Holli Vebb - The Loneliest Kitten

For everyone at Birch Copse Primary School

Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

About Holly Webb

Copyright

Take off your trainers! Mum yelped as Darcy and Will reached the back door.

Sorry, Mum. Darcy kicked off her trainers and held on to Wills arm so he could do the same. Even though it was the beginning of the summer holidays, the weather wasnt very summery.

The gardens really wet and its all muddy in front of the football goal

I can see that. Will looks like hes been rolling in it.

I was the goalkeeper! Will said enthusiastically.

Dad came into the kitchen and stared at Darcy and Will. Wow. What happened to you two?

We were playing football. Darcy frowned. Youre home early.

Thats why I called you in, said Mum. She had an Ive got a secret face on, Darcy thought. Youd better go and get changed. And Will, I think you probably need a shower. Were going on a trip, somewhere really exciting, but its a surprise.

Im here so I can come too, Dad added. I wish Id been here earlier, then I could have joined in your football game. Im nearly as good a goalie as Will!

Nobody is better than me, Will said smugly. I saved almost all of Darcys shots.

Darcy made a face over the top of Wills head to say that he hadnt really and Mum smiled. Will was actually very good for someone who was only six. He was tall too not that much shorter than Darcy, and she was three years older.

Go and get changed, Darcy, said Mum. And dont worry, theres no need to dress up. Shorts and a T-shirt are fine.

Come on, Will, Ill turn the shower on for you, Dad suggested.

Darcy could hear Will trying to quiz Dad as they went upstairs. Where are we going? Will there be pizza? Can I wear my Batman outfit? She was curious too. They did sometimes go on surprise days out in the summer holidays the best one had been to the seaside, with fish and chips on the beach but that was usually for the whole day, not in the middle of the afternoon.

She hurried into her bedroom and changed out of her muddy tracksuit bottoms and football shirt. Luckily Mum had put her hair in Dutch plaits that morning and it still looked OK, even after playing football. She just had to scrub away the mud from under her fingernails.

Will was back downstairs soon after, looking very clean and a bit damp.

Where are we going? he kept asking as Mum and Dad hurried them out to the car.

Shh, Darcy whispered. Its a surprise. Surprises are good. Dont spoil it.

I want to know, her little brother muttered crossly. I dont like surprises.

Five minutes, Dad promised from the drivers seat.

Darcy and Will peered eagerly out of the car windows, trying to think where they might be going Darcy thought they were quite close to where her friend Emma lived. Then a few minutes later Dad pulled up outside a long low building.

Darcy read the sign outside: Haven Animal Rescue. She unclipped her seat belt and reached over to grab Dads shoulder. Are we do you mean are we really She swallowed hard and started again.

Are we going to get a cat?

A cat! Will squeaked.

Darcy had been trying to persuade her parents to get a pet for ages. She hadnt been sure whether they should get a cat or a dog.

Emma had a dog and she kept telling Darcy about all the naughty things he had done. Buster had eaten two of Emmas lunch boxes (not what was inside them, the actual box!) and her favourite flip-flops. Emma still loved him loads, but he was a menace.

Darcy and Wills gran loved cats and she had two beautiful ones. When they went to see Gran, if Darcy was very lucky, Pippin or Smudge might get on her knee. Darcy loved it when they sat there and let her stroke them. It would be amazing to have a cat to make a fuss of all the time. A cat of their own might even decide to sleep on Darcys bed.

Mum loved cats too, but Dad wasnt so keen he said they would need a lot of looking after.

I thought youd said no! Darcy wrapped her arms round Dads neck and hugged him.

Well, I realized its Mum whos at home most of the time, Dad pointed out. Shell end up looking after it, so she should be the one to make the decision.

Dad was right, Darcy thought. Her mum worked from home in a little office under their stairs.

But well help, she said eagerly. We can feed the cat. And I can vacuum up the fur. Cat hair all over the carpets had been one of the things Dad was concerned about. I like vacuuming, she assured him.

Can we go and see the cat now? Will begged and Dad laughed and opened the car door.

Come on then!

We made an appointment to see a litter of kittens, Mum explained as they went into the building. There are four of them, and theyre old enough to be rehomed now. When you went round to Grans the other day, a lady from the shelter came to check the house to make sure we werent too close to any busy roads or anything like that. They rang me yesterday to say we can definitely have a kitten! But she gave Darcy and Will a serious look they only rehome pets to people who have older children, because you need to be sensible to be around a cat or a dog. So you must show them how sensible you can be. No arguing!

Wills eyes widened and he nodded seriously.

Well be good, Darcy promised. She and Will had got into a fight at Grans house once, because Will wouldnt stop tickling her. Shed been really cross and yelled at him, and Pippin had run away and hidden under Grans bed. It was ages until she would come out and Darcy had felt so guilty. She couldnt help arguing with Will sometimes, but she definitely didnt want to upset a kitten.

Hi, Im Lucy Adams. Mum smiled at the woman behind the reception desk. Were here to see some kittens.

Thats right, were expecting you. Wait here for a minute and Jesse will come and collect you hes one of our staff. We have a meeting room where you can get to know the kittens before you choose.

Choose! Darcy looked around the reception area at the photos of cats and dogs on the walls. They were beautiful and all of them were staring hopefully out of the picture, as if begging to be taken home.

How were they going to choose which kitten should be theirs?

A young man in a green fleece with the Haven logo came in and grinned at Darcy and Will. Hi youre here to meet the kittens?

Thats right. Mum squeezed Darcys hand. Were really excited.

Great. Theyre in our meeting room down here. Jesse led them along a corridor lined with more gorgeous photos and opened a door. Its OK, theyre shut in, he explained as Dad peered in, looking a bit worried. They arent going to make a run for it.

Oh, look Mum said softly as she went in. Arent they sweet, Darcy?

But Darcy didnt say anything. She was too busy watching. Jesse was unlatching a wire crate and three tiny kittens were starting to nose curiously at the door. They climbed and wriggled and stomped all over each other, trying to get out and see what was going on.

Look at the ginger one! Will gasped as a ginger kitten launched itself over the top of two tabbies, bouncing on to the floor. It sniffed nosily at Dads trainers and then batted one paw at the dangling laces.

The tabby kittens stumbled out behind the ginger one and gazed thoughtfully up at Mum and Darcy.

Do they know we want to take one of them home? Darcy whispered to her mum.

Youre actually the first family these kittens have met, Jesse said, so they probably dont know whats going on. Weve had them for a few weeks, with their mum. Were planning to rehome her with one of the kittens, and the others either on their own or together.

Just one for us! Dad said anxiously. Were not very experienced pet owners. We only want one kitten.