Excuse us, began one of the officers, but this lady insists that your cat leapt onto her balcony, attacked her, and then stole her kitten
You know those old English buildings they call corner houses? Its where two wings meet at a perfect right angle, joined into a single block.
If there are balconies facing the inner courtyard, the two at the corner almost meet.
But only almostits just a gap of about five feet.
Well then
A man and a woman who lived on the fifth floor were coming back home from work one evening. They worked at the same firm and always commuted together in their car.
As they walked through the courtyard, they saw a pack of stray dogs attacking a homeless cat, the same one the residentsthese two includedoften fed.
The man shooed away the dogs, but the poor moggy had still taken a beating. Luckily, it wasnt fatal. They picked him up and went straight back to their car.
At the vets, the wounds were cleaned, stitched up, and he was put on an IV with saline and vitamins, then given an antibiotic jab. The vet told them to bring him back for daily checks and injections for a week.
And thats how Billy ended up at their home.
Why Billy? From Billy the Cat, because he looked like a right little terror, though as it turned out
The fearsome Billy soon got used to comfort and care. Within a couple of days, he was lounging on a soft blanket on the sofa, purring contentedly and closing his eyes in bliss whenever the woman stroked his fur.
Look at him, such a pampered lad! she laughed, scratching his belly.
Billy wrinkled his nosethe wounds still twinged a bitbut he kept on purring. He really did like the attention.
He fattened up, cleaned himself up, his coat started to shine, and soon hed curl up happily in their laps for naps.
His old lifecold, hunger, fighting, fearslowly faded like a bad dream.
Now, he spent his days on the balcony, lounging on the ledge, watching the world in the courtyard below. He no longer yearned for the street. He knew only too well what freedom really meant out there.
The neighbouring balconies didnt interest him, until
Until one day a kitten appeared on the next-door balcony, the one nearly touching theirs. The kitten was tiny, fluffy, and obviously well cared for.
A spoiled pedigreed kitten Never known hardship, thought Billy with a huff, turning away and tossing his tail in the air.
But the next day, a strange sound caught his ear. He listeneda faint noise, coming from that other balcony, from the little prince of comfort.
Billy crept closer.
The kitten was curled in a corner, sniffling and softly sobbing.
Oi! called Billy, Whats up with you, then? Why are you weeping? Didnt like your dinner?
The little thing flinched, shrinking further into the shadows, watching the big tough cat with wary silence.
I said, why are you crying? pressed Billy.
And the kitten, still hidden, finally whispered, She hit me. With her slipper. Do you know how much it hurts?
Billy had never been bopped with a slipper. Nowadays, he was loved and spoiled, forgiven for nearly everything. But painhe remembered pain very well.
With a slipper? he repeated. What for?
I mewed early this morning, said the kitten. I was hungry
And? Billy was astonished.
She smacked me for it. Screamed at me too
Billy fell silent. The small grey fluff cowered in the corner, too scared to make a sound.
He remembered his own life on the streetscold, hunger, fear.
Does she often hit you? he asked quietly.
Almost always, whimpered the kitten. For any little sound or mischief. She doesnt love me
But to her friends on the phone, she brags how expensive I am. That I cost her a fortune. I dont even know what expensive means
Billy knew. His owner often said, Youre my dearest.
But here, that word was different.
He frowned. The situation was a peculiar one. He felt sorry for the kitten. On the streets, hed know exactly what to do. But now
Now he was a loved house cat. What was he supposed to do?
The kitten was called back indoors. Ears flat, tail even flatter, he left a little puddle of fear behind, and scampered through the open door.
Billy stood watching the wet spot, remembering how, as a tiny kitten, hed once wet himself in terror before a big dog
So he started perching on the balcony more often. His new acquaintance had a grand nameSterling.
Billy thought Beanpole would suit him better.
Beanpole gradually warmed up and would dash out on the balcony to pour out his little sorrows:
She said today, he sniffed, if I dont stop making noise, shell throw me off the balcony. Shes tired of cleaning up after me
Billys fur would stand on end, and his fangs bared at the thought.
He often heard shrieks from Beanpoles owner, her insults and curses ringing through the air, and sometimes
Sometimes he shuddered at the sound of the slipper hitting that tiny body.
Hed made up his mind ages ago. But fear held him back.
Theyll throw me outfor sure, if I do something like that, he thought.
He didnt want to return to that lifecold, hunger, loneliness. He didnt want to lose his people, who had saved him.
But the thought that she might kill the poor kitten tormented him.
And then, it happened, just a few days later.
Billy was out on the balcony, listening. From the next flat, shouting echoed. The woman was yelling at Beanpole again, her voice rising as she lay sprawled in bed.
Billy could see everything reflected in the glass door.
She bent over, grabbed her slipper, and raised it above the cowering kitten:
Ill wallop you, you little horror! she screamed.
He never knew how he made it across. He just leaptthose five fateful feet between balconies.
The woman never got a chance to throw the slipper. Right in front of her appeared
No. Not a cat.
A nightmare.
An enormous cat with the face of a gangster, fangs bared, hissing and shrieking. In her eyes, fire poured from his mouth, sparks flying from his eyes.
It was pure terror.
She screamed, dropped her slipper, and felt something warm trickle down her pyjama leg
To her, the devil himself had appeared.
The devil raised a clawed paw. She howled, hid her face in her arms, and promptly fainted.
Ten minutes later, Billys owners heard the doorbell. Outside stood their frantic neighbour, hair wild, eyes bulging.
Your cat attacked me! she shrieked. He scratched me and ran off with my precious kitten! Im calling the police!
Maam, replied the woman calmly, our cat is always indoors. Hes not left the flat. And we dont have your kitten.
The neighbour twisted her face in anger, then, unable to form words, let out a furious hiss and stormed off, slamming her door.
Ten minutes after that, the police arrived. Their agitated neighbour trailed behind, explaining in panting bursts.
Excuse me, said one of the officers, this lady claims your cat leapt onto her balcony, attacked her, then made off with her kitten
What? blurted the couple in unison.
Their surprise was genuine.
Officers, please come in, said the man, still utterly composed. Youre welcome to see for yourselves: our cats peacefully snoozing on the sofa. And theres no kitten here.
Everyone filed inside. And sure enough, Billy lay sprawled across the sofa, fast asleep.
Thats him! Thats the beast! the neighbour shrilled. He attacked me and stole my Sterling!
Sorryyour what? asked the puzzled officers. Their cat stole your sterling?
Are you daft?! My kitten is called Sterling!
The policemen exchanged looks and stepped out onto the balcony.
Nearly five feet over, mused one.
And youre saying a cat leapt that gap, with a kitten in its mouth? said the other.
You dont believe me?! howled the woman. She began tearing through their flat, shouting, Sterling! Sterling! Sterling! as she yanked open cupboards, tipped out drawers, flung linen from the bed, and scattered clothes everywhere.
The police had to sit her down rather firmly.
Madam, one said gravely, youre now damaging private property. The owners could sue you.
What?! Me? After their cat mauled me and kidnapped my kitten?!
By the way, frowned the other officer, could you show us where the cat bit or scratched you?
The neighbour faltered, grew flustered, and then shouted, Ill see every one of you in court!
Sorry, the woman of the house interjected politely, but theres quite a strong smell of urine Would you mind getting off my chair?
The neighbours eyes widened. First she flushed crimson, then went green, then pale as chalk.
She bolted out, slamming her own door behind her.
Will you be filing a report? asked one of the police officers.
No, the couple answered immediately.
The woman added gently, It seems the poor soul isnt in her right mind.
We apologise for the trouble, the officers said, and left.
The married couple glanced at Billy, who was now awake and perched on the edge of the sofa.
Well, then said the man.
Well, then echoed the woman.
Billy glanced at them sheepishly, hopped down, trotted over to a cupboard, slipped his claws beneath the door, nudged it open, leapt onto the shelf and carefully tugged out, from beneath a pile of tea towelsa kitten.
My goodness the couple breathed in unison.
They sat down together on the sofa, stunned.
Billy padded over and gently laid the trembling grey kitten at their feet.
And what do we do now? the woman asked, scooping up the little one and setting him on her lap.
Beanpole shivered and huddled even tighter.
Dont worry, little one, the man said softly.
We dont hurt cats, added the woman, stroking his quivering back. And you, you rascal turning to Billy, that was very naughty. You know you cant do that. You must never
How else could he have helped? the man broke in. He saved the kitten from that dreadful woman! Why would he be punished?
Besides, we havent got a kitten, have we? Didnt the police say so themselves?
Its always the same, the woman sighed, turning to Beanpole. Menalways sticking up for each other. Would you have us give him a medal next?
Exactly! Give him a medal! grinned the man. Come on, Billy, lets see if theres a bit of chicken in the kitchen.
Just look at him! the woman said, pretending to be indignant and glancing at Beanpole for support.
But, unexpectedly, the kitten stretched, gently encircled her warm hand with his little paws and snuggled in.
She smiled, softening, Well Ill let you off, this once.
The man and Billy went off to the kitchen, while Beanpole curled up on her lap, purring quietly. At last he understood: a gentle stroke felt wonderful.
And even more, he pondered the meaning of the word dearest.
Somehow, he thought, coming from this kind woman, the word felt very different indeed.
And so both cats discovered: being dearest is more about kindness and love than any price or pedigree, and no matter what youve been through, theres always a place and a person who can help you heal.
