by Jenny Dale
The smartly dressed visitor was sitting on the sofa. “Oh thank you!” she said. Then she smiled at Jodie. “Hello, Jodie – lovely kitten!” she added, seeing Felix. “Maybe we should have a cat competition at the fête. He’d be bound to win!”
Felix purred with pleasure. He liked Mrs Oberon.
Jodie and her mum showed Mrs Oberon to the door, then waited until their guest had reached the front gate.
Suddenly, Mrs Taylor gasped. “Oh no!”
“What?” Jodie asked, puzzled.
“Mrs Oberon’s skirt!” Mrs Taylor whispered.
“What about it?” Jodie asked, even more puzzled. She hadn’t noticed anything strange about it.
“Didn’t you see?” said her mum, closing the door. “All down the back of it – grey fluff!”
Jodie went into the sitting room to look at the sofa. There was fluff all over the cushions again. She hurriedly tried to brush it off.
“I thought I told you not to let that kitten on the sofa!” Mrs Taylor thundered.
Felix, who was still sitting on the sofa, took one look at Mrs Taylor’s angry face and disappeared underneath it.
“This is so embarrassing!” Jodie’s mum went on. “What on earth will Mrs Oberon think when she gets home and sees her skirt covered in fluff?” Jodie didn’t really think there was anything wrong with having cat fluff on your skirt. Or on the carpet or the sofa, or in the bath. But her mum sighed heavily. “This is the last straw! I’m beginning to think that kitten of yours ought to live in the garage, you know.”
“Mum!” Jodie protested. “We can’t do that – he’d hate it!”
Felix, lying flat underneath the sofa, gave a frightened squeak. This was going too far! A kitten – a superkitten like him – couldn’t possibly live in a garage.
“Well, I just can’t think of another solution,” Mrs Taylor said. “He refuses to be groomed, he won’t stay off the furniture . . . and all I do is clean the place morning, noon and night!”
“But, Mum—” Jodie was just about to start pleading with her mum when the phone rang.
“Bill Pearce here, lass,” a voice said when Jodie answered it. “From Pearce’s Perfect Pets. How’s your fluffy kitten?”
“Er . . . he’s OK,” Jodie said, looking at her mum, who was still frowning and was about to start vacuuming again.
“And did the new comb do the trick?” Mr Pearce asked.
“Not exactly,” Jodie said uncomfortably.
“Well, it’s about that – about the fluff – that I’m ringing you,” Mr Pearce went on. “Can I have a word with your mum?”
Jodie handed the phone to Mrs Taylor, who spoke with Mr Pearce for a while.
Then she put the phone down, looking puzzled. “Mr Pearce says that he has some people in his shop who want to meet Felix,” she said.
Hearing his name, Felix gave a mew of alarm and crawled to the very back of the sofa. What was happening now?
“What’s it about, Mum?” Jodie asked, surprised.
“He wouldn’t say,” Mrs Taylor replied. “But they’re coming round straight away.” She switched on the vacuum cleaner. “It all sounds most mysterious.”
Chapter Five
“Hello,” Jodie said shyly, as Mr Pearce brought a small, smiling man and a tall woman with frizzy red hair into the house.
“This is Mr Tomkins and his assistant, Miss Spark,” said Mr Pearce.
“Pleased to meet you,” said Jodie’s mum, shaking hands with them. “Although I can’t think why you wanted to meet Felix.”
Felix was watching from underneath the sofa. What did these people want with him?
“If I may explain,” Mr Tomkins said, stepping forward. “My assistant, Miss Spark here, visited Mr Pearce’s shop a few days ago and admired the photograph of Felix in the window . . .”
Felix, with a soft miaow, came out from under the sofa. “Here I am!”
The two visitors gave an “Aaah!” of admiration.
“Oh, how sweet!” Miss Spark cried. Her red curls bobbed round her pointy face. “Mr Pearce told me that Felix was the fluffiest kitten he’d ever seen!” she said.
“And I’m pleased to see he’s very fluffy indeed,” Mr Tomkins added.
Jodie picked up Felix and stroked him proudly. A small shower of grey fluff floated out from his coat. Everyone watched as it slowly sank to the floor. Jodie’s heart sank too. Was her mum going to be angry?
“Ahem . . .” said Miss Spark. “Mr Pearce also told me you were having a spot of trouble with Felix’s fluff.”
“Well, yes,” said Mrs Taylor. She glanced at Jodie. “It’s true that all I seem to do these days is clean up after Felix. I’ve got a vacuum cleaner but it’s not really up to the job.”
“And that is why we’re here!” boomed Mr Tomkins happily.
“Shall I go and get it, sir?” Miss Spark asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.
Mr Tomkins nodded. “If you don’t mind, Miss Spark.”
Miss Spark went to the white van parked outside. She came back in carrying a strange, shiny machine. Written on the side, in bright blue letters, was Wizard.
“It looks like a robot!” Jodie said, staring at the large silver box with arms attached.
Felix jumped down from Jodie’s arms and approached the machine. What a strange-looking creature! He saw himself in the shiny surface. “Miiaoww!” What a fine-looking kitten!
“This,” said Mr Tomkins proudly, “is my latest invention. It’s not just a vacuum cleaner . . .”
Felix backed away from the silver creature. “Is that a vacuum cleaner?” he miaowed.
“. . . It’s the vacuum cleaner!” Mr Tomkins continued. “Better than any other!” He beamed at Jodie and her mum. “I’ve called it the Wizard because it can clean any house like magic!”
“Really?” Mrs Taylor looked at it wistfully. “Well, it looks very good, but—”
Mr Tomkins held up his hand. “Please allow us to demonstrate . . .” He turned to his assistant. “Miss Spark, would you plug in the Wizard, please?”
“Certainly, Mr Tomkins,” his assistant replied. By now, Miss Spark’s red curls seemed to fizz with excitement.
Felix wondered if he should make a dash for it. He’d heard the dreaded words “vacuum cleaner”, and that usually meant trouble.
But while he was deciding, Miss Spark switched the machine on. The silver creature began to hum.
Felix sat with his head on one side and stared, puzzled. Why wasn’t it making a nasty loud roaring sound like Mrs Taylor’s vacuum cleaner?
Miss Spark began to put the machine through its paces, moving one of its long rubbery arms over the sofa.
“Look at that!” Mrs Taylor cried, delighted. The sofa cushions looked brand new!
Then Miss Spark pushed the machine across the carpet. “With one gentle push, the Wizard slides easily along the floor, picking up every single hair as it passes,” she said.
“It picks up fluff you didn’t know you had!” Mr Tomkins joked.
Felix watched the humming silver creature gliding smoothly along the carpet. It didn’t seem fierce, like the other vacuum cleaner. And he did like being able to see himself in the creature’s shiny body. Perhaps he should make friends with it.
Felix ran towards the machine, jumped on it and pawed at his reflection.
“Felix looks as if he’s driving it!” Jodie laughed.
Everyone smiled, watching Felix as he sat on the Wizard like a figurehead. His purring was almost as loud as the Wizard’s hum.
As Miss Spark steered the Wizard past Jodie, Felix looked up. “Hey, Jodie!” he miaowed. “This is fun!”
Mrs Taylor shook her head in awe, looking at the spotless sofa and carpet. “I’ve never seen the place looking so clean,” she said. “At least, not since Felix has been here.”
Jodie had to agree.
“And finally,” said Miss Spark as she switched the vacuum cleaner off, “the Wizard also sucks fluff and dust from the air �
� before it has a chance to settle.”
“That’s fantastic!” Jodie said.
As the machine stopped moving, Felix stepped off and sat next to his new friend, his head on one side.
Mr Pearce began clapping. “It looks as though Felix thinks he’s done the cleaning himself,” he said.
“He’s an absolute darling!” Miss Spark cried.
Felix was really enjoying himself. Everyone seemed to think he was great! And now that his silver friend had cleaned up all his fluff, perhaps Mrs Taylor would forget about banishing him to the garage.
But Jodie’s mum was looking worried again. “It’s a marvellous machine,” she said. “I’d love one – but I’m afraid we simply can’t afford a new vacuum cleaner. Especially such an expensive-looking one . . .”
“Oh, I don’t want you to buy one!” Mr Tomkins said.
Chapter Six
“What?” Mrs Taylor said in surprise.
“Let me explain,” said Mr Tomkins. “We want Felix to star in our advertisements,” he said.
Jodie gasped.
“He’s a natural,” Mr Tomkins went on. “With Felix showing off the Wizard, we’ll sell thousands!”
“Oh, wow!” Jodie cried. She picked up Felix and hugged him. “You’re going to be famous!” she whispered.
Felix rubbed his head against Jodie’s neck. “Great!” he purred. “I’ve always wanted to be a superkitten.”
“I can see the posters now,” Mr Tomkins said, rubbing his hands together happily. “They’ll say: Buy a Wizard – the ultimate fluffbuster!”
“Or how about: So quiet it won’t even frighten a kitten!” Miss Spark added.
“Very good, Miss Spark!” Mr Tomkins boomed.
“And: So light even a kitten can push it!” Mr Pearce offered. “If you don’t mind me joining in,” he added, going a bit red.
“Thank you, Mr Pearce! Another excellent suggestion!” cried Mr Tomkins. Then he turned to Jodie’s mum. “We’ll pay a fee, of course. And the ‘Wizard Kitten’ must have a Wizard for his own home. We’ll leave this one for you, shall we?”
Jodie and her mum stood there, too astounded to speak. Felix gave a short miaow. “Say yes!” He wanted to be a superkitten. He wanted to be famous – and he wanted it now!
One evening, a few weeks later, Jodie and her mum and dad were all sitting in front of the television. Felix was sitting on Jodie’s lap. He was quite a bit bigger, but still very fluffy.
“Mr Tomkins said it would be on at five-thirty,” Jodie said. She looked at her watch. “It’s nearly that now.”
“I only make it twenty-five past,” Mr Taylor said.
Felix looked up at Jodie, his bright blue eyes puzzled. Why was everyone so excited? Even Jodie’s dad had come home from work early
“Have we got the video set?” Mrs Taylor asked.
Just then there was a noise outside in the hall and a cheerful woman put her head around the door. It was Mrs Bell.
Felix turned round and miaowed. “Hello, Mrs Bell.” He liked Mrs Bell. Ever since Mr Tomkins had paid a lot of money for Felix’s kitten modelling, Mrs Bell had been coming here to do all the cleaning.
“I’ve finished cleaning upstairs,” Mrs Bell said. “Do you want me to do in here now?”
“Oh, Mrs Bell,” said Jodie’s mum, smiling. “Come and watch the advertisement first! It should be on any min—”
She was interrupted by a scream from Jodie. “Here he is! Oh, look, Felix, there you are!”
Jodie held Felix up in front of the television and he saw himself sitting proudly on a Wizard as it was put through its paces.
“Solve even the fluffiest problem with the aid of your Wizard!” said a voice on the TV. “Cleans your home like magic!”
“Don’t you look gorgeous!” Jodie cried.
“Purreow!” said Felix. He jumped down and sat as close to the TV as he could, staring up at himself. “Yes, I do look pretty good . . .”
As the advertisement ended, everyone sighed with pride. Then Felix gave a tiny sneeze and shook himself, sending a shower of fluffy grey fur into the air.
Jodie laughed. “You can do that as much as you like, Felix,” she said. “Because now you’re getting paid for it!”
Snuggles
the Sleepy Kitten
Special thanks to Narinder Dhami
To Vicky’s Tigger
Chapter One
Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat stood very still. His back was arched, and the tip of his tail waved slowly from side to side. Timmy, the biggest fiercest tomcat in town, was walking towards him.
Super-Snuggles stared the ginger tom right in the eyes. One of them would have to move out of the way. Who would it be?
Timmy got closer. And closer . . .
But Super-Snuggles stood his ground. It was about time Timmy treated Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat with a bit of respect!
“Morning, Super-Snuggles,” Timmy miaowed politely. He stepped quickly around the other cat. “And how are you today?”
“Fine,” Super-Snuggles purred. “Just fine!”
“Snuggles . . .”
The voice was coming from a long way off.
“Snuggles!”
Snuggles, the tabby kitten, opened one blue eye. His owner, Mr Chapman, was stroking his back.
“Goodness, Snuggles, you’ve been asleep for hours!” Mr Chapman said. “I was beginning to get worried about you.”
“I’m OK, Mr Chapman,” Snuggles purred. He yawned and stretched, then rubbed his face against Mr Chapman’s cardigan. “In fact, I was having a brilliant dream!”
Snuggles loved curling up on Mr Chapman’s comfy lap and going to sleep. In his dreams he became Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat . . .
Super-Snuggles could jump high and run fast. All the other cats in town wanted to be like him. And all the dogs were scared of him. Super-Snuggles could do anything! He could do all the things that Snuggles the kitten was too scared to do.
But Snuggles knew that Mr Chapman worried about him, because he slept so much.
“I can’t become Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat unless I’m asleep!” Snuggles purred, looking up into his owner’s kind old face. “I wish I could make you understand.”
“Don’t go to sleep again, Snuggles,” Mr Chapman said anxiously. “Why don’t you go and play in the garden for a while?”
Snuggles stopped purring. “The garden!” he mewed worriedly. “What if Timmy the tomcat chases me?” Snuggles was very scared of bad-tempered Timmy – except in his dreams!
“Come on, Snuggles.” Mr Chapman picked the kitten up and carried him into the kitchen. “I’ll come with you.”
Snuggles couldn’t help shivering as his owner unlocked the back door. The outside world seemed such a scary place.
Mr Chapman put Snuggles down on the lawn. The kitten padded slowly across the grass, looking around him worriedly as he went.
Suddenly, Snuggles noticed a small hole in the bottom of the fence. His whiskers twitched with interest. The house on the other side had been empty for as long as Snuggles had lived with Mr Chapman. Snuggles had heard his owner say that its garden had become very overgrown – like a jungle! Snuggles imagined it to be a very frightening place.
But even though he was scared, the kitten couldn’t resist having a quick peep through the hole. He poked his stripy face through and . . .
WHAT WAS THAT?
Something was moving in there!
Snuggles dashed into the house as fast as his paws could carry him.
“Snuggles, it’s only a blackbird!” Mr Chapman called, as he saw what had frightened his kitten. The bird flew up over the fence and into a tree.
But Snuggles had had enough of the big scary world outside.
Mr Chapman came back in, shaking his head. As soon as he sat down, Snuggles jumped onto his owner’s lap and curled up in a tight little ball. It was the only place he felt safe.
“No, Snuggles, don’t go to sleep again,” Mr Chapman said. “Wa
ke up!”
But Snuggles was already fast asleep.
Chapter Two
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about, Mr Chapman,” said the vet. She finished examining Snuggles. “He seems fine.”
“Of course I’m fine,” Snuggles mewed, as Mr Chapman put him back into his basket. “I could have told you that!” While his owner was talking to the vet, the kitten snuggled into his blanket and closed his eyes.
By the time they left the surgery, Snuggles was fast asleep . . .
Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat was prowling round Mr Chapman’s back garden. One flick of his tail, and not a single bird even dared to land in any of the trees.
Super-Snuggles stared at the fence in between Mr Chapman’s garden and the one next door. “I wonder what the other garden’s like?” he miaowed to himself.
The fence was very high, but that wasn’t a problem for Super-Snuggles the Wonder Cat.
“Here I go!” Super-Snuggles miaowed loudly. He sprang into the air, soared over the fence – and landed safely on the other side. “That was easy!” he purred.
Super-Snuggles looked around the garden. There were lots of tall trees to climb. But best of all, there was a large pond, filled with plump, orange fish . . .
“Snuggles?”
Mr Chapman’s voice suddenly popped into the kitten’s dream.
“Not now,” Super-Snuggles mewed crossly. “I want to explore next door’s garden.”
“Snuggles, wake up!”
Crossly, Snuggles opened an eye. He didn’t want to wake up. His dream was too exciting!
“We’re home, Snuggles,” said Mr Chapman. “And look, a new family is moving in next door.”
Snuggles stretched, then sat up in his travelling basket. An enormous lorry was parked in the road. Four men were lifting furniture out of it. A woman was standing in next door’s garden with a boy. She had a toddler in her arms – a little girl.
