Holli Vebb - Ginger The Stray Kitten

For Sophie

For more information about Holly Webb visit: www.holly-webb.com

CONTENTS

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

About the Author

Other titles by Holly Webb:

Copyright

Chapter One

Are we going past the farm today? Rosie asked her gran hopefully. They had a few different ways back from school to Grans house, but the lane past the farm was Rosies favourite. That was the good thing about Gran picking her up from school while Mum was at work. Gran wasnt usually in a rush, and she didnt mind walking slowly while Rosie stopped to look at any cats she happened to meet on the way. Rosie loved cats and was desperate for one of her own, but she hadnt managed to persuade her mum yet.

Gran smiled at her. Oh, I suppose we could go home that way. I could do with picking up some eggs from Mrs Bowen. I might make a cake tonight, as its the weekend. She looked down at Rosie, and said thoughtfully, But you know how she likes to chat, Rosie. Are you sure you wont get bored?

Rosie looked up at her in surprise, and realized that Gran was teasing. Gran knew that Rosie loved going to the farm, because while she was talking to Mrs Bowen, Rosie could go and watch the stray cats in the farmyard. There were lots of them, and Gran said they were called feral cats because they werent anyones pets. Rosie had never managed to count them all, as they were so hard to see, but she thought there were probably about twenty of them. Mrs Bowen put food out occasionally, but mostly they lived on the mice they caught in the barns.

Rosie loved to imagine that the cats belonged to her, but they werent really very friendly. If she sat on the foot step of the old rusty tractor for ages and ages, they might prowl past her, but none of them would come to be stroked.

One of the prettiest cats, a tabby with beautiful spotty markings, had given birth to a litter of kittens about five weeks before. Rosie had heard them mewing in the barn, but she hadnt been able to see them for ages, as the tabby cat had hidden them under some old hay bales that were stored in there.

Now the kittens were all dashing about the farmyard, and they werent quite as shy as the older cats. Rosie was really hoping that she could tame one of them. She couldnt help dreaming of taking a kitten home for her own pet.

She knew which one she wanted most of all the gorgeous little ginger boy kitten. He was so sweet he had gingery-creamy fur with darker ginger stripes, and an amazingly bright pink nose. His eyes were very green and very big, and Rosie thought he was the most handsome cat shed ever seen.

Sometimes people called Rosie Ginger because of her long, curly red hair. Mum had always told her that her red hair was lovely and different, and that shed like it when she was older, but Rosie wasnt so sure. Then she had seen the kitten. She felt like she and the kitten were a pair, with their ginger colouring. They were ginger and proud of it!

She wished the ginger kitten would let her stroke him. She could just imagine how soft his fur would be. The other day hed actually come close enough to sniff at her fingers, but hed darted off again without letting Rosie touch him.

Gran called hello at Mrs Bowens back door, which was half open, and Rosie looked eagerly around the farmyard. She had something special for the cats today, and she was really hoping she could tempt the ginger kitten to come over to her.

Rosie had noticed at lunch that her friend Millie had ham sandwiches. Mum usually put jam sandwiches in Rosies lunch box, because they were her favourite, but she couldnt help thinking that the kitten would love Millies sandwiches, the ham smelled really nice. Millie was picking at the ham with a bored expression.

Dont you like your sandwiches? Rosie asked, a plan starting to form in the back of her mind.

I wanted peanut butter, but my brother had nicked it all, Millie sighed. I hate ham

Do you want to swap? Ive only got one left, but its jam, Rosie offered hopefully.

You sure? Millie looked delighted. I didnt know you liked ham. You can have both of them!

Rosie had slowly eaten one of the sandwiches, and then tucked the other one away in her lunch box.

Didnt you like it after all? Millie asked.

Rosie leaned over closer to her. The kitten felt like a special secret, and she didnt want everyone to know. Im saving it. Remember the gorgeous ginger kitten I was telling you about that lives on the farm on the way back to my grans house? He came right up to me the other day, and I bet if I had some food he might even let me stroke him. You dont mind, do you?

Millie shook her head. Of course not! Oh, youre so lucky, going to see kittens. Are they tiny?

The lady who owns the farm thinks theyre about five weeks old. Theyre so cute! Maybe your mum would let you come home with us and see them one day? Im sure Gran wouldnt mind. She could do tea for you as well.

Now Rosie carefully unwrapped Millies sandwich, and started to crumble it into little bits, very gently, trying to keep as still and quiet as she could. It didnt take long for the cats to get a whiff of the delicious, meaty smell.

Rosie caught a movement out of the corner of her eye, just a streak of black fur. It was one of the kittens, popping its head round the tractor wheel, trying to see what that yummy smell was. Suddenly, several more little cat faces popped up, their whiskers twitching as they sniffed the air.

Rosie threw a bit of sandwich on the ground a little way away, and the closest kitten, the black one, pounced and swallowed it whole. Then he looked up for more. All the other kittens padded a few steps forward, not wanting to miss out. This time Rosie dropped the food closer, and one of the tabby kittens darted in and grabbed it, running back to a safe distance before she dared to stop and eat.

Rosies heart thumped with delight as she saw her favourite ginger kitten patter across the farmyard, eager to join in. She tried to throw the next piece close to him, but the tabby kitten got there first and gobbled it up, right under his nose. The ginger kitten gave Rosie a piteous stare. Im so hungry, he seemed to be saying. Pllleeeease feed me

This time Rosie threw him an extra-large piece. The ginger kitten held it down with one paw, and hissed protectively when the others circled round him. Rosie laughed out loud his furious little face was so funny and the kittens looked up at her in shock, their eyes wide. Then they all shot off back into their hiding places. Oh no! Rosie muttered to herself, wishing she hadnt been so noisy.

But the ginger kitten had only run a couple of steps away from his piece of sandwich, and now he eyed it uncertainly. Food but also noisy girl. What was he supposed to do? He eyed her thoughtfully. Hed seen her before, she came quite often. She didnt usually make a noise, and she was quiet now. She wasnt even moving. And she still had lots more of that sandwich.

He darted over and gulped down the rest of his piece, then looked around. His brother and sisters were hiding still. If he went a bit closer, while they werent here, he might get more sandwich Nervously, ready to run in case she made that loud noise again, he edged closer, his eyes on the ham.

Rosie carefully tossed him a little bit, much nearer to her feet this time.

The kitten stared at her suspiciously. Rosie looked back. Maybe it was too close. But then the kitten moved one paw forward cautiously, and then the other, and then he was just close enough. He started to gobble the sandwich, with one eye on Rosie all the time.

When it was all gone he sat up and eyed her hopefully, licking his whiskers. He cast a quick look behind him. The others were all watching, but they werent coming any closer. The food was all his! He knew it was risky, but the sandwich was too delicious. He had to have more!