Jessica thought for a moment.‘Loving you.’ Then she said sadly, ‘And our kittens. I still miss them. My two boys, and the little tabby girl. Our little girl loved you very much didn’t she?’
‘I loved her,’ I said, ‘and I wonder where she is now.’
‘Perhaps we’ll never know.’ Jessica’s eyes went dark and I realised then how much the kittens had meant to her, and why she had cried all the way to Cornwall. Although Jessica was a tough cat, she too felt a mother’s grief.
I was a smart cat. I did a lot of thinking before deciding how best to find Ellen. After my long trip in the lorry as a kitten, I had a deep fear of travelling. I spent some time making friends with Joe’s car, sitting on it when it was warm, and sneaking inside if I got the chance. I scent-marked the tyres so that it would be easy for me to find.
It soon became obvious that Joe went to visit Ellen in the afternoons while Pam looked after John. Sometimes he had a few flowers or a bag of fruit. He was always gone for about three hours, and when he came back he just sat in the caravan drinking and sleeping.
I sensed Ellen’s direction. She was north-east of the campsite, and not too far away if I headed straight across the fields.
‘No, Solomon,’ said my angel. ‘You would come to the city and you’d get lost. That would worry Ellen. The only way is to be really brave and go in Joe’s car. He’ll take you, and bring you back, but you mustn’t look frightened. Keep a bright face and hold your tail high, and you will get there.’
So one morning when the car doors were open I crept inside and made a nest underneath a coat on the back seat. It was a scary thing for a cat to do, but I kept quiet and still as Joe started the engine and drove off.
We were speeding along the roads, twisting and turning, going uphill and down. I longed to look out of the window and see landmarks to help me find the way home, but I stayed hidden. If Joe saw me he might lose his temper. My angel had warned me.
‘You’re taking on a difficult challenge, Solomon,’ she’d said. ‘Cats can’t normally go into hospitals. I’ll be surprised if you do manage this, but if Joe sees you, you’ve got no chance, so lie low, and when he arrives you must jump out immediately.’
When the car slowed down, I figured we were arriving, and I peeped out from under the coat. The hospital was a block of concrete towering into the sky, its windows winking in the sun. Around it were green lawns and interesting trees where I could hide.
Joe opened the door to get out, and I was crouched, waiting. I slithered out like a snake, past his leg and under the car. I watched his feet in the old grey and black trainers he wore, and the ragged edge of his jeans, and when I saw them walking away, I followed.
‘Don’t look furtive,’ said my angel. ‘Put your tail up and look as if you’ve every right to be here.’
So I did. Joe never looked back and I strutted after him through the car park and along a wide path that curved under the big trees. Autumn leaves were dancing everywhere and I longed to play with them, but I focused on following Joe.
People started noticing me and calling me‘Puss’ and ‘That Cat’, but I trotted on, my head and tail high, right through the glass doors and into the echoing hospital. I was going to see Ellen.
‘WHAT is THAT CAT doing in here?’
‘Who let THAT CAT in?’
It was hard to keep going with sharp-voiced comments bouncing around me. Luckily there were compliments too.
‘Aw. Look at that gorgeous cat.’
‘He knows where he’s going. He must live here.’
I was proud of myself– parading along the corridors with everyone smiling at me. I stiffened my whiskers and stuck my chin in the air. I imagined my coat was gleaming like black silk and that I, Solomon, was the King of cats. Ellen wouldn’t want a frightened, creeping cat, she would want King Solomon in all his glory.
Still Joe didn’t look round. Oblivious of his surroundings, he strode on through the hospital. Turning left, he headed up the stairs, two steps at a time. His aura was bright so I guessed we must be getting close to Ellen. I so wanted to meow.
Left again and down a long pale green corridor, my paws skidding on the polished floor. I wished Jessica was there. What a game we could have had, galloping and sliding and making people laugh. Playing penguins.
At the end of the corridor was a wide doorway into a bright room full of high beds. A nurse with a fierce face popped out of a side door and spoke to Joe.
‘Hi. Have you come to see Ellen? She’s waiting for you.’
Then she gasped as she saw me.
‘WHAT is that CAT doing in here?’
Joe turned and saw me. His mouth dropped open.
‘I don’t believe this. It’s – it’s our cat. He must have followed me.’
I gave Joe and the nurse a rebellious stare. I didn’t even stop but kinked the end of my tail and went swanning through those wide doors on my own. I was going to see Ellen.
‘You CHEEKY cat,’ cried the nurse, and Joe started laughing. I heard the nurse calling out, ‘Sister. Sister, we’ve got a cat in the ward.’