**Diary Entry: A Brother by Bond**
“Give it back! Stop it! You’re hurting him!” Emily, choking on tears, swung at the boy who’d snatched her kitten from her. She hit him with all her might, but it barely made a difference. The boy just laughed, tightening his grip around the tiny, fragile body. Desperate, Emily bit down on his arm and was immediately thrown aside. Her mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, and something warm trickled down her chin. She wiped her face with her palm and gasped—her hand was red. Squeezing her eyes shut, she screamed as loud as she could.
“Help!”
Against all odds, someone heard. At the sound of the boy yelping, Emily opened her eyes. From where she’d fallen, visibility was poor, but she just caught sight of the boy’s scuffed trainers kicking up as he toppled backward. He landed hard, shouting indignantly:
“What the—?! You mad?!” His voice had lost its earlier bravado.
“I’ll knock you into next week! Get lost! And don’t let me catch you near her again, got it?”
The voice of Emily’s unseen defender was calm, almost lazy.
She turned her head. Another boy. He’d stood up for her, but what did he want now? Frantically, she scanned the ground. There—the kitten! A motionless fluffball in the dirt. Still on her knees, Emily scrambled over and scooped it up. It was breathing. She had to get to Nana’s. Nana would know what to do. But her legs wouldn’t move.
“Hey, you alright? Oh, blimey—you’re in a right state!”
The boy who’d stepped in was taller, lanky—an awkward teenager. He crouched beside her, trying to catch her gaze.
“Let me see. Bit your lip or tongue?”
“Dunno…”
“Alright, we’ll sort it. Can you stand?”
Emily shook her head. The shock hit her like a wave, and she burst into tears again.
“Oi, don’t cry! He’s gone. Won’t touch you again—promise. You’re safe now. What’s this, then?” A grubby hand, nails chewed short, reached for the kitten, but Emily flinched away, tucking it closer.
“Alright, alright! Not touching. Don’t panic!”
Emily tried to steady herself, but the tears wouldn’t stop.
She shouldn’t have begged Nana to let her play outside alone today. She was nearly six, practically a grown-up. All the other kids roamed free—why not her?
“Em, love, I need walking too,” Nana had teased. “You play, I’ll chat with the ladies on the bench. What’s wrong with that?”
“But everyone knows you’re watching me!”
“And what if they do?”
“I’m not a baby!”
“Who said you were? You keep an eye on me, I keep one on you.”
“I want to go alone!” Emily scowled. Nana chuckled. Just like her dad—stubborn as a mule.
“Well then, let’s ask your mum, eh?”
“She’ll never let me!”
“Did you ask?”
Emily shook her head. Mum was strict. A surgeon at the hospital, she didn’t tolerate nonsense. “Patients won’t listen otherwise!” she’d say. But that same strictness applied at home. If Mum said no, begging was pointless. Still, Nana was right—she’d never actually asked.
Mum *did* let her go out alone.
“You’re a big girl now, true. But you’ve got to earn my trust. Promise me you won’t leave the courtyard, so I can see you from the window if needed.”
“Not even the swings next door?”
“Emily, where are those swings?”
“Next block over.”
“And what did I just say?”
“Not allowed.”
“So why even ask?”
Emily nodded, thrilled Mum had agreed—forgetting her promise the second she stepped outside.
Alina from Flat 35 skipped over, and they played jump-rope until Alina announced she was heading to the swings.
“I can’t,” Emily muttered, glancing at her window. Nana wasn’t there, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t watching.
“Suit yourself!” Alina hesitated. “Just for a bit? We’ll be quick—Nana won’t even notice!”
Emily shook her head. No way. Mum would *never* trust her again.
Alina shrugged and dashed off. Emily slumped onto the bench. Bored now. No one else was around. Maybe just a quick trip… She checked the window again and sprinted after Alina.
Twenty dizzying minutes later, on their way back, they spotted the kitten—abandoned on the path. No mother in sight. They searched the bushes, calling, but no luck.
“Poor mite,” Alina said as Emily cradled it. “Just a newborn. Needs its mum.”
“How d’you know?”
“Had a cat once. Mum said kittens this small can’t manage alone.”
Emily held it out. “You take it, then!”
Alina shook her head. “Tutankhamun would bully it.”
“Who?”
“Our cat. Named after a pharaoh. He’s hairless—looks like a wrinkly grape. Mum’s scared of him!”
Emily frowned. “No fur?”
“Barely any. Just fuzz.”
Before Alina could explain further, her mum called her home.
“You’ll tell me how the kitten gets on, yeah?”
Emily nodded, alone now, the tiny creature nuzzling her palms. She’d take it to Nana—
A snicker cut through her thoughts.
“Oi, squirt! What’ve you got there?”
The next moment, the kitten was torn from her hands—and everything went wrong.
“You alright now? Stopped shaking?” The boy who’d defended her was still there. Emily finally met his eyes.
“Why?”
“What d’you mean?”
“Why’d you help me?”
“Shouldn’t I have?” He smirked and offered a hand. “Up you get. Bet you’ll catch it from your mum.”
“Not from Mum. Nana, maybe.”
The boy stiffened. “You live with your nan?”
“Yeah.”
“And your mum…?”
“With her too. Just no dad.”
“Where’s he?”
“Gone.” Emily pressed her lips together. She didn’t want to explain, but he *had* helped… “He was an army doctor.”
“Right.”
Silence. Emily adjusted the kitten. “What about you?”
“Nan.”
“Parents?”
“Just Mum.”
“And your dad?”
“Never had one.”
“Your mum’s job?”
His expression darkened.
“It’s fine! You don’t have to say.”
He nodded stiffly.
“Will you… walk me home? In case he comes back?”
“Told you—he won’t. But if you’re scared, sure.”
He plucked a leaf from a nearby plant, dabbing gently at the blood on her chin. “Proper little warrior, you.”
“Don’t mock!”
“Not mocking. Brave, but your nan’ll have a fit. No hanky, sorry.”
“She’s tough. Like Dad.”
Taking his hand, Emily held the kitten close as they walked.
Nana waited by the door. “Emily! Look at the state of you!”
“Don’t be cross!” Emily thrust the kitten forward. “He’s still alive! Please help!”
Nana’s eyes flicked to the boy. “Who’s this, then?”
“My knight!”
Nana chuckled. “What’s your name, lad?”
“Oliver.”
“Margaret Harris. Pleasure. This one’s my granddaughter—reckon you figured that out.”
Oliver almost smiled.
Nana sighed. “Tea?”
“No, ta. Got to go.”
“Then thank you—for Emily *and* this little scamp.” She scooped the kitten up by the scruff, making Emily yelp.
“He’ll be fine,” Oliver assured her. “Mum cats carry ‘em like this.”
Emily beamed.
Later, Mum didn’t shout—just talked. And talked.
“You broke my trust today. If you’d stayed in the courtyard, none of this would’ve happened.”
“The kitten?”
“That’s the only reason I’m not grounding you for life.”
Mum’s voice softened. “But Emily… what if something *had* happened? Nana couldn’t have reached you in time.”
Emily swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
“One more chance. No second warnings—got it?”
“Got it!”
Nana let her outside again the next day. “Remember what your mum said?”
“Course!”
Oliver was on the bench.
“Hi! Thanks for yesterday—forgot to say!”
He shrugged.
“Why’re you sad?”
“Not sad.”
“YouWith time, Oliver became not just a protector, but family—proving that even the loneliest hearts can find a home in the unlikeliest of friendships.
