Holli Vebb - The Frightened Kitten

For Lara

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

Make sure you wrap it up carefully, Kate told Maddy, stuffing an armful of bubble wrap into her best friends lap.

Maddy nodded, smoothing it out and starting to wind it round the photo frame. Ben looks gorgeous in this picture, she said, her voice a bit wobbly.

Kate nodded. He always does. But thats my favourite photo of him.

Maddy stared down at the photo she was in it too. It had been taken last summer, and showed her and Kate, with Kates huge black cat Ben sitting on the picnic rug between them. He was almost as tall as they were, when the girls were sitting down.

She laughed with surprise as a hard head butted her arm, and Ben stomped his way on to her lap to see exactly what she was doing. Hed been asleep at the end of Kates bed, but hed obviously decided something interesting was happening. He was the worlds nosiest cat.

Do you think hell mind moving? Maddy asked, watching Kate fill a big cardboard box with books and her ornaments, all carefully wrapped up.

I dont know. Kate shrugged. The new house has got a big garden, but he likes it here. Like me. She sighed miserably. I keep hoping Dads going to come home and say it was all a mistake, and he doesnt have to go and work in Yorkshire after all. But were leaving tomorrow. Its getting a bit late for that. She sniffed, and sat down next to Maddy and Ben on the bed.

Maddy put an arm round her, and Ben bounced on to Kates lap, standing up on his hind legs to wrap his front paws around her neck. It was his party trick. Kate always told people she had a cat who hugged, although he didnt do it to very many people. Mostly Kate, but he would do it to Maddy sometimes, especially if shed given him a cat treat. Hed even done it to Maddys dad once, when he came to pick Maddy up and stopped for a cup of tea. Her dad had been taken by surprise, but Maddy had noticed that he always looked for Ben whenever he came to Kates now. As though he was hoping that Ben might do it again.

Maddy had been working on her mum and dad to let her get a cat of her own for ages. She was pretty sure that Ben had won her dad over that day. Now she just had to persuade her mum

Kate sniffed again. What if he doesnt like the new house, Maddy? He might even try and find his way back here. You read in the papers about cats who do that.

Yorkshires probably too far for him to try it, Maddy said. It was meant to be comforting, but it didnt work. She didnt want to think about how far away her friend was going to be. And she was going to have to start a new school, of course. Maddy couldnt imagine having to do that.

Kate frowned. I hope there arent too many other cats near the new house. Bens the top cat round here, none of the other cats would put a paw in our garden. But the new garden might be another cats territory already.

Maddy looked down at Ben, now sitting comfortably on Kates lap. He yawned and stretched, and then stared up at her with huge green eyes. He didnt look like he was worried.

Even if the garden is another cats territory, I dont think it will be for long, Maddy said, stroking him.

Kate nodded, laughing. Maybe. He doesnt fight very often, but when he does, I think he just sits on the other cats and squashes them. She sighed. I suppose Id better get on with packing. Mum says I should have had it finished yesterday. She pushed Ben gently off her knee, and he slunk away to hide among the boxes.

Maddy went back to wrapping up the photo. She was going to miss Kate so much. She knew Kate would miss her too, but her friend was a bit like Ben, Maddy thought. She was so strong and bouncy and confident. Shed have a new gang of friends in no time and shed be showing off her famous hugging cat to them instead.

Pass me that tape, Maddy, so I can seal this box up.

Maddy handed her the parcel tape, and wrapped another photo frame. Where did Ben go? she asked, a few minutes later.

Hes under the bed, isnt he? Kate said, peering down.

But he wasnt. There was a sudden thumping and then a muffled yowl. Hes in the box! Maddy giggled.

Kate stared at the big cardboard box shed just taped up. He cant be she murmured, but she didnt sound very sure. She ripped off the tape, and the flaps came up, followed by a large black head, with cross, glowing green eyes. Ben scrambled out, hissing grumpily.

Well, you shouldnt have been in there! Kate laughed. Nosy boy!

Maddy was laughing too. But even as she laughed, she was thinking, Im going to miss them so much

Kate and her mum walked Maddy home it was only five minutes away, and it was warm and sunny. Perfect Easter holiday weather. If Kate hadnt been leaving tomorrow, theyd have spent loads of time in the park, or maybe gone out somewhere for the day.

Those cats that live next door to you are nearly as big as Ben, Kates mum commented, as they came up to Maddys garden.

Theyre sitting on Mums daffodils again, Maddy sighed, as she hurried into the front garden and tried to shoo the two big ginger cats off the stone pot that her mum had planted full of bulbs. For some reason Tiger and Tom had decided it was a really good place to sit, and the daffodils were looking a bit squashed now.

Maddys mum opened the front door. I heard you coming, girls. Oh, no, not those horrible cats again!

Tiger spat crossly at Maddy as she tried to get him off the daffodils, and yowled. He was so different to lovely, sweet-natured Ben. At last, he jumped down, and the pair of them stalked away, glaring back at Maddy.

As the mums chatted, Kate flung her arms round Maddy. Promise youll call me every day! Tell me everything thats happening at school, OK?

Maddy nodded. And anyway, youre coming back to visit at half-term.

Wed better go, Kates mum said. Itll be a long day tomorrow, and theres still some packing to do.

And that was it. Kate and her mum went back down the path, waving, and Maddy was left on her own.

Ive finished, said Maddy, pushing away her half-eaten dinner. Mum had made her favourite pasta, but she just wasnt hungry.

Her dad leaned over and put an arm round her shoulders. Do you think we could tell her the news? To cheer her up? he suggested to Maddys mum, and she nodded.

What news? Maddy sniffed sadly.

Do you remember me telling you that my friend Donnas cat had kittens a couple of months ago? Mum asked.

Oh, yes. You showed me a photo on your phone. Theyre gorgeous. There were some tortoiseshell ones my favourite kind!

Good. Because one of them is going to be yours!

Maddy blinked. Im getting a kitten?

You can choose which of the litter youd like. Donna needs to find homes for them all, and we thought it would be nice for you to have a cat, as youve wanted one for so long. Especially as youre bound to miss Kate getting to know a kitten might make the Easter holidays a bit less sad. Her mum looked at her anxiously. Were not trying to take your mind off missing her, Maddy. Its a really sad thing for a friend to move away.

It just seemed like a good time, her dad added.

Maddy nodded. It is a good time, she whispered. She couldnt help still feeling sad about Kate, of course, but at the same time, inside she was jumping about and squeaking. A kitten! A kitten! Im getting a kitten!

Chapter Two

Maddys mum showed her some more photos of the kittens, but it was hard to see them in the pictures on her phone. Three of them were ginger and the other two were tortoiseshells, beautiful black, white and orange cats. They were all coiled and snuggled around each other and their mother, who was black like Ben. Maddy was pretty sure she would like a tortoiseshell kitten Tiger and Tom had put her off ginger cats.