Saturday, December 22

Chapter 7 - Mishief makes a Friend

Margot and Mischief left the station and along with the other wives and children, started walking back towards their homes. Presently Margot caught up with her friend Jenny who lived a few doors down the street. Her Jim had left on the same troop train as Fred. Jenny was walking slowly, carrying their little girl, Fiona, all wrapped up in a warm woolen cardigan and knitted cap, to keep out the evening chill. I've got a little one too, whispered Margot afer a few moments. She stopped walking and motioned for Jenny to look inside her handbag. Look at him, his name is Mischief. Inside her handbag Mischief was stretched out on his back, sound asleep, tummy up, with his front paws covering his nose, on top of a handkerchief. Well, your baby is certainly smaller than mine and not half so squirmy, laughed Jenny. Where did you get him? I'll tell you all about it, Margot answered. Come on up, I'll make some tea and we'll have a visit.

Jenny put Fiona down on the sofa while Margot lifted Mischief out of her handbag. Mischief and the little girl looked at each other sleepily. Then Fiona toppled over on top of Mischief and grabbed his ear with her chubby little hand. Mischief wiggled away happily. He had found a new playmate. He jumped up and began batting Fiona's cap around the floor, puffing himself up and pouncing on it all the while trying his best to look ferocious for her benefit. Fiona squirmed off the sofa, and toddled over to the kitten and picked him up, clasping both her hands tightly around his tummy. Mine kitty, mine kitty, she crooned as she carried him around the little apartment. You come home with me.

I'm sorry pumpkin, he can't go home with you to stay but I'll bring him over to visit every evening, promised Margot. He's a very special boy cat and I've sworn to look after him very carefully, but I'm sure Fred would be happy if you helped me once in a while.

Right now, I'll help you and Mommy walk the rest of the way home. Margo eyed Jenny's midsection thoughtfully. There was a definite bump there. It seemed likely that Fiona was going to have a brother or sister in a few months time. I'll put Mischief back in my purse and your Mommy can carry him, and I'll carry you, if you promise not to wiggle like a bunny's tail all the way down Florence Street.

Saturday, December 15

Chapter 6 - Bella is surpised

The cats made their way quickly to the meeting place under the church ruins. They knew Lavender was back with news of the outside world. Most of the cats had never been outside the boundaries of this colony, except when seeking a mate, so were always eager to hear stories of the King's travels.

This day however, all could see that Lavender was very concerned as he paced around and around. His guards had taken up spots on top of the walls and were watching the neigboring woodlands very intently. What was happening? What was coming their way?

Lavender told the cats briefly of his journey into Nottingham. He told them of the strange dark stillnes in the streets, then the awful sound of air raid sirens howling in the night. He spoke of the dreadful droning sound the enemy aircraft made and the even more terrible whistling, screaming cries of the bombs as they fell out of the sky. He spoke of ruined homes and destroyed buildings and of innocent humans and creatures bleeding and terrified in the streets.

There was no place for cats to hide from this dreadful danger. For many generations, free cats had known about the caves under the city of Nottingham and had claimed the dark caverns as their dens. Now, they were being forced out of their homes as thousands of humans descended to the caves every night, to find shelter from the bombings. Still worse, spoke Lavender, was the plight of the cats who had chosen to make their homes with humans. Many of these cats were being left behind locked doors to fend for themselves when the enemy bombers flew over.

Many cats who lived with humans were starving, not because of their human's cruelty, but because there was not enough food these days. Cats were being taken in motor vehicles and dropped off outside the city limits to fend for themselves. Other cats had been left behind completely, as their humans fled the cities and moved to safer places.

We are very lucky here in Whiteflower Field. We must to do what we can to keep ourselves safe and help those less fortunate, Lavender declared. So, this is what I propose we do. I have called on George, my trusty first friend, to be in charge of patrolling our boundaries and guarding our dens from wild creatures who want to take them from us. He will need volunteers to increase the watches. Those of you who wish to assist, please come forward. Penchance and Lavender were pleased to see many of the younger males come forward.

Well done, said Lavender. Now we must also put together a rescue party to come with me into the city to find homeless or helpless cats and bring them to the safety of our colony. Bella, I want you to be leader of this group. Me, squeaked Bella, before she could stop herself. I know nothing about cities, or rescue missions. Yes, you my Bella, confirmed Penchance. Many of these lost and homeless cats in the city are little more than kittens and will need the comforting presence of female cats. You have proven to me that your mothering instinct is strong. You are brave and have the memories of many brave cats before you. I know you will succeed in this.

Those of you who leave the colony have an important job to do, reminded Penchance, but those of us who stay behind have an equally valuable role to play. Our job is to make comfortable dens for these new cats we expect to join our colony and to make sure their is an ample food supply available for all of us. We will also be providing safety and comfort to cats who do not wish to remain with us forever, but simply seek a safe haven for a short while, on their journey to their new homes.

Then this is settled. Bella, please choose no more than five brave and kind cats to make the journey to the City with you under my guidance. We leave at sunset tomorrow. Penchance I trust the care of our families is safely in your hands. George's team will secure the colony's boundaries and all the rest of you are responsible for making this colony a safe new home for those who return with us. Now there is much to do. And very little time to do it.

Thursday, December 6

Chapter 5 A Midnight Snack for Two.

Fred sighed deeply as he took his seat in the coach car. It just wasn't right to be leaving his new bride alone at the train station on their wedding day. But, he realized as he glanced around, if looks are telling, then most of these lads feel the same way.

And, Fred knew, it would be worse for Margot. Here she was, a newly married lady and instead of having a few days alone with her new husband, right now she was walking back to her tiny two room bedsitter flat, in the attic, on Florence Street. And to add fuel to the fire, tomorrow she would be going right back to her job at the dress maker factory turned uniform factory on nearby Crocus street.

Just then Fred noticed a squirming feeling around his mid-section that reminded him of another more urgent situation. How was he going to take care of Mayhem? He was scheduled to fly out on a mission with his company tomorrow. He was certain his Seargent Major would not allow the cat to stay in the barracks alone. This cat was his link to home and Margot. He had promised to care for the cat just as he would care for his wife, and he was not going to let someone put Mayhem outside to fend for himself. Fred knew he'd have to think of something, and fast.

Mayhem on the other hand was not thinking about anything like this. He was thinking while it was nice and comfy inside the jacket and it smelled a lot like his brother, right now he was hungry. Where was momma and why wasn't she bringing him a tasty mousey morsel? So he did what most babies do, he started to call for her, first quietly and then after a few minutes, a little more vigorously.

Fred had to do something now. Not knowing what else to do, he did what he'd watched his father do when his grandchildren needed consolation. He stood up, rubbed his mid-section gently to get Mayhem's attention, then began strolling slowly up and down the train car, humming deep in his throat as he went along. Now of course Mayhem did not understand this strange, almost but not quite, purring sound, but..it was comforting, so he snuggled down once again to sleep, just as Fred finished humming the final chorus of "By the Light of the Silvery Moon". Which was a good thing, because the only other song that Fred could hum was "God Save the King", and while patriotic, it was probably not the right tune for this particular audience.

About 45 minutes later, the train pulled into the station in Exeter where Fred's company was stationed. RAF and RCAF personnel gathered their belongings and made their way off the platform to the front of the staton where they stood around in the darkness smoking and waiting for the transports to come and pick them up

Once again Mayhem started moving around inside Fred's jacket. It was becoming clear to Fred that Mayhem would not be willing to stay concealed much longer. Hey George, he called out to one of his bunkmates, its a warm evening and there's been no air raid warnings tonight. Please tell the Seargent Major that I decided to stretch my legs. I'm going to walk to the barracks. Fred lifted his rucksack to his shoulder and started walking towards the airbase.

Mayhem was moving around frantically inside his jacket by now and Fred knew he had to find a safe place to let him out. Here you go buddy, he whispered when he came to a bare spot on the road. He popped open his jacket and Mayhem rocketed out. He had business that MUST be attended to. Whoa Mayhem, don't go too far away, cautioned Fred. There's all kinds of creatures out here who might like a tasty little midnight kitten snack. Mayhem really didn't care at this point, he was just so happy to be out in the night air. He relieved himself, covered up his tracks carefully, just like he was taught to do, then looked around eagerly. He could hear Fred rooting around in his rucksack. Mayhem was curious about the whistling sound Fred was making but he had other things to do right then. His tiny nose was twitching and his ears were shifting, listening to the new and exciting sounds. Suddenly the fur on his neck raised slightly. His instincts were telling him to crouch down and creep quietly under a bush, and to stay very very still...so he did and out of the corner of his eye, he saw it - a mouse, just the right size for a young tomcat's first kill. He pounced, the mouse jumped, Mayhem righted himself, crouched, pounced again and next thing he knew he had a mouse clamped firmly in his jaws. Wasting no time, Mayhem shook the mouse violently twice and snapped its neck. Dinner was served. He was a fine hunter. Proudly he carried the mouse out onto the street where Fred could see him. What on earth is that? Why you clever little tomcat, laughed Fred. I guess you won't need a bite of my ham sandwich after all. Fred finished the sandwich quickly and reached for the jar of milk that Margot had packed for them to share. Here you go Mayhem, have some milk to to wash down your mouse meal chuckled Fred. Mayhem eyed the jar lid offered, then sidled closer and cautiously lapped it up with his tongue. After drinking his fill, Mayhem settled down close beside Fred and proceeded to wash his face and whiskers untile he was as clean as a whistle.

You're quite a self sufficient little character aren't you? Barely more than a baby, and already you can feed and clean yourself. Maybe you'll teach me me a thing or two about that. But now, Mayhem my little friend, we have to walk along, there's still 2 kilometers to go before we get to the airbase. Would you like to ride in my jacket again? Fred opened his jacket and tucked Mayhem safely inside where he immediately began a deep rumbling purr. Smiling to himself, Fred started humming "By the light of the Silvery Moon" one more time. Mayhem felt himself drifting off to sleep. Hmm, he wondered, why do cats think all humans are dangerous?