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Young World
When the past catches up
NIMI KURIAN
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Cat was enjoying himself in his big new home. One day, on his daily drive with the little lady he visited his old haunt…
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Things were turning out to be pretty good for Cat. In fact much better than he had ever imagined. He spent most of the day lounging in the sun in the front room on a nice comfortable silk cushion. He wandered into the kitchen for a drink of milk or a snack at any time. The Cook, though he loved cats, was not particularly fond of him. In the evening he and the Little Lady would go for a drive around the city. Cat particularly loved this because he could get a ‘cats-ey
e view’ of the city. All in all it was like the good times had come to stay.
One evening, after tea, she called out. “Kitty! Pretty Kitty! Come let us go for a drive around the city.” Cat hated being called Kitty — it made him out to be a sissy, which he was not. He was after all — top cat, smart cat! All the same, he did not want to get into a sulk and miss out on the drive, so with his head in the air and his tail held high he marched out.
“Driver, take me to the city centre,” said the Little Lady.
Cat’s ears perked up. The city centre was where he once lived. He hadn’t been there in such a long time. He was excited at the prospect of visiting his old haunt once again.
A rude shock
The Little Lady had some shopping to do, so the driver parked the car and she skipped out. Cat looked out at the passing scenery with great interest. Nothing much had changed and he could still identify some of the people whom he knew. “Aah! There’s the fat lady! Oh oh! That horrible boy…wonder if he still throws stones at cats…” On and on he reminisced, he was almost dreaming now. Suddenly, he heard a loud noise very close to the car. When he looked down he saw…oh goodness! He was just shocked by what he saw. It was Ginger, Black, Rancid and Merrily! And they were laughing at him and making fun of him. Cat shrank back into his seat and pretended he had fallen asleep. The driver, since he did not like Cat too much, didn’t bother to chase away the strays. But luckily for Cat, the Little Lady came back just then. And soon they were on their way.
Cat let out a sigh of relief. “Phew! That was a close call!” he thought. “Just imagine being caught up with those strays!”
That night it began to rain. What started as a drizzle became a downpour. The Cook was busy in the kitchen when he heard loud wailing noises outside the gate. Holding an umbrella over his bald head he ran out to the gate to see what was the matter. The sight that met his eyes melted his heart. He found four stray cats, hungry and miserable. Quickly, he brought them in. Cook brought in the strays and fed them some hot milk and some dinner and found them a warm place beside the fire. Soon the four strays where fast asleep.
In the morning, Cat strolled into the kitchen for his morning milk.
“Hey! Look who’s here!” shouted Ginger.
“My! My! If it isn’t Mr. Hoity-Toity himself!” said Merrily.
Rancid and Black were not far behind in teasing him.
Cat knew he could not hang around the kitchen waiting for the cook to serve him his milk. Not with these strays in the kitchen! Why! He might even catch some infection!
So with his tail in the air and his head held high he walked away to his silken cushion…his stomach whining with hunger!
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