by Rachel Wells
‘Yelp!’ Stanley was right behind me. I knew children shouldn’t be out without a grown up and although I was six cat years old, I didn’t qualify.
‘Hi Alfie,’ Stanley looked very pleased with himself. He was wearing a big hat, had a pair of binoculars around his neck and was holding his compass.
‘Miaow?’
‘An Adventurer needs to be able to stalk without being detected. I decided to practise by following you.’
‘Miaow?’
‘Mum and Dad were so busy, they didn’t see me sneaking out. They don’t care anyway. Besides, you didn’t notice me following you which means I’m very good at it.’
I knew we were going to be in big trouble for this. I tried to get Stanley to go back home by walking to the park exit but he wouldn’t. He collected some leaves, and then he climbed up one of the smaller trees.
‘Um, there is not much on the horizon,’ he said, looking through his binoculars. ‘Ah, some rare species of plants.’
I had no idea what to do, so I just stayed with him. After what seemed like ages, he came down from the tree.
‘I suppose I’d better go home; it’s probably nearly tea time,’ he said. Finally. I rewarded him by brushing my tail against his legs. ‘Right, let’s go.’ He took out his compass. ‘Oh dear, which way is home?’ We stood at the park exit. I knew, so I miaowed but he didn’t seem to hear me. He looked at his compass and started running round in circles. ‘My compass is broken and now I am totally lost!’ he shrieked as he started getting breathless. I tried to get his attention but he was spinning too much.‘Oh no, I am going to have to live in this park forever!’ Stanley shouted. He was huffing and puffing, sweating and distressed.
‘Miaow, miaow, miaow!’ I screeched. Finally, he stood still. I started walking, hoping he would follow me and, still holding the ‘broken’ compass, he finally did. I led him home as quickly as my legs would allow.
‘Wow, you really are an adventure cat,’ he said, as we reached his front door.
We rang the doorbell, and although I didn’t want to wait, I knew I couldn’t abandon Stanley now. Mr Clover opened the door.
‘Oh my goodness, there you are!’ he said. Stanley hung his head.
‘Where have you been?’ Mrs Clover shrieked as soon as she saw him. Viola burst into tears.
‘Sorry, but—’
‘No, Stanley you have gone too far this time,’ Mrs Clover interrupted. ‘It’s not safe for children to go wandering off; anything could have happened to you.’ Mrs Clover was more upset than I had ever seen her.
‘We were worried sick, Stanley,’ Mr Clover shouted. ‘Worried sick.’
I looked at Stanley who looked at his feet. He was bright red.
‘You are to go straight to your room,’ Mrs Clover started crying. ‘And you are not to leave this house, not even to go in the garden.’
‘Not fair.’ Stanley threw his compass. It flew through the air and I could barely look as it smashed into one of Mrs Clover’s pots.
‘My new pot!’ she screamed. Mrs Clover started to cry as Mr Clover hugged her and Viola.
Stanley looked at the three of them, huddled together and, without them noticing, he ran into the garden.
I needed to go home but first, I had to mend the Clover family. They were quite broken. I followed Stanley to the shed, where he sank down on the picnic blanket and sobbed. I went over to him and rubbed up against him, purring to let him know I was there for him.
‘Miaow.’ Gently, I put my paw on his arm.
‘I didn’t mean to break the pot,’ he said sadly. ‘Now Mum and Dad will be crosser than ever with me. They might send me away.’
‘Miaow.’ Of course they wouldn’t.
‘They don’t want me here.’
I looked around. My Adventure Cat photos and drawings were on the walls and his collections were laid out on shelves. He had made it very cosy here but I knew he needed to go back to the house.
‘I am never going back to the house,’ he said. So much for that.
I waited with him for ages but he wouldn’t move. It was getting cold and even a little bit dark. We couldn’t really stay here forever, could we? I knew I needed to act. When Stanley was calmer, I left him to get help. It was a job for more than just me.
‘Where on earth can he be?’ Mrs Clover was shrieking. I miaowed to tell them I knew, but they didn’t seem to hear me.
‘He can’t have gone far, Dear, after all we locked the front door and he can’t get out the back.’
‘He can’t have disappeared into thin air,’ Mrs Clover said. They both looked worried as they talked about calling the police. I couldn’t believe no one thought to check the shed.
‘What are we going to do about him?’ Mrs Clover asked.
‘Maybe you just need to talk to him,’ Viola said, sounding cross.
‘What?’ Her parents turned to look at her.
Viola sighed. ‘We’ve just moved here. Stanley has no friends apart from Alfie.’ I was moved by the mention. ‘And you’re so busy. He thinks it’s all about me and the piano.’
They both looked at her in confusion.Sometimes humans can be a bit silly.
‘So he keeps getting into trouble because we’ve moved?’ Mr Clover scratched his head.
‘It’s not just that but basically, yes. And it’s school holidays, so he’s bored and you just shout at him. He thinks you love me more than you love him.’ Viola had tears in her eyes.
‘Nonsense,’ Mrs Clover said. ‘We love you both the same. Why on earth would he think that?’
‘But we don’t do anything together, do we? When was the last time Dad took Stanley out? Or you, Mum? Or the last time we did anything as a family?’
‘Oh dear, dear,’ Mr Clover said, looking guilty.
‘I see, Viola. We’ve been so busy we’ve neglected him.’ They both hung their heads in shame.
‘We must find him,’ Viola pushed.
I had never heard her sound so bossy and I liked it.
Mrs Clover organised a search of the house, but of course I knew where he was. I stood between Viola’s legs and kept miaowing.
‘What is it Alfie?’ she asked. I nudged her leg and then I walked out into the garden. I turned back, yelped at her and she began to follow me.
‘Oh Stanley there you are! Mum and dad are really worried,’ she said, as I pushed open the shed door.
‘No, they just want to shout at me,’ Stanley huffed.
‘Honestly, they aren’t cross. They just want to know you’re safe.’
‘They don’t care. I’m rubbish at everything and they only love you,’ Stanley said. ‘They probably want to send me away.’
‘They don’t, Stan. I spoke to them and they realise they’ve been too caught up in their stuff. They’re really sorry.’
‘Are they?’ Stanley looked hopeful.
Viola nodded. ‘Hey, what’s all this?’ She looked at the pictures.
‘Alfie the Adventure Cat,’ Stanley replied quietly.
‘You did all this?’ Viola asked.
‘Yes.’ Stanley stood up. ‘See, here are my photos of Alfie the Adventure cat, and over there are drawings of our missions,’ he explained, pointing to a picture of the den and the dug-up lawn. ‘And I’ve done descriptions and maps of ideas for new adventures.’ Stan was animated as he showed Viola round the shed.
‘Wow, Stan, it’s brilliant!’
‘Really?’ Stanley asked.
‘It really is. So amazing. I know it hasn’t been easy moving here. I’ve been scared and Mum and Dad, well they are—’
‘Always too busy for me unless they’re shouting.’
‘They only tell you off because they care. They wouldn’t bother if they didn’t.’
I miaowed. Viola was right.
‘I suppose,’ Stanley replied.
‘And I thought we were friends now. I haven’t got any friends here, either, you know.’
‘Sorry Vi, but I was jealous. You never get into
trouble.’
‘But I don’t mean to be like that. And I’m jealous of you – you know how to have fun much more than I do.’
‘OK,’ Stanley stood up. ‘Let’s make a pact: we’ll try to be a bit more like each other – I’ll get in less trouble and—’
‘I’ll get in more!’ Viola giggled. ‘Come on, let’s go. Mum and Dad are far too silly to even think of looking for you in the shed, and they were talking about calling the police.’
Viola hugged Stanley and he hugged her back. I miaowed. This was exactly the outcome I wanted.
‘Oh Stanley, we were so worried,’ Mrs Clover said as she grabbed him, holding him so tight I wondered if he could breathe.
‘I’m sorry that I keep doing things wrong,’ Stanley said. He hung his head as I sat at his feet.
‘Well, that is how we learn; I mean, you don’t think I just painted a piece of fruit and that was that – no, I made plenty of mistakes,’ Mr Clover said.
‘Um, well anyway, we need to make more time for you – for both of you, but especially you, Stanley. So we are all going on a family holiday,’ Mrs Clover announced.
‘Hooray!’ both Viola and Stanley replied.
‘And we will start by making your favourite tea.’
‘Sausages and chips?’ Stanley was wide eyed.
‘Whatever you want,’ Mrs Clover added.
‘As long as it’s not custard soup,’ Viola said and everyone laughed.
I knew my work here was done. For now.
Quietly, I let myself into my home through my cat-flap. It was late and I was tired after such an eventful day, hungry too.
‘Oh Alfie,’ Claire said as I walked into the kitchen. ‘We were worried about you.’ She scooped me up and cuddled me.
‘I know we’ve been grumpy but we missed you, Alfie,’ Jonathan added. I purred with happiness.
‘And to show you how much we love you, we’ve got your favourite tea.’ Claire rubbed my head.
‘Pilchards,’ both Claire and Jonathan said at the same time. I licked my lips and felt my whiskers quiver in anticipation.
This had turned out to be the best day ever.
Enjoyed this book?
Then follow Alfie’s next adventure as he accidentally goes on holiday …
Coming Soon!
For adult readers:
And coming soon … ALFIE’S KITTEN
About the Author
Rachel Wells is a mother and cat lover. She lives in Devon with her family and her pets and believes in the magic of animals. Rachel grew up in Devon but lived in London in her twenties, working in marketing and living in a tiny flat with an elderly rescued cat, Albert. After having a child, she moved back to Devon and decided to take the plunge and juggle motherhood with writing. She has always had cats as pets and she has always wanted to write. Rachel is delighted to have been able to combine her two main passions at last.
Also by the Author:
Alfie Far From Home – Coming soon!
For adult readers:
Alfie the Doorstep Cat
A Cat Called Alfie
Alfie’s Kitten – Coming soon!
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East – 20th Floor
Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada
http://www.harpercollins.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London, SE1 9GF
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
http://www.harpercollins.com
