A Friend Called Alfie

by Rachel Wells

  ‘But, Dad, she can’t replace Tiger,’ he said. I supposed I should be grateful for him getting straight to the point.

  ‘Of course not, George, and you can’t think of her like that. We were together before Tiger and I were, when your mum and I were just friends, but I don’t want you to worry about that. We haven’t even had the chance to say hello properly yet,’ I pointed out.

  ‘I was excited for Harold to get a cat and I thought we’d all be best friends but now I don’t know how I can be friends with her, it feels like I would be betraying Tiger mum,’ he said. He looked pretty forlorn.

  ‘And I understand that. You must feel incredibly confused, and I know I do too. But Snowball is here because she lost her family, or was about to lose them, and because we persuaded our families that Harold needed a cat. We need to remember that.’

  ‘But, I can’t ignore the fact that she and you have history, and that makes me feel funny,’ he said.

  ‘I understand, George, I do, but I don’t have the first clue what to say to you. Snowball will never replace Tiger in my heart. I need you to know that. We’re different cats now, we’re older and hopefully wiser …’ While I was trying to reassure George, I was also trying to reassure myself, or at least organise my emotions.

  ‘But you might love her like you used to.’

  ‘I honestly don’t know how to answer that at the moment. George, please understand me when I say that I won’t do anything to hurt you and I would never ever do anything to tarnish my feelings for Tiger.’

  ‘I hope that’s true and I hope you know that I am going to have to tell Snowball that she can never be my mum.’ He was getting riled now.

  ‘You don’t need to say that because she never would try to do anything like that. George, remember when Oliver moved into the Barkers’ house, and I felt funny about that? You said that the Barkers needed him because they were lost without Tiger and mentioned that Oliver needed a home. Well Harold needs Snowball and Snowball needs Harold by the sounds of it and if you can be friends with Oliver, then you can be friends with Snowball surely.’

  ‘No, because Oliver was never your girlfriend, and didn’t try to replace my mum. Anyway I can’t talk about this anymore right now, I’m going to go and see Hana.’

  There was nothing I could do as I watched him stalk off.

  My heart felt heavy as I went home. I thought about going back to see Snowball but then I realised I needed a bit of time alone.

  I crept into the house and into my bed. I fell asleep and tried not to think but after about only forty blinks, I woke up, everything felt unsettled. I decided that it was time to bite the bullet, because I wouldn’t settle until I had a proper chat with Snowball. I needed to know she was alright. So I made my way back to Harold’s house, hoping George was happily with Hana and didn’t get mad at me if he found out. I had no idea how to do the right thing. Firstly I had to worry about George’s feelings, then Snowball’s and finally my own.

  I let myself in the cat flap and found Snowball in the living room sitting on Harold’s lap. He was asleep. It was strange, seeing her evoked myriad emotions. In some ways they looked as if they belonged together and had been together for years, they seemed so comfortable. Yet, also I couldn’t help but remember how much pain I had been in when I said goodbye to her years ago, and how much had happened since. I’d become a father – albeit initially reluctantly – I’d fallen in love with Tiger, I’d been on holiday a number of times, we’d met Harold, there was almost a whole life between when I last saw her and now. And I was a very different cat from the one who tried to woo her by climbing a tree with dug up flowers. That had ended in me getting rescued by the fire brigade and was so humiliating, by the way. I would never do that now! Especially as that was how I discovered my fear of heights.

  Snowball peered at me and I thought ‘I still know you.’ It was in her eyes. I tilted my head and hoped that she would follow me as I made my way to the back door.

  ‘He sleeps very soundly,’ I said. It was the first thing I’d said to her and it was horribly inadequate.

  ‘He snores loudly,’ she replied with a grin.

  ‘Where do we start, Snowball?’ I asked.

  ‘At the beginning?’ she replied.

  ‘Tell me, because Claire was vague, why you’re here. Your family moved away?’ I wanted to nuzzle her but it felt too soon for that sort of contact.

  ‘The kids moved away ages ago, and somehow they both ended up in America. So, they all missed each other and Tim and Karen decided to move, but they couldn’t really take me, because where they were moving to would be too hot. They said at my age it would probably be best for me to stay here.’

  ‘That must have been devastating for you?’

  ‘I kind of got used to losing people, Alfie. First you, then Daisy moved away to be a model, then Christopher left home … I miss everyone, of course, and when I found out Tim and Karen were moving I was utterly heartbroken. But then they spoke to Claire and told me I’d be coming back to Edgar Road, and although I was still sad, I thought about you and how no matter what the situation was with us, we’d be friends again. I felt a bit better, because I didn’t have to start over from scratch. But then when I saw you this afternoon, it was so strange. And I don’t think George liked me. Oh, Alfie, it’s all so confusing.’

  ‘Let me fill you in on what’s been going on here since you’ve been gone,’ I said, trying to find a starting point for this new situation between us both.

  We talked for what felt like hours. I told her about how heartbroken I was when she left, and how my family thought the answer lay in giving me George as a kitten. I then told her about how we got to know each other and how in doing so, Tiger became even closer to me. I told her about our adventures and finally I got onto losing Tiger, and the new cat who was living in her old house. I filled her in on so much, it was quite tiring for me, talking so much.

  In turn, she told me about how after she moved from Edgar Road, she had a very different life. They lived in a house with a garden on a street which was smaller than Edgar Road, and there weren’t many cats around and so, unlike me, Snowball had been living quite a quiet and solitary existence since leaving here. Well that was at an end now she was back here.

  ‘You do realise that life on Edgar Road is still not remotely peaceful or quiet,’ I said.

  ‘I do, and if I remember rightly, life with you is never dull,’ Snowball said and I saw another glimpse of the girl I left behind.

  ‘You know when life is calm and quiet, I always start to panic that it’s going to change drastically. It always happens; this time everything was alright then Pickles arrived in our lives. Shortly after Harold went to hospital, George got a job, then Sylvie found out she was pregnant and now here you are. I mean dull? I don’t even know the meaning of the word dull.’

  ‘Oh, Alfie, there is so much we need to catch up on,’ Snowball said. ‘Where do we go from here?’

  ‘Do you think we can start to rebuild our friendship now? See, what happens?’ I asked.

  ‘I think that’s the best way. We need to think about George. I mean he seemed pretty angry.’

  ‘He’s confused. He thinks you’re going to replace Tiger, and we have to prove to him that that’s not the case. No matter what happens between the two of us, we have to make George feel good about the situation first off, because he and Harold are so close. And he’s my son, my number one priority.’

  ‘OK, so, Alfie, I’ve been here five minutes and you’re already going to have to come up with one of your crazy plans.’

  ‘Hey.’ I bumped her gently, old feelings began to come flooding back again. ‘My plans are not crazy.’

  We turned and grinned at each other and I knew that although I had lived a life without her in it, I still adored her. It wasn’t the same as I felt with Tiger, but I needed to figure out how to go from here. Snowball and I agreed that George was the first priority here, the rest would have to wait.

 
Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I knew George was stubborn but boy was he stubborn.

  ‘You can’t decide you’re not visiting Harold anymore because of Snowball, he’s your best friend,’ I said. That was my first part of the plan, trying to encourage George to get to know Snowball via Harold. That way they could become friends, without me being there. That was the idea, anyway.

  ‘Harold doesn’t need me, he’s got her,’ he said. It wasn’t going well.

  ‘You know that’s not true, we talked about jealousy, George, and it doesn’t work. And not only that but it’s not fair on Harold. He loves you and he’s done nothing wrong.’ I should have pointed out that none of us had done anything wrong actually but I was taking baby steps.

  ‘I’m sure you’re there all the time anyway, no one needs me, anymore,’ George whined.

  ‘I need you,’ Pickles said, but George wasn’t remotely placated by his comment.

  ‘George, Snowball only moved in just over a week ago and we’ve only spoken briefly and that was because I wanted to tell her about you. Everyone needs you, me most of all, but also Harold.’ It was exasperating.

  ‘Hmmph,’ he said.

  ‘George, you have to see that Snowball didn’t come here on purpose, she had no choice. She’s lost her family, she’s alone, and she’s not here to replace Tiger.’

  ‘I don’t want her here, you loved her before you loved Tiger mum, and I don’t like that.’

  ‘George, if Tiger was still here, then we’d be having this conversation and I would tell you that I would never leave Tiger for Snowball, but she’s not here, and I’m alone in that way. I’m not saying that Snowball will be my girlfriend again, but she is here now and whatever happens I have to find a way to make you OK with that. Because you’re my priority.’

  ‘Hmmph.’

  ‘Right, I am going to visit Harold and Snowball, are you coming?’

  ‘No. I have to see Hana.’

  ‘Can I come?’ Pickles asked, hopefully.

  ‘No,’ both George and I said at the same time. I felt guilty.

  ‘Pickles, Claire is going to be cross if you go out and I really do need to but I promise I won’t be long and if you stay here and are good, then I’ll play with you when I get back.’

  ‘Promise?’ He looked at me with his big eyes.

  ‘Promise,’ I said, wearily.

  It was beyond frustrating. I went alone to see Snowball who was settling in well, despite the fact she missed her family terribly. But Harold had taken to her, he seemed to adore her already, although of course it was very early days.

  ‘So where’s George?’ Harold asked, as he fussed me. He then put down some food for us. I bet George would be missing eating his biscuits dunked in tea with Harold. I would remind him of that.

  ‘Meow,’ I replied. I would tell George later how Harold was missing him, I would go on and on until George relented and went to see him.

  Snowball and I sat in the back garden.

  ‘I can’t wait to see the others. Do you think Harold will mind if I go out for a bit?’ I knew that Marcus was coming round, because Harold told me, so I thought that we’d be alright to go out. As Snowball had lived on Edgar Road before, it felt unnecessary to keep her in like they did with new cats sometimes. Also she had me to escort her, so I took the opportunity to take Snowball to see our friends. It would be a reunion of sorts.

  ‘Hi, guys,’ I said, ‘look who’s back.’

  ‘Oh my goodness,’ Nellie said, nuzzling Snowball. Elvis and Rocky crowded round. ‘Thank goodness you’re back, what a turn up for the books. I’ve been moaning that I don’t have any female company as well.’

  ‘I have no idea who you are, but it’s nice to meet you,’ Oliver said. We all started talking at once. It was like the old days, but of course without Tiger, and I felt almost happy again, actually, genuinely happy. Then a voice interrupted us.

  ‘So now she’s muscled her way in with all of you,’ George stormed. We all sprang apart and faced George who was angrier than I’ve ever seen him.

  ‘George, this isn’t like you,’ Nellie said. ‘Snowball is an old friend.’

  ‘Can’t you see what she’s trying to do? She’s trying to replace Tiger,’ George persisted.

  Our cat friends looked shocked, and Snowball appeared devastated as she scrunched up her lovely face.

  ‘No, George, no I’m not,’ she said quietly. ‘But I’ve lost everyone I cared about and now I’m here and I’m with old friends. And new ones I hope, but that’s all it is.’ She turned to walk away. I was horrified, sad and worried all at the same time, but more than anything I was angry. I had not brought George up to be like this.

  ‘George, that was rude, and you are going to come with me and we’re going to sort this out once and for all,’ I shouted.

  ‘Go, lad,’ Rocky said. ‘We love you and we loved Tiger but Snowball was our friend too,’ he said, quietly. I was grateful for his support.

  ‘Come on,’ I said again and set off, I turned and thankfully George was following me. We caught up with Snowball. ‘Let’s go to mutual ground,’ I said. And the three of us headed to the park.

  George sulked the whole way there so Snowball and I remained silent. We arrived at the entrance to the park and headed to one of George’s favourite places, where there was a big climbable tree.

  ‘So,’ I started, ‘Harold is missing you. He really wants to see you and I know you’re missing him too.’

  ‘Not my fault,’ he replied. I paused, a little unsure where to go next.

  ‘George,’ Snowball said, gently. ‘Perhaps it’s time you told me what your problem with me is because I am not trying to replace Tiger. Gosh, I could never replace Tiger,’ she added.

  ‘I just don’t like you,’ George said, sounding more like a kitten than he was.

  ‘You don’t know her, son,’ I pointed out.

  ‘But I know you were my dad’s girlfriend once and now you’re back again and I just don’t like it.’

  ‘OK, I understand that, but, George, if we’re going to get past this, we need to talk. I have no choice but to live with Harold. Don’t forget that Harold loves you.’

  ‘But I feel sad. Because of Tiger mum, I loved her so much, and I miss her,’ he mumbled.

  ‘Oh, George, I know, and your dad misses her too, and all the friends I just saw. Tiger was a wonderful cat, and we were friends, your mum and me, you know.’

  ‘Really?’ George didn’t sound convinced.

  ‘Although actually you and Tiger have something in common talking of not liking me,’ Snowball said, with a grin.

  ‘What?’ George couldn’t help but sound curious.

  ‘She didn’t like me either at first,’ Snowball said.

  ‘She really didn’t,’ I added.

  ‘Really? Why didn’t she like you?’

  ‘Pretty much the same reason as you don’t like me, because of me and your dad.’

  ‘But she came to like you?’

  ‘Yes, we ended up as great friends. She was a wonderful cat.’ Snowball stood up. ‘George, do you like climbing trees?’

  ‘I love it,’ he said, as he softened to her.

  ‘Why don’t the two of us go and climb a tree? I can tell you about the time your dad ended up stuck up a tree in my garden.’

  George blinked and then tilted his head to one side as if he was thinking. He had heard the story before of course but not from Snowball.

  ‘OK, and then I’ll decide if I like you. But you can’t make me.’

  ‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ Snowball grinned and I realised that no one, not even George would be able to resist her for long.

  I watched them go off together and they started climbing. I had to stop watching when they got a bit high, because it made me feel funny. My vertigo could kick in even if I was on the ground, it seemed.

  I huddled under a bush to keep warm while I waited for them, paws crossed they would come down friends.

  They w
ere quiet when they came to find me, which could have meant anything. I stood up and stretched.

  ‘All OK?’

  ‘I have decided to be mature and give Snowball a chance. After all it’s not her fault that she had to come back to Edgar Road and like Oliver she’s lost her family, although she didn’t go to the shelter, so we need to be kind and thoughtful about that. And I do miss Harold. And biscuits dunked in tea.’

  ‘George, you never cease to surprise me with your maturity,’ I said. Apart from when he was immature of course but I didn’t voice that.

  ‘And I have promised I won’t try to replace Tiger, not that I ever could, but we can all be friends now,’ Snowball said.

  ‘And I need to see Harold immediately to make sure he knows I still care about him,’ he said. ‘That was bad of me, none of this was Harold’s fault, or Snowball’s actually. Are you coming, Dad?’

  I looked at them both, my first love and my favourite cat in the world, my son, and I was so relieved they were getting along. I realised I didn’t need to be there after all.

  ‘How about the two of you go and you can continue to get to know each other,’ I suggested.

  ‘Aren’t you worried I might tell more stories about you?’ Snowball asked, with a grin.

  ‘No.’ I swished my tail. ‘I think the fire brigade rescue was my most humiliating moment.’

  ‘There was also the time you fell in cow poo,’ she added. Oh no, I’d forgotten about that.

  ‘Oh you must tell me about that, come on, Snowball, I need to go and see Harold right this minute.’

  They trotted off and I felt my heart swell again, I was pretty sure that all would be alright, but I would have to be careful, because George needed to continue to feel secure. That was my priority. I didn’t know how I felt about Snowball at this stage, I remembered all my romantic feelings, they had all returned, but I also knew we were both different cats now. A lot of water had passed under the bridge, and it felt as if we needed to get to know each other again. Which both scared and excited me. But there was plenty of time, I knew that, and I also knew that whatever I did, however I moved forward I would always respect Tiger and also respect George’s feelings. But I also recognised how seeing Snowball again had been a little like a reawakening for me.