by Poppy Harris
She ran upstairs to leave her bag on the bed. Hamilton peeped out at her.
‘Hammy, this is an emergency,’ she said. ‘Sam’s rabbit’s escaped. I’ll put you in your cage in a minute. Stay there.’ Coming downstairs to find her wellies, she saw Mum at the front door talking to a man who looked familiar.
‘Do you have any ID?’ Mum was asking.
‘I’m from the Quality Team Pet Inspection Executive,’ he said, holding up the badge. ‘I’m just checking up on local pet owners. Does anyone in this house have a… say… a hamster, for example?’
‘Oh, it’s you,’ said Bethany, remembering how this man had pushed past her. ‘You were at the pet shop.’
‘Step in out of the rain for a moment,’ said Mum.
Delighted and trying not to show it, Tim Taverner strode through the door. He mustn’t let his excitement show on his face but, even so, Bethany wondered what he was looking so pleased about.
‘We’re having a bit of a pet problem,’ confessed Mum.
‘Really?’ said Tim, sounding much too keen. ‘Got a problem hamster, maybe? I could take him off your hands, if you like?’
‘Certainly not!’ cried Bethany.
‘Oh, so you have got a hamster!’ said Tim.
‘Excuse me,’ said Mum in the very firm voice that always made Bethany think she should have been a teacher, ‘I don’t know who you are or where you’re from, but my son’s rabbit has just escaped, and we all need to go and look for him.’
‘Oh, what a shame,’ said Tim as if it wasn’t a shame at all. ‘I’m not so much of a rabbit expert myself. I expect it’ll turn up.’
Mum stood up very straight and put her hands on her hips. She took a step back from Tim Taverner, not as if she were afraid, but as if she were measuring him up.
‘You haven’t understood the situation,’ she said. ‘You clearly don’t care about my son’s rabbit, but we do, and we’re all going to look for him. That means I don’t have time to talk to you about perfectly healthy pets. I’ve never heard of your organization – Quality Pest Executors or whoever you are – but we are going to find a rabbit and you, please, will go away. At once.’
She took a step towards him, and another. He had no choice but to back away, and Mum slammed the door so violently that his moustache dropped off altogether and lay on the doorstep like a large furry caterpillar.
He picked it up and retreated down the path. He was tired, cross and wet, and decided he may as well give up for today. He wasn’t even sure if it was this child’s hamster or the blonde one’s that had the microspeck, but at least now he was getting near to it. He might as well go back to the lab to tidy everything away, write up his notes, and go home. There would be other chances to get the microspeck back, now that he had such a good lead.
Bethany kicked off her shoes, pulled on her wellies, clumped up the stairs and put her hand into her bag for Hamilton, to put him in his cage.
‘Hamilton?’ she said, feeling in the bag. ‘Hammy? Out you come.’ But there was no Hamilton.
Feeling suddenly hot and shaky with worry, she looked into the bag. There was nothing there but a chewed bus ticket and her phone, with a message on it.
GN 2 FIND BOBBY. C U SOON.
Bethany sat down and hid her face in her hands. But he’s a hamster, she thought. Hamsters are delicate. He’ll get wet.
And that wasn’t all. Hamilton might be clever, but he’d just come from a pet shop. He had no idea about the dangers in gardens – cats, prickly bushes, ponds or simply getting lost.
Bethany felt hot tears behind her eyes. It would only have taken a few seconds to put him in his cage and lock him in! She’d meant to be such a good pet owner.
I’ve only just got you, she thought. Now I’ve lost you already, and if you die it’ll be my fault.
Drying her eyes, she stood up. There were two animals to find now, and she wasn’t at all happy about that man who called himself a pet inspector either. She put on a warm sweater – no time to get her cagoule, it was in the shed – and ran downstairs to find Chloe on the doorstep.
‘I’ve looked in our garden and he’s not there,’ said Chloe. ‘I can ask all the neighbours on our side if I can check their gardens too.’
‘And I’ll go the other way,’ said Bethany. ‘Text me if you find him.’
‘Will do!’ said Chloe, and ran down the path. Bethany stood for a moment in the rain, wishing that Hammy could feel what she was thinking – Come back, Hamilton Hammy. You’re so little. It’s not safe. Come back.
Climbing downstairs had been difficult for Hamilton, but he’d found it easy after that. Dad had left the back door open, so he had slipped out that way while Bethany and Mum had been talking on the doorstep. He’d never been out in the rain before and didn’t like it a bit. There weren’t any cats and dogs, but he was soon a lot wetter than was comfortable. He tried to stay under cover as he looked for Bobby, but sometimes there wasn’t much in the way of shelter, and he wasn’t sure if he was still in Bethany’s garden or Somebody Else’s. Still, he could hear her voice, so she couldn’t be far away. Mum was calling to Bethany, telling her to get her cagoule out of the shed, and Bethany was insisting that she didn’t need it. Hamilton ran a bit further. When he heard their voices again, they were further away than was comfortable.
Not far away, he could see a rounded stone. If he ran to that, he might be able to shelter by it while he took a good look around. He darted to the stone and found it wasn’t a stone at all. He was nestling against the warm fur of a rabbit.
‘Oh! Good evening!’ he said in Rabbit. ‘Are you Bobby?’
‘Oi!’ said Bobby. ‘Who on earth are you?’
‘I’m Hamilton, but you can call me Hammy if that’s easier,’ he said, feeling pleased with himself. He had never had a name before, and enjoyed using it. ‘I’m Bethany’s hamster.’
‘Oh, I see,’ said Bobby. ‘Are you making a bolt for it too?’
‘I beg your pardon?’ asked Hamilton.
‘Making a bolt,’ said Bobby. ‘Hightailing it. Running away.’
‘Certainly not!’ said Hamilton. ‘What would I do that for?’
‘You would, if you were me,’ grumbled Bobby. ‘I’ve had enough. I’m not going back.’
Hamilton put his head on one side while he thought about this. Bethany had kept him well fed and comfortable. There was a wheel to run on, and plenty to read so he didn’t get bored. He couldn’t see anything to complain about.
‘What’s the matter with it?’ he asked. ‘I’m having a great time here.’
‘Does Bethany clean your cage?’ asked Bobby.
‘It’s perfectly clean,’ said Hamilton. ‘It’s nice and warm too, with a nest.’ He was getting cold and huddled against Bobby’s fur for warmth. ‘Doesn’t Sam clean your hutch?’
‘He does when he remembers to, or when Mum and Dad remind him,’ said Bobby. ‘Not nearly enough.’
‘Oh,’ said Hamilton. He had just discovered that, as close as this, Bobby didn’t smell very good. He took a step sideways.
‘It’s not good for a chap’s health,’ said Bobby. ‘And my grooming’s suffering. And if Sam gives me something to eat that I don’t like it just stays there, going rotten. Imagine that in your place.’
Hamilton didn’t want to imagine it at all. He could understand why Bobby was so cross, but he still didn’t think running away was a very good idea.
‘Still, Sam feeds you,’ he said. ‘What would you eat if you ran away?’
‘Lots!’ said Bobby. ‘There’s loads of free stuff growing in gardens. Grass, dandelions, vegetables, flowers – you should see the vegetables! Carrots, parsley, cabbage, all planted in rows so you can work your way along. A rabbit can help itself to all it likes.’
Hamilton had to admit that it didn’t sound so bad. ‘But you’d be cold at nights,’ he said.
‘Yes,’ admitted Bobby. ‘There is that.’
‘And Sam really wants you back,’ said Hamilton. �
��I’m sure, if you gave him another chance, he’d –’
He was interrupted by Sam’s voice. He was calling from somewhere in the garden.
‘Bobby! Bobby!’ he cried. His voice sounded high and tight, as if he were very worried and nearly crying.
‘Come on, let’s go home,’ said Hamilton – but he realized to his dismay that Bobby wasn’t moving.
Somewhere, in another garden, a dog barked. Hamilton remembered that the situation was more urgent than Bobby knew.
‘Listen, Bobby,’ he said. ‘We can’t waste time. There are cats and dogs everywhere. I heard Bethany’s mum talking about it. You know what would happen to us if we ran into one of those. They’re raining down from the sky!’
‘What!’ said Bobby.
‘Tell you what,’ said Hamilton, thinking quickly. ‘I think I can work on Bethany and she’ll talk to Sam. If you get more cleaning, will you stay?’
‘Hmm,’ said Bobby, looking unsure. ‘OK, if you really think you can do that I might give them another chance. But just one more.’
‘Great,’ said Hamilton. ‘Now, come with me. Get back into your cage so that Sam will find you there and think you’ve gone back of your own accord.’ A raindrop fell from the branch of a tree and splashed on his head. ‘Come on, we should hurry.’
‘You’re a bit clever for a little rodent, aren’t you?’ said Bobby, and began following Hamilton back towards the shed. But if Hamilton had known what was hiding in there, he wouldn’t have gone near it.
chapter 8
‘Remember,’ said Hamilton, shaking rain from his fur, ‘when we get to the shed, go straight into your hutch and wait there.’
‘Do I have to, Hammy?’ said Bobby. ‘It smells.’
‘Then clear it out!’ said Hamilton, wondering whether all rabbits were like this. ‘Clear out all the dirty stuff and the rotten food. That will help Sam to see that you don’t like smelly old bedding.’
Bobby stopped to scratch his ear while he thought about this.
‘Oh!’ he said at last. ‘Oh, yes, right! Clever that!’
‘And,’ said Hamilton, ‘when you’ve done that, curl up in a corner and look miserable, to make Sam feel sorry for you.’
‘Like this?’ said Bobby. He lowered his head and looked up with large, pleading eyes.
‘That’s it,’ said Hamilton. ‘Quick now.’
He knew they were getting nearer to the house when the family’s voices became louder and clearer. He could hear Bethany’s mum.
‘Bethany!’ Mum was calling. ‘I’ve told you three times, you need your cagoule! It’s in the shed – go and get it at once!’
‘I don’t need it!’ Bethany called back.
‘Yes, you do!’ insisted Mum. ‘It’s rainproof!’
‘Bobby!’ There was a sob in Sam’s voice. Bobby twitched his nose.
‘There’s no time to waste,’ said Hamilton. ‘Look, the shed door’s open. I’ll come with you if you like. We’ll – what did you call it – hightail it. Run!’
They dashed for the shed and Bobby lolloped to his hutch. Hamilton watched as Bobby scrabbled furiously with his front paws to clear out the dirty old sawdust, then he turned and kicked the door shut.
‘Goodbye, Bobby!’ called Hamilton, and turned to go.
For less than a second, he stood frozen with terror. He was looking into the wide yellow eyes of a hunting cat. It was crouched down, ready to spring.
Don’t panic, Hamilton told himself. Think! The cat patted a paw towards him as if he were a toy to play with. Hamilton hopped to one side and the cat swiped at him with the other paw, only just missing him. He hopped back a little. The cat was enjoying this, and purred. Slowly, as if it had all the time in the world, it crept nearer to him.
Glancing up, Hamilton could see something hanging on the shed door. That must be the rainproof cagoule Bethany’s mum had talked about! If he could reach it, he had a chance. It was raining cats and dogs, so this must be a rain‐cat. If so, the cagoule would keep it away!
Unfortunately, the cat was still crouching between Hamilton and the cagoule, watching him with sharp eyes and, he was sure, even sharper claws. The cagoule was too high up for Hamilton to reach in a single jump, but if he could only get on top of Bobby’s cage, he should be able to manage it. Hating to turn his back on the cat, but knowing that he had to, he turned and ran up the wire mesh of the cage.
The cat’s claws swished behind him, and missed. Hamilton landed on the hutch, dodged one way then the other, gathered himself up for the greatest jump of his life, and leapt for the cagoule, his paws stretched out in front of him.
Just at that moment, the cat dived for him. It was so close that Hamilton could feel its breath, and knew that the sharp teeth were bared. He caught at a button on the cagoule, and dropped into a pocket, where he curled up, making himself as small as possible.
The cat stood on its hind legs, sniffing at the pocket. It patted the coat with its paws.
Hamilton stayed huddled in the pocket. He felt safe in there but, like all hamsters, he felt the cold, and he’d been cold for too long this evening. He fluffed out his fur to warm himself. I am not frightened, he thought. I am cold. That’s all. All the same, he wished Bethany would come and find him. Perhaps the cat would just get bored or hungry, and go home for its dinner. He hoped so.
But the cat would not give up. Stretching on its hind legs, it got its claws in the fabric and tugged at the cagoule.
It’s all right, thought Hamilton. Even if the cat pulls it down, I’ll be all right. And I’m safe, he told himself, as the cagoule began to slide on its peg. I’ll be safe so long as I stay in this pocket. Sooner or later the cat will go away. He could feel his heart beating very hard and fast, as if something had been wound up too much.
‘All right, Mum, I’m getting it!’ called Bethany.
Boots squelched outside, and the door was thrown back so hard that Hamilton swung wildly in the pocket. Feeling violently seasick, he clung with his claws to the inside of the pocket as Bethany lifted the cagoule from its hook and put it on.
‘I’ve got it, Mum!’ she shouted. ‘And Mrs Jennings’ cat’s in here! Go home, Min!’ Then she gave a little shriek. ‘It’s Bobby! Mum, Bobby’s back! Where’s Sam?’
Suddenly, everyone was running. Sam was flying through the doors to pick up Bobby, Bethany’s mum and dad were following, and Chloe, out of breath, had joined them. Bethany knelt by Bobby’s cage. Very, very cautiously, Hamilton peeped out.
He drew back in shock. The cat’s eyes were only centimetres from his own. The mouth was open in a snarl that showed long, sharp teeth… Then, to his great joy, he saw Dad pick up the cat firmly and say, ‘Come on, Min, they’ll be wondering where you are.’
‘I’ll take him to Mrs Jennings,’ said Chloe, and took the cat in her arms.
Hamilton wriggled until he could see better. Sam was huddled on the floor beside the rabbit hutch, hugging Bobby. Bethany, who was sniffing a bit, now had both arms round Dad, occasionally letting go to wipe the back of her hand across her eyes. Sam stood up with Bobby in his arms.
‘Mum, will you hold Bobby while I clean out his hutch?’ he asked. ‘It looks as if he’s been trying to do it himself.’
Bobby, who by now was being stroked and cuddled in Mum’s arms, caught Hamilton’s eye. He gave a look which plainly meant I think it’s working!
‘Don’t cry, Bethany,’ said Dad. ‘It’s all right now.’
It wasn’t all right, but Bethany couldn’t explain that. Nobody else knew that her Hammy was missing. He could be dying of cold. The cat might have found him and she might never see him again – that thought made her cry so much that she had to sit down. She put her hand into her cagoule pocket in case there was a tissue in there. Hamilton gently bit her to let her know where he was.
‘Ow!’ she squeaked.
‘What’s the matter?’ asked Mum and Dad.
‘Nothing,’ she said. She’d stopped crying already.
chapter 9
The first thing Bethany did, when she got upstairs, was to wrap Hamilton in a dry flannel (because the towels were too big for him) to warm and dry him as quickly as possible. Lying at the foot of her bed was a floppy cuddly dog called Wimble with a microwaveable pillow inside it. She took the pillow, warmed it in the microwave, and came back to find that Hamilton had folded the flannel neatly and was wearing it like a cloak. But the pillow was much more fun. When he had rolled on it, prodded it, jumped up and down on it and rubbed his face on it, he told Bethany all that had happened. It was a slow business, while Hamilton spelt out texts and Bethany tried to make sense of them. It took some time before Bethany could understand it all.
‘It doesn’t really rain cats and dogs,’ she explained. ‘It’s just something people say. We say “raining cats and dogs” when we just mean that it’s raining very hard.’
Y DON’T U JUST SAY IT’S RNING V HARD? he asked.
‘It’s just an expression,’ she said.
Hamilton thought it was a silly one, but it wasn’t worth the trouble of saying so.
THEN WHRE DID THE CT COME FRM? he asked.
‘It didn’t fall down from the sky!’ said Bethany, and laughed. ‘It belongs to Mrs Jennings, the music teacher, who lives next to Chloe. It’s called Min, short for Minim. That’s a kind of note. But,’ she went on thoughtfully, ‘if you believed it was really raining cats and dogs and still went out to find Bobby, you must be very brave.’
o, texted Hamilton, because he didn’t know what else to say. Bethany picked him up and kissed him. He couldn’t understand why people did that, but he was getting to like it.
‘Are you warm enough now?’ she asked.
YES, he texted, BT PL DON’T TAKE PILLOW AWAY.
‘Do you promise not to eat it?’ asked Bethany. ‘It would make you very ill.’
PRMS, texted Hamilton.
‘Then all we have to do now,’ said Bethany, ‘is get Sam to take more care over cleaning Bobby’s cage. Leave it to me, Hammy, I’ll see what I can do. I’ll have a think about it.’
