When We Were Kittens. David Greagg

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СКАЧАТЬ on the Big Moving Picture Box, where dogs suddenly appear for no reason and start barking at us. Shadow says when the dogs come on you can touch the black thing with your paw and the dogs go away again. I wish there was a thing you could push to make dogs on the road go away.

      Oh, Belladonna has told us that the Big Moving Picture Box is called a TV and it is very important in our humans and we shouldn't sit right in front of it.

      Shadow used to chase the humans and animals on it but Belladonna told her not to be a foolish kitten. They're not real, you can't touch them, and you're just embarrassing yourself! So Shadow has stopped doing it.

      13

      There's still something funny about our dinners. They don't taste as good as they did when we were kittens. We keep looking at Man and Woman expectantly. They're doing their best to please us. I'm sure of it, and I can tell because there are lots of different tins and packets of wet food. But somehow it doesn't seem to help. Maybe they don't make cat food like they used to.

      14

      Woe! Tonight we just got stuff from a big tin. We looked at our humans. Come on, I said. You're not even trying to please us tonight are you?

      But Man and Woman sat in their chairs and ignored us completely. Then we looked up at Belladonna, who was actually eating hers. Normally she is such a fussy eater.

      She licked her lips and glared at us. This is what the poor cats are eating tonight, she told us. Every now and again we get this just to remind us what lucky cats we are. Be grateful! With that she flicked her tail crossly around her paws and resumed eating.

      Well, that was telling us, so we had a lick or two.

      15

      Back to the small tins tonight. Belladonna was right. We ate it up and tried to feel grateful, but it still isn't the same. Even though Belladonna says it is.

      16

      It is definitely getting warmer now. My fur is getting uncomfortable and there seems to be altogether too much of it. Some of it has started falling out though. I think I remember this from last winter. My fur grows really thick so I don't get cold, but then it starts to fall out and shorter fur grows underneath it. Man is trying to help me by combing it out. But I really don't like the small plastic comb; it hurts too much.

      Man also has a funny thing he puts on that covers his whole paw. He strokes me with it and seems like it should be good but it isn't somehow. I let him do it for a bit but then I run away.

      17

      Another day of glove and comb. I've had enough of it. Why can't he just leave me alone?

      18

      I washed myself all over and that seemed to get a lot of the loose fur out. Threw up afterwards and asked for the Plastic Tube of Happy. Didn't get it, but I got lots of munchies instead. I ate lots and tried to feel grateful again.

      19

      I keep throwing up. This isn't good. Asked for the Plastic Tube of Happy and got still more munchies. Both bowls are filled to the top now. I've stopped putting my paw on Man's lap because there's no more room in my bowls and he just doesn't get it. Sigh.

      20

      Asked Man for the Plastic Tube of Happy. Didn't get it. Threw up more hairballs.

      21

      Asked for the Tube of Happy again. Threw up a hairball in the middle of the Food Room floor and looked hard at him. Man cleaned it up and got me the Plastic Tube of Happy at last. Sometimes with humans you have to be obvious.

      22

      Our walk was brilliant today. It was a still, clear night, but not as cold as you'd think and we went down through the Huge Buildings. The air smelt wonderful and for once I wasn't scared at all. Some humans walked past but I've seen them before and they talked to Man for a bit. I really think winter is coming to an end at last.

      23

      Man gave us a box to hide in and my sister hasn't come out all day. She's welcome to it. I used to like boxes but now I can take them or leave them alone.

      24

      I thought I'd ambush my sister in her box today, so I snuck up on her. I could just see a little patch of black fur sticking out the end, so I pounced on her. And got my face slapped! I sat down to wash myself at once I was so embarrassed. Then I gave the box a Look and there was Belladonna glaring at me - again!

      I'm sorry, I told her. I thought you were my sister.

      Look next time, she said, and began to wash her paws.

      I went looking for Shadow and found her on Woman's bed. We curled up next to each other and had a good sleep. I woke up to find her paw resting over my flank, which was so sweet. I washed her face and she washed mine and then we had munchies.

      25

      Man fed us red meat today. Shadow growled when I went near her and wolfed it down really fast. I think it makes her over-excited.

      26

      Tonight was really annoying. It was cool and mild and there was hardly any wind, so we set out with Man for our walk. As soon as we went down the hill on our road, I felt my sister go tense. What is it? I asked her. Someone's watching us, she told me. I can feel it and I'm scared. So I walked on the side of the road between her and danger and she stopped and hid under a car.

      Man walked up to me and asked what's wrong, Dougal?

      I tried to tell him I didn't know why, but Shadow's scared so keep an eye out. Then suddenly she shot out from under the car and hid behind Man.

      It was Red Cat Two! We hadn't seen him in ages and we hadn't missed him either. I looked under the car and there he was. His body was tense and he looked like he was ready to attack. Don't do this, I told him. Just go now and nobody gets hurt. He ignored me completely. So I sat down between him and Man and told him look, this isn't going to help. If you come near me I'll slap you round and then I'll chase you away. We're all sick of you. Why don't you learn?

      Well, I thought I was being reasonable, but Red Cat Two just sat there glaring at me. You can't fight someone under a car. To begin with there isn't enough room, and also it just isn't done. It's in the rules, and even Red Cat Two seems to understand that. Hiding under cars which aren't moving is Time Out.

      So what are you going to do now? I asked him. I'm not moving from here until you go away. If we just keep on walking you're going to attack my sister and I won't have it. So you have to leave. I won't chase you if you go now.

      I just wished he'd say something. Anything. At least I could argue with him. But all he said was a snarl and I hate you! Not much I could do with that.

      Suddenly СКАЧАТЬ