Whiskers Is Missing
“Natasha, are you home?” Oliver burst into the flat and froze when he saw his wife in the hallway. She was crouched on the floor, sobbing loudly. “I couldnt understand a word you said on the phone. You were crying so hard, I couldnt make anything out. Then the stupid phone died. What happened? You look awful.”
“Whiskers is gone” Natasha barely managed to whisper. “Hes not here.”
“Gone?!” Oliver was stunned. “How? Where could he have gone? Can you explain properly? Maybe hes hiding somewhere in the flat?”
“No. Your sister Vicky She said he ran out into the hallway when she took Michael out for a walk. But you know Whiskers, Oliver Hed never just run out. Why would he? He nearly died out there last time. I think she let him out on purpose”
“What?!” Oliver clenched his fists. “Where is she now? Wheres Vicky?”
“She went to the shops, I think I dont know. Ive been looking for Whiskers all this time, but hes nowhere. No ones seen him. How could someone do this, Oliver? Throw a helpless creature out onto the street. In winter. Is that even human?”
“A decent person wouldnt. But Vicky Vicky would. Especially since shes done it before. Dont worryshe wont set foot in this flat again tonight. Why did we even let her stay?”
***
A month earlier
Oliver was walking toward the bus stop when he spotted something grey under a layer of snow.
At first, he thought it was just a rock. But rocks dont tremble like an old fridge.
Thats what caught his attention. Hed never seen a shivering stone.
Curious, he stepped off the path and moved closer.
Only then did he realiseit wasnt a rock. It was a tiny grey kitten.
“Well, well” Oliver mused, scratching his head. “What are you doing out here, little one?”
The answer was obvious.
Stray animals survive however they can. This kitten was simply trying not to freeze.
It wasnt mewing, wasnt crying for help. Just lying there, shivering.
As if it had given up on anyone caring.
Oliver carefully scooped it up, brushing snow from its fur before tucking it inside his coat. He dashed to the bus stop just as the bus pulled up.
On the way home, he remembered Natasha had wanted a grey tabby for ages but theyd never found time to visit a shelter.
Now fate had dropped one right at his feet.
When fate gives you somethingyou take it.
“Natasha, Ive got a surprise for you,” Oliver announced cheerfully as he walked in.
“Oh, youve been spoiling me lately,” Natasha smiled, stepping into the hall. “First gold earrings, then that phone Id wanted forever, now cinema tickets. What is it this time? Ski trip vouchers?”
“Better!” Oliver grinned, unzipping his coat and pulling out the kitten. “Here! Found him outside. Isnt this the kind you wanted? Grey and tabby?”
“Oh my God,” Natasha gasped. “Hes freezing, poor thing. Give him here, Ill warm him up. You get changed, wash up, and come to the kitchen. Dinners ready.”
She looked at the kitten again and smiled. “Hes beautiful”
And so, Whiskers came into Oliver and Natashas lives. They debated names for agesTom? Felix?but settled on the classic.
“Whiskers suits him better than something fancy.”
“Agreed, love.”
This happy event happened in late November, just as the first snow fell. So Whiskers never experienced the full horrors of winter on the streets.
Thank goodness. For many strays, thats the end.
In the two weeks he lived with them, Oliver and Natasha grew incredibly attached.
Honestly, they loved him from day onemore and more each passing moment.
Whiskers loved them too. Kind people. The sort who wouldnt hurt him or dump him like his last owners.
Even when he knocked things off shelves, they didnt scold himjust asked him to be careful.
*”I will!”* he chirped back, before immediately leaping onto the dresser and sending the TV remote flying for the tenth time that day.
Life was perfectuntil the knock at the door.
“Who comes visiting on a Sunday morning?” Oliver rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clock. Half six. Still dark outside.
“Maybe the neighbours?” Natasha guessed. “Something might have happened.”
“Ill check.”
When Oliver opened the door, his sister Vicky stood therewith her five-year-old son, Michael.
“Hi, little brother,” she smiled. “Weve come to stay. You dont mind, do you?”
“Well, actually”
“Oh, I know, I knowshouldve called. But it was such a rush, and you wouldnt have picked up this early anyway. So I thought Id just come. Let us in? And help with the suitcasedragging it up four flights nearly killed me.”
Of course, Oliver let them in. But the suitcase unsettled him. People dont bring luggage for casual visits.
“Something wrong?”
“Isnt it obvious?” Vicky shot back. “My husband kicked me out. Found himself a new woman. Nowhere else to go. If you dont mind, Ill stay awhile. Figure things out. We can even celebrate Christmas together. Nice, right? We havent properly talked in years. And were family.”
“You know why we dont talk. Lies dont make for good relationships.”
“Oh, come off it. Let bygones be bygones. I made a mistakewho doesnt? How long will you hold it against me?”
Oliver nearly snapped back but stopped himself.
No point starting the day with a row.
Natasha wouldnt approve, especially with Vicky just thrown out by her husband.
Even if she deserved it.
Five years ago, their father died. Hed long lived apart but helped financially. Left a big three-bed flat in London to Oliver and Vicky. No other relatives.
Back then, Vicky was pregnant (by who, still a mystery).
With their mums support, shed begged Oliver to give up his share. *”I need it moreyoure a man, youll manage. Plus, youre single.”*
Oliver didnt fight it. She did need a home. He was in student digs anyway.
But then she sold the flat and moved in with some new boyfriend who “needed the money for his business.”
Oliver was furioustheyd agreed otherwise.
At least she couldve given him half. For fairness. But he never saw a penny.
Their mum stayed out of it*”Sort it yourselves, youre adults.”*
Ten years earlier, when they were kids, shed done the same.
Back then, Oliver brought home a stray kitten. It vanished soon after.
He didnt suspect his mumshed allowed it (they lived rurally, plenty of space). Only Vicky couldve done it.
*”Where is he? Tell me now!”* hed shouted.
She never confessed. But Oliver saw the lie in her eyes.
The kitten had annoyed her from day one.
When he brought home anotherit disappeared too.
Coincidence? Unlikely.
Their mum just shrugged. Vicky played innocent.
After that, Oliver stopped bringing strays home.
No wonder their relationship was strained.
And now she turned up at dawn, suitcase in tow.
“Oliver, where else can she go?” Natasha sighed. “Let her stay awhile. Until she finds a place. You cant throw her out with a child. And Christmas is coming. Maybe youll finally make up.”
“Fine,” Oliver relented. “If youre okay with it, she can stay.”
But his gut said nothing good would come of this.
He was right.
The next day, Vicky started complaining about Whiskers.
*”He keeps me awake, running around. Sits on my sofa. Gives me weird looks.”*
Then Michael developed a sniffle.
*”Its that cat. My Micky was fine before.”*
“Maybe hes just got a cold,” Oliver argued. “You take him outside. Even if it is allergieswhat then? Whiskers is family.”
“Dont be daft,” Vicky laughed. *”Family*? I thought youd grown out of this. Still bringing strays home like a kid. How does Natasha put up with you?”
“Natasha loves animals too. Youre the one who hates them. What did they ever do to you?”
“Get in the way. I cant sleep because of that cat. Mickys restless at night. Its stressful for him! But what would you know? Wait till you have
