could all go to a football match together. Mum said he could babysit while she and Dad went out.

  Uncle Steve

  Uncle Steve arrived the next day. He looked scruffy, had light blue eyes and was going bald. He cracked jokes all the time but the children did not find them funny. Tara did not know why she didn’t like him, but she knew she didn’t. Ash-ting rubbed up against Tara’s leg and whispered, “Keep out of his way.” Tara nodded. When Mum was in the kitchen with Mel and Jack she went into the sitting room with Ash-ting to watch television. Ten minutes later Uncle Steve came into the room and shut the door behind him.

  “Hello Tara,” he smiled and sat next to her on the sofa. “My you have grown.” He reached over and picked her up, placing her on his knee. She wanted to get off. “You are a pretty little thing,” he murmured in a strange soft voice.

  Ash-ting did not like this man or how he was being with Tara. “Tara call for your Mummy,” he urged, but she felt frozen. She couldn’t move and she couldn’t speak.

  Uncle Steve bounced her up and down on his knee. Tara felt uncomfortable. She didn’t like sitting on his lap. He had his arms round her like Daddy did but it didn’t feel the same — she just didn’t like it. She didn’t like him.

  Suddenly the little tiny fluffy grey kitten decided to act. He leapt onto the sofa and dug his claws into Uncle Steve’s face. The man threw Tara off his knee and cursed. He picked the brave little kitten up by the scruff of its neck and marched through the house with him, throwing him roughly out of the back door into the garden.

  “Whatever’s the matter?” cried Mum. Uncle Steve told her the kitten had scratched his face.

  “I’m so sorry,” said Mum. “But why would he do that? He’s always so gentle.”

  Uncle Steve lied in reply and said he had accidentally trodden on the animal’s tail. He gave Tara a threatening look and she shrank away.

  As soon as she could she rushed out of the open door into the garden and picked up Ash-ting. “Thank you,” she sobbed. “Oh you poor brave thing, are you hurt?”

  “I’m alright,” said the kitten, as he continued to groom his ruffled fur. “But Tara you must tell an adult what happened.”

  Tara went and stood by her Mummy in the kitchen and tried to tell her, but the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. And what was there to tell? He only hugged her. But she knew it felt wrong and he did lie about treading on Ash-ting’s tail.

  Tara’s Drawing

  Next day in school they had to draw a picture of the people who live in their house. Tara’s friend Rosy drew herself and her Mum. Tara included Uncle Steve in her picture. She drew him big and black with a big red hand reaching out like Mr. Tickle and going round her. Mummy and Mel were pink and Daddy, Jack and she were coloured blue. Tara took a long time over her picture.

  After school Tara stuck to Mummy like glue. For a change Mel did, too. The two girls were very helpful indeed. Mummy told them that she and Daddy were going to have a meal at Tracy’s parents’ house later and Uncle Steve was going to look after them for the evening. Tracy was in Tara’s class and lived just a few doors away.

  The children protested, but Mummy just laughed. “You’ll be fine with Uncle Steve.”

  Dad gave Mel his mobile. “You only have to call Mummy’s number if you need us,” he said.

  The children were all in bed when Mum and Dad went out. Tara felt unhappy and scared. Life was horrible. First she couldn’t read properly so Mummy was grumpy. Now Uncle Steve was here. She couldn’t bear it. Nothing ever went right and she felt no one loved her. She felt very sad.

  Tara heard Uncle Steve’s footsteps on the stairs and she held her breath. But he passed her door and went to the bathroom. She felt afraid, but wasn’t sure why. She held Ash-ting tight and whispered, “Help! Oh help!”

  Tara’s Angel

  Suddenly a glowing golden light started to build in the corner of Tara’s bedroom. It was bright and glorious and warm. Tara and Ash-ting sat bolt upright in bed; they could scarcely believe their eyes. It was an angel.

  A gentle voice said, “Hello Tara. I’m your guardian angel and I’m always with you. I love you very much. I love you whether you can read well or not. I love you and I’m here to help you. Now I want you to get up immediately and go into Mel’s room.”

  Tara did not need to be told twice. Clutching Ash-ting, she rushed out of the room and into her sister’s bedroom, where she jumped into bed and held onto Mel. Strangely, Mel did not protest; she hugged her sister back.
Ash-ting crouched under the bed.

  A few minutes later they heard the toilet flush. Then they listened as Uncle Steve’s footsteps approached the doorway and he came into the room.

  “Hello Mel,” he whispered. “Are you awake?”

  The two little girls lay still holding each other tight. Then Tara glimpsed a tiny bright light on the wall and knew it was her angel — she felt less afraid knowing her guardian angel was with them. Uncle Steve crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. When he realized they were both in the bed he said in a fierce voice, “Go back to your own bed immediately Tara.”

  Just then Jack cried out. He’d woken with a nightmare and was calling for Mummy. Uncle Steve was furious. Muttering “I’ll be back,” he left the room. The girls got out of bed and ran after him to comfort their little brother.

  They heard Uncle Steve sound really cross because Jack had wet the bed. They heard him smack the little boy and Jack howled. No one had ever hit him before. Suddenly Tara found her voice.

  She ran at the man, shouting angrily.

  Mel pressed Mum’s number on the mobile phone. Uncle Steve saw her and grabbed the phone from her hand. Tara screamed and screamed.

  Mum and Dad come back home

  They didn’t hear the front door opening.

  Suddenly Dad’s voice said, “What’s going on?”

  “He hit Jack,” screamed Tara.

  Mum rushed past Dad to hug Jack and find dry pyjamas. She didn’t waste time asking for explanations.

  “Out!” she shouted at Uncle Steve. “Get out of this house now!”

  Daddy looked at his daughters and then at Uncle Steve. Uncle Steve saw the look on his face and ran for the stairs. He didn’t even collect his things. He just rushed out into the night.

  Then Mummy made hot chocolate for them all and Mummy, Daddy, Mel, Tara and Jack sat hugging and talking in the sitting room.

  “You should have told us,” Mummy said gently. “We knew you didn’t like him very much but we never thought...” She did not finish the sentence.

  Ash-ting repeated to Tara. “Yes, you should always tell an adult if someone touches you in a way you don’t like, or makes you feel afraid.”

  “I did try,” murmured Tara, “but my voice got stuck, so I drew him at school instead.”

  “I know,” said Mummy. ‘We saw your teacher at Tracy’s house tonight. She told me about your picture and said she was concerned. That’s why we came home straight away and we were almost home when the phone rang. Good girl for phoning, Mel.”

  “When he slapped Jack for wetting the bed, I shouted at him to stop,” Tara put in.

  “Yes, we heard you when we came in,” said Mummy, smiling for the first time. “That’s my brave tiger.” She put her arms round Tara and cuddled her.

  Tara didn’t tell them about the angel but she knew that she would see her guardian angel again — and she was right.

  Mel Needs Help

  The very next day Tara was sitting in the classroom at school looking out of the window - daydreaming as she often did — when she felt a buzz in her forehead, which always came when Ash-ting was ending her a message. “Mel needs you!”

  “What’s wrong?”‘ she thought with alarm, “What can I do?”

  She felt a sudden tingling all over and there was her guardian angel again, standing right beside her. The voice was still soft, but urgent, “Tara, your sister Mel has fallen into the river. Tell the teacher and then run as fast as you can to the river. I’ll guide you.”

  Tara didn’t hesitate. She ran out of her seat shouting, “Mrs. Bright, Mel’s in the river, come quickly.”

  Mrs. Bright shouted, “Come back Tara,” and tried to stop her, but Tara dodged past and ran out of the door. Something about the look on Tara’s face made Mrs. Bright hurry after her. A few seconds later the whole class streamed out of the room and across the playing field. Half the school had seen or heard the commotion and many more people were racing towards the river.

  Tara’s angel was showing her the way. They had already gone through the gate onto the footpath by the river. The angel led her to the right where the water was deep. She could hear faint splashing and then she could see Mel in the water.

  “Mel!” screamed Tara.

  Mrs. Bright shouted, “Go and fetch help.” Then she jumped in.

  She did not know just how much help there was. Rather too many adults and children had followed Tara and her teacher, so there were many hands to help pull Mel out of the water once Mrs Bright had got her to the bank. One of them had also called for an ambulance.

  Mel was breathing, but she had swallowed a lot of water. Tara was scared when she saw her sister. She looked very white and limp. The angel said that Mel would be alright but she must get to hospital fast.

  Ash-ting buzzed her, “Ask an angel of healing to help Mel.” So she closed her eyes and asked for an angel of healing to come quickly.

  Tara was allowed to go in the ambulance with Mel and a very wet Mrs. Bright. As she sat holding Mel’s hand, she saw a big green healing angel sitting by her sister’s head. Then she really knew everything would be alright. Mummy and Daddy met them at the hospital and lots of praise was showered on Tara.

  Mel explained what had happened. She told them how she realized she had lost her sunhat when their class was on a field trip by the river, so in the lunch break she sneaked out of the school playing fields onto the tow path to look for it.

  “It had blown into the reeds so I stretched out to get it and that’s when I fell in,” she explained. “And I couldn’t get out.”

  “Well you’re safe now,” Mummy said, holding her close. “And I think you have learnt that you must never do such a thing again. You must tell an adult if you have lost something and never wander off alone like that again.”

  “How did you know Mel had fallen into the river?” Dad asked Tara.

  “I don’t know,” shrugged Tara. “I just knew.”

  Everyone was too tired to ask any more questions. They had also got used to strange things happening ever since Tara had got Ash-ting for her birthday, and it really didn’t matter anyhow — what mattered was Mel was safe. Tara’s angel smiled at her.

  Asking for Help

  That night in bed Tara said to Ash-ting. “I wonder if I’ll ever see my angel again.”

  He just purred as a golden light appeared in the room.

  “Hello my brave Tara,” said the angel. “You did very well today.”

  “Thank you for telling me about Mel,” replied Tara politely.

  “Remember, I’m always here to help you, but you must ask,” the golden being continued, “and you must play your part, too.”

  Tara opened her mouth rather cheekily to say she’d like an ice cream, but she knew that wasn’t really the kind of thing her angel meant.

  “For example if a child asks his angel to help him pass his exams but doesn’t do any work, his angel won’t do it!”

  Tara nodded. She could see the sense of that.

  “But please will you help me relax when I’m doing my reading.”

  “Yes I will.”

  Tara laughed. She felt warm and safe and loved.

  “Everyone has a guardian angel Tara, but they don’t always ask for help. So remember to ask for help for others, too. Then we can assist lots of people.”

  “Please can you help those poor people who are in hospital?”

  “Thank you. As soon as you asked for that more angels of healing went to the hospital.”

  “Wow!” Tara was amazed at how quickly this worked! “I’m going to ask angels to help lots and lots of people.”

  But before she could do anymore helping that night she fell fast asleep, with her golden angel and Ash-ting watching over her.

  Going Too Fast

  On Saturday, Dad took them all out on their bikes. They went to the big hill where Dad made them promise not to go too fast. “It’s dangerous because there are trees at the bottom,” he reminded them. Th
ey all solemnly declared they would ride slowly and put their brakes on.

  But Tara wanted to go faster than Mel — who had a bigger bike — so she pedalled as quickly as she could. She heard Ash-ting buzzing in her head, “Use your brakes Tara! Use your brakes!” She could also hear Dad shouting, “Brake Tara! Brake!” But she took no notice. Her hair was streaming in the wind and she had overtaken Mel. She felt wonderful.

  Suddenly Tara realized just how fast she was going. There was a clump of trees ahead of her and she pulled on her brakes, but she had left it too late and they didn’t slow her down quickly enough. “Help!” she screamed. “Angel, please help!” All at once her bike skidded and by some stroke of luck she narrowly missed a tree and bounced and slid off the path into some long grass, which broke her fall.

  Her arm and side were bruised and scraped. Thankfully Dad was so relieved Tara wasn’t badly hurt, he was not cross with her. “You were so lucky to miss the tree,” he said in wonder, “I still can’t believe it. It’s a miracle.”

  After Mum cleaned up Tara’s cuts and scrapes, she left her to rest on the sofa with a glass of juice and a biscuit. She had a big fluffy blanket over her and Ash-ting was tucked beneath it purring contentedly.

  Once again the golden light began to grow beside her and her guardian angel appeared, sitting alongside her on the sofa.

  “Hello Tara,” she smiled gently. “How are you feeling?”

  “Alright,” she murmured.

  “I held you as you fell, so that you missed the tree,” said the angel.

  “But why didn’t you stop me getting hurt?” Tara wanted to know.

  “I lifted you gently into that long grass, but I couldn’t stop you from getting hurt because you would not have learnt your lesson. You had been told not to cycle so fast down the hill, but you didn’t listen. It is important to listen to your parents and do what they say.”