Rick was some kind of a radiant being, and he spoke gently to Leroy.‘And how did you feel when you found Timba?’
‘Excited,’ said Leroy, ‘cos I love animals and I always wanted a cat or a dog, but Mum never let me. I didn’t know I was hurting Timba. I didn’t … you gotta believe me.’
‘I do,’ said Rick. He examined me with careful, shining fingers and listened to my heart. Then he said something wonderful. ‘Timba is going to be a most beautiful cat. He deserves the best treatment we can give him, don’t you agree?’
There was a husky‘Yes’ from Leroy, and the owl woman said, ‘Absolutely… and I shall pay the bill.’
Rick looked at Leroy with raised eyebrows, in silence, until Leroy fidgeted and mumbled,‘Thank you,’ to the owl woman.
‘Well, I don’t suppose your mum can afford it,’ she said, and looked at Rick. ‘Single parent,’ she confided in a whisper.
‘What I want to do,’ said Rick, ‘is keep Timba here for a few days. He can have rest, peace and a controlled diet, and lots of TLC, and we’ll give him his jabs against cat flu.’
Leroy pouted.‘But I want him home.’
‘I know you do … but you have to let him get better first … give him a chance, Leroy. OK?’
After Rick said I was going to be a beautiful cat, I slept blissfully, knowing the owl woman was with me in spirit, and so were Vati and Leroy. In my dream, the owl woman was making colours with her hands, colours that soaked into my bones and made them strong. She was mixing herbs and the aromas of sage, mint and catnip were infusing their therapy into my being. She was chanting a deep-toned song, and its resonance carried me on a long, long journey to a country where the land teemed with life and throbbed with heat. I tasted the hot dust, and saw the green twilight of plant life.
The owl woman took up a drum and began to beat it rhythmically with her powerful hands. In my sleep I felt the drumbeat pulsing far across the world to the distant country, and then I saw the great White Lion padding towards me.
For three days I slept curled up between the velvet paws of the Spirit Lion. His heartbeat merged with the owl woman’s drumbeat, and with every thought-laden beat I grew stronger. The White Lion’s paws never moved but held me steady in a globe of light. Below me was a cushion covered in mystic stardust, and above me the sky rippled with the blue-white tresses of the Lion’s mane. He did not speak, and yet his silence said everything I needed to know.
At regular intervals, a hand intruded, and the humans lovingly persuaded me to wake up. They touched me with extreme gentleness, and talked softly to me. I didn’t know who they were, but I managed to purr my appreciation, and my purr was gradually improving. They gave me tiny portions of thick, delicious milk and morsels of solid food, telling me what it was. ‘This is tuna.’ Or ‘This is chicken.’ It was YUMMY, and when it became clear that Icould have my meal in peace and not feel threatened, I began to eat ravenously and meow for more. Soon I had the energy to wash, and enjoy grooming my fluffy coat. My bruised body healed, and began to tingle with life. My back legs felt twitchy and powerful. I even played a little between sleeps.
It was a time of healing and a time of learning something important. Humans could be good and kind, and sensitive to a cat’s needs. Humans loved and wanted cats. Somewhere out there was a particular human who wanted ME. I hoped it would be Angie.
I heard the sound of Leroy’s scratchy voice.
‘Can I see my kitten, please? I want him back.’
‘You can’t come in here without an adult.’
‘I had to cos me mum wouldn’t come with me.’
‘Then go back and tell her what I said.’
The girl at reception had dealt briskly with Leroy… or so she thought. Before she could stop him, Leroy bounded into the room where I was being kept. He saw me and came to the cage with a wide smile.‘Hello, Timba.’
I puffed out the fur around my face and sat up. I wanted to tell Leroy to go away, that I wasn’t going to be treated like that again. But he was determined. With nimble fingers he started unfastening the door to my cage.
‘He looks bigger,’ he said, beaming in at me, both his eyes open now.
‘You can’t do that.’ The girl shut the cage door and leaned against it, facing Leroy. ‘You’ve got a cheek, coming in here. No one is allowed in here.’
‘I don’t care. Timba’s my kitten and I want him back.’ Leroy stood his ground, his legs wide apart, his fists ready for battle. ‘You can’t stop me.’
‘OUT!’ The girl lunged towards him and tried to push him out, but she’d reckoned without Leroy’s warrior strength. He sat down on the floor.
‘I ain’t moving till I’ve got my kitten back. The vet said come on Thursday.’
‘You can’t take him without an adult. And there’s a bill to pay. Now move, please, or I’ll call for assistance.’
‘No. And Mrs Lanbrow said she’d pay the bill.’
‘All right then. I’ve got your mum’s phone number. I’ll ring her.’
‘She won’t answer. She’s in bed.’