‘Timba’s got an apple green bum,’ said Angie, laughing. ‘Oh dear … I’ll have to bath you, Timba,’ and I had to endure being ‘encouraged’ to sit in a bowl of warm water and let her slosh it over my fur.
The day ended with supper in the garden, blackbirds singing and petals from the apple blossom drifting around us. We were family, sharing ups and downs and growing closer. But only I knew the secret that haunted Graham’s mind.
The trouble between Angie and Graham came to a head in the autumn.
Vati led me into ever more daring escapades. He would scale the wire around the chicken pen and jump down onto the roof of the wooden chicken house. Then he’d sit there coolly observing the hens, while I sat sensibly outside the pen, looking in.
I was on a polite nose-to-beak relationship with the cockerel, strictly through the wire, and not too often. Just common courtesy and respect. But Vati really pushed his luck, and one day the cockerel flew at him with his colours blazing. I would have retaliated, but Vati simply rolled onto his back and waved his paws in the air. The sight of his sleek tummy and shining black pads seemed to disarm the outraged cockerel who turned and stalked off.
‘I’m a peacemaker,’ Vati often told me. He’d actually made friends with Leroy, allowing a tentative stroking session, and the occasional cuddle, strictly on Vati’s terms.
I wished Vati could make peace between Angie and Graham. There were more and more times when Graham came home late, and one day when Angie was at work and Leroy at school, he brought a woman friend into our home. Her name was Lisa, and she didn’t like cats. Especially me.
‘I couldn’t stand a cat like him,’ she said to Graham. ‘Look at the fluff he leaves everywhere. I don’t mind the other little cat. Vati, is it? He’s kind of cute.’
I felt hurt. I didn’t deliberately leave my fur around the place! Eat, I thought, and retreated to my bowl where I tucked into my generous portion of ‘rabbit with tuna’.
‘And look at the size of him,’ Lisa said scathingly. ‘I bet he is a really greedy cat.’
When I started on Vati’s meal, Graham came and whipped the dish away. ‘That’s Vati’s food, you greedy cat,’ he said. I lashed my tail, and glared at him. It wasn’t like Graham to insult me. We were buddies, weren’t we?
I wanted Vati to curl up with me, and calm me down, but he went swanning into the music room with Graham and Lisa. The singing began, and Lisa had a high soprano voice like a cat. I resented her. How dare she criticise ME when she was the fattest human I’d ever seen. Her tummy stuck right out, nearly touching the piano as she sang, balanced precariously on two slim legs and a pair of sparkly gold sandals.
Something felt wrong. When the singing stopped Graham knelt on the floor in front of Lisa and leaned his head against her fat tummy.‘How’s the little person in there?’ he asked.
‘She’s fine.’ Lisa patted her tummy. ‘She was moving around when we were singing. She likes music!’
I curled up, alone in my basket, wishing Angie and Leroy would come home, wishing I could go to sleep and shut out the sound of Lisa and Graham. They sat on the sofa, cuddling and talking quietly. Betrayal, I thought angrily. Couldn’t Vati see it?
The gift of sleep eluded me as I watched them discreetly with my eyes half open. I definitely didn’t feel like purring, but I could hear Vati’s economical little purr as he seduced Graham, lying on his shoulder like a drape of silk. Soon Vati was deeply asleep, leaving me to listen in horror to the conversation.
‘I’m not going to share a house with HER,’ Lisa said. And I understood that the loud ‘HER’ meant my beloved Angie.
‘Of course not, darling. She’ll have to go,’ said Graham. ‘Damn it, this is my house. I inherited it from my parents … I was an only child. I grew up here… can’t imagine living anywhere else. Oh yes … Angie will have to go … and her chickens, and THAT BOY she is insisting on fostering.’ Graham frowned, still smoothing Vati’s silken coat with one hand. ‘And the cats … but I might keep this little fellow.’
‘Have you told Angie yet?’ Lisa asked.
‘No,’ Graham said heavily. ‘I will, when the time is right.’
‘You said that last time.’
‘Sure … I did. But it is not a task I relish, Lisa. Angie is very volatile. She’ll fly into a rage. I dread it … and, if I’m honest, I don’t know how best to tell her.’
‘You’ll have to grasp the nettle. You’re not married.’
‘No.’ Graham sighed and fidgeted.
‘So when are you going to tell her, Graham?’
‘I wish I didn’t have to.’
‘Do you still love her?’
‘No.’ Graham looked defensive. ‘But I don’t want to hurt her. She’s stressed enough with Leroy and the teaching job. I should at least wait until the end of term.’
‘That will be Christmas. You can’t chuck her out on Christmas Eve, Graham. Even I know that!’
‘Can we put this discussion on hold, please?’ Graham pleaded. ‘Let’s focus on the concerts.’ He held up his hand as Lisa tried to protest. ‘I promise I will tell Angie, in the fullness of time.’