Holly Webb - The Curious Kitten

For George

www.hollywebbanimalstories.com

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Extract

Collect them all

Biography

Copyright

Amber rolled the jingly cat ball down the length of the hallway and giggled as Cleo flung herself after it, her paws slipping on the wooden floor. She loved the way the kitten took chasing the ball so seriously!

Her mum opened the kitchen door and gasped as she almost tripped over the skidding kitten. Oh, Cleo! I nearly kicked you. Are you all right?

But Cleo didnt even seem to have noticed. She had finally caught her jingly ball and was rolling over and over with it, growling fierce kitten growls.

I dont think that balls coming out alive, Mum commented, smiling. Amber, did you finish sorting out all your new pencils and things for school? Have you packed them in your rucksack?

Amber nodded. Everythings ready. She got up, looking worriedly between Mum and Cleo. Mum, whats going to happen to Cleo while Im at school?

What do you mean, whats going to happen to her? Mum looked confused.

Im worried shes going to be bored, Amber explained. Shes not really been on her own that much, has she?

Ambers family had got Cleo from a local cat shelter right at the beginning of the summer holidays. Amber had been desperate to get a kitten for ages, and her parents had finally agreed. Mum and Dad and her big sister, Sara, had spent ages sitting with her on the sofa, looking at the website. But as soon as Amber had seen the photo of Cleo with her brothers and sisters, Amber had known that she was the one. Amber never seen such a gorgeous cat. Cleo was a really unusual colour mostly ginger, but with big dark patches and huge black ears that looked like she needed to grow into them.

Amber had spent the whole holiday playing with Cleo it was amazing how many mad games a kitten could invent to play with just a piece of string. Or a feather. Or even the flowers on Ambers flip-flops. She was going to miss Cleo so much and she had a feeling Cleo was going to miss her, too. Even though Cleo was officially a family cat, and everyone played with her, Amber did most of the looking after. She loved feeding Cleo and making sure she always had clean water it made her feel that the kitten was just a little bit more hers.

Shes always had me and Sara at home to play with, Amber went on.

I see what you mean. Mum gave her a hug. Shell be fine, Amber. Cats are quite independent, you know. And think how much time Cleo spends snoozing! Shell just save up her playtime for when were all home. Anyway, Ill be around some of the time you know I only do half days. Cleo can distract me from all the marking Ive got to do!

I suppose so, Amber agreed, a bit doubtfully. Cleo did sleep a lot. She was still only small, and she didnt seem to understand taking things easy. Shed race around until she was exhausted and then collapse in a little furry tortoiseshell heap. Amber loved it when she flumped down with her paws in the air!

She wriggled the ball out from between Cleos paws and rolled it back down the hallway again. Im worried that shell be bored and find a way to get round the front of the house. She thinks the front garden must be the most exciting thing ever, just because we wont let her go out there. She nearly escaped again yesterday, when the postman brought that parcel.

Her mum made a face. I honestly dont think we can do much about that. Well just have to make sure she doesnt slip out. I think the noise of the cars would put her off going on the road anyway.

Mum didnt look all that sure, though, and Amber sighed. One of their neighbours had a cat whod been run over and badly hurt, and she hated to think of anything like that happening to Cleo. She was sure Cleo was very clever, but kittens werent known for being sensible. If Cleo saw something interesting on the other side of the road, Amber was almost certain shed chase after it. And it wasnt as if she could train Cleo to look both ways first.

Cleo sniffed curiously at the bags in the hallway. Today felt different. Everyone was rushing around. She whisked behind one of the rucksacks as Sara came dashing past and nearly stepped on her tail. She crouched there, watching as Amber and Sara chased up and down the stairs, looking for things theyd forgotten. Their mum was standing in the hallway, glancing at her watch.

Come on, you two! I thought you said youd got everything ready last night? We really do need to go Ive got a staff meeting before school.

Im here, Im ready. Amber jumped down the last two steps and looked around for her bag and shoes. I just wanted to find a photo of Cleo to show my friends. Hardly anyones seen her yet only Maisie and Lila when they came over.

Im ready, too, Sara said, sighing. I cant believe were going back to school it feels as if the holidays have only just started. And everyone says Year Eight means loads more homework. Saras secondary school wasnt that far from the house, but she usually got a lift with Mum and Amber in the mornings and walked back home with her friends.

I shouldnt think anyone will give you much on the first day, her mum replied. Come on. Grab your stuff and lets get in the car.

Cleo opened her mouth in a silent mew of surprise as the bag in front of her disappeared. And then she realized the front door was open!

Oh, Cleo, no! Sara, stop her! Amber called out. She was all mixed up with her PE bag and rucksack and she still only had one shoe on.

Sara crouched down to try and field the kitten, but Cleo jinked expertly around her reaching hands and skipped out on to the doorstep.

Cleo caught the different outdoor smells as she leaped down the step and then darted off to investigate the wheelie bins. Shed only managed to get out into the front garden a couple of times, and she wanted to explore.

Did you get her? Amber came hurrying up to her sister.

No, she was just too speedy! Sara gasped. Sorry! I think shes gone behind the bins. Here, Cleo! Come on Puss, puss!

Mum sighed. How does she know when were in a hurry? Amber, can you catch her? Try not to let her go under the car itll take ages to get her back out again.

Amber crouched down beside the bins. The kitten was in the flower bed now, peering out through the pink geraniums.

Cleo gazed up at her with round green eyes. She didnt understand why they made such a fuss about her being here, when no one minded if she went through her cat flap into the back garden. She looked around, eyeing the pavement and the road beyond. There were interesting smells out there more cats and other things, too. But the cars speeding past were so loud that shed never dared to do more than peek round the edge of the garden wall. She wanted to, though. She was working up to it.