Kitty Mischief - Kathy Cakebread (the reading list book txt) 📗

Kitty Mischief

The sky was pitch black, devoid of a full moon to pierce the darkness. Sighing Claire pulled the curtains shut. She looked around her smart living room, glancing in admiration at the shiny laminated flooring, cosy roaring fireplace and luxurious white leather sofas. The flat was only small in a moderately priced part of London but to her it was home. She’d moved down recently for work and had been finding it incredibly hard to meet people. She’d made a few girl mates in her office but sadly the man talent was substantially lacking. Padding into the kitchen she poured out some dinner for her little cat Tabatha. The fluffy white pedigree was the most precious person in her life at the moment with her family so far away. Sure she got to talk to them every night on the phone but it wasn’t quite the same as being able to step in the door and them being there. The cat often disappeared for hours on end with Claire often wondering where on earth she could have got. However she always came back safe and sound, purring and content from her secret trips out.
“Tabatha, Tabatha.” She called.
The cat didn’t come; clearly she had popped out for another of her little missions. Pulling out some chocolate from the fridge she sank into the sofa and read till it was time to go to bed.

The next morning she woke with a start, aware that something didn’t seem quite right. Her bedspread felt cold, lacking the warmth of a little furry body. Confused she got out of bed, stretched her legs and pulled open the curtains. Overnight it had snowed, a beautiful blanket of white concealing her car from vision. The light hitting the snow dazzled her, making everything seem so much more alive. Rooftops glistened, and icicles hung dangerously from window ledges, the road lay untouched with not even a tire track denting the snow. She realised that with the snow as thick as this she was unlikely to be able to get her car out to go to work, even worse the public transport would probably not be running either. Deciding to work at home she made a quick call to her boss before going into the kitchen. Her gaze fell on the cat bowl as soon as she stepped into the room; it lay untouched like the cat had never come home. A sudden fear sprouted into Claire’s heart when she saw the untouched food, Tabatha had always come home every night – was she hurt? Had she been run over? Hundreds of painful thoughts pounded through her head filling her mind and body with fear. Without Tabatha she was alone again and with no family close by that was the worst possible thing. With Christmas fast approaching she had to find her little cat as soon as possible. Dressing quickly she used her laptop to produce Missing posters. She printed out 50 of them, aiming to post them on lampposts on 50 of the nearest streets. She wrapped up warm with her scarf and gloves and braved the cold, snowy weather.

The weather was worst then she thought, a bitter cold with a North Easterly biting wind leaving her fingers feeling red raw despite the woolly gloves. Fresh snow dropped from the heavens, coating her in a white covering. For three hours she wandered the streets nearby, taping up posters and asking anyone if they had seen a white cat. With little response she wandered slowly home, watching as her footsteps were quickly covered up with new snow. Her heart felt heavy, her mind desolate as she tried to picture living without her only real friend. Sure she could get another cat but no one could ever replace her Tabatha. Feeling the tears stir she paused at the house three doors down from hers, inside it looked warm and cosy, a roaring fire making her feet tingle. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she spotted a white fluffy item in the window ledge. Looking closer she noticed the fluffy item had two wide green eyes and it was staring right at her. It was Tabatha! A feeling of heartfelt ecstasy exploded within her and she raced to knock on the neighbour’s door. A tall, dark handsome stranger answered the door his face open in a curious grin.
“Hello there, what can I do for you?” he smiled.
“I think you have my cat in there.” Claire said quietly.
The man laughed a knowing smile as if he knew the cats owner would come by eventually.
“So that’s your little cat is it? She’s a awful courteous visitor, I’ve only just moved in recently so I kind of welcomed the company.”
Claire felt a sensation of pleasant surprise seep through her. How strange it was that they were living virtually doors away and had both just moved in recently. The man took in her chestnut brown her, dark blue eyes and cute face. It was about time he met his neighbours and he was certainly happy to meet this one!
“Really wow, when did you move in?” Claire gasped.
“About 2 weeks ago, I’ve just sort of been going to work then going home. I was thinking of starting a hobby but I really don’t know where to start, I’ve already been through two local papers!” he laughed.
“Same here. I moved down for work but it’s been so hard getting to grips with it all I’ve kind of neglected my social life. By the way I’m Claire.” She said.
“I’m John. Do come in.” he grinned.

That afternoon Claire got more then just her cat back she also met a man who she could rightly describe as the man of her dreams. The pair visited each other often and over the months formed a gradual friendship that unsurprisingly turned into love. Tabatha was always the centre of their attention and so she should be considering she brought them both together. This sweet little pedigree cat knew what it took to make a family. By flitting between two cosy warm homes she would eventually be the catalyst in making two lonely people into one little family. It just goes to show that your animal really is your best friend; they will always know what is best for you and where your heart lies. After all three is a happy number not one.

Publication Date: 12-25-2009

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