Magic Kitten: Moonlight Mischief (5 page)

‘Oscar?’ Eve guessed.

‘He’s one of your favourites, isn’t he? I think we’ll get him checked over by the vet.’ Her dad popped the supper in the oven. ‘I’m just going to the office. I’ll get your mum to phone Oscar’s owners when she has a minute, to tell them what’s happening.’

Curious, Eve decided she’d go and
have a quick look at Oscar herself.

‘Come on, Flame,’ she called, as the little kitten padded along behind her.

As soon as she opened Oscar’s pen and stepped inside with Flame, the grumpy cat pricked up his ears. Oscar gave a low growl in his throat and then he spotted Flame. His eyes narrowed with interest as he walked over to the kitten and had a good sniff. A moment later, Oscar started purring.

‘He seems to like you, Flame,’ Eve said in amazement. ‘I wonder if Dad’s right about Oscar being sick.’ She risked stroking Oscar gently. He put up with it for a second or two and then moved away. ‘Poor old boy. Do you feel poorly? Is that why you’re grumpy?’
It’s
a shame you can’t talk, like Flame,
she thought.
Then you could tell us what’s wrong.

Chapter
* SIX *

‘Hurrah, it’s Saturday! My favourite day!’ Eve cried the following morning as she dried her hair after having a shower.

Flame sat on the bedroom window sill, washing his face with the side of one front paw. He gave her a whiskery grin. ‘Why do you like this day so much?’

‘Because it’s when I get my pocket money!’ Eve said in a voice muffled by the towel over her head. ‘And I’m going to the cinema!’

Flame frowned. ‘What is the cinema? It sounds as if it is a good place,’

‘Oh, it is. It’s where they show moving pictures, called films. They can be funny or sad or even frightening. You can buy popcorn to eat too. It’s great fun.’

Flame’s eyes widened. ‘I would like to see these moving pictures. Will you take me with you?’ he purred excitedly.

‘Of course I will,’ Eve promised. ‘But you’ll have to hide in my bag again.’

Flame nodded. ‘And what is this popcorn you eat? Is it something like cat biscuits?’

Eve bit back a grin. ‘Not exactly. I think you’ll want to pass on the popcorn!’

She finished drying her hair and then reached for her shoulder bag. Flame jumped inside and curled up.

As she went to call for Alison, Eve couldn’t help thinking about Oscar. The vet had kept him at the surgery as he wanted to do some tests.

Alison opened her front door, wearing just a long baggy T-shirt and slippers.

Eve thought she must have forgotten about going to the cinema. ‘Hi, Alison! You’d better hurry or we’ll miss the start of the film,’ she said.

‘I’m… I’m not coming,’ Alison gulped. Her eyes looked red and puffy as if she’d been crying. ‘Darren’s been playing up again. Mum’s gone ballistic and now I’m grounded.’

‘What’s he been up to?’ Eve asked.

Alison wiped her eyes. ‘I was doing my homework in the kitchen, when Darren sneaked upstairs. He got hold of Mum’s lipsticks and rubbed them all over the duvets and bedroom curtains. It took Mum hours to get the stains out.’

‘But that wasn’t your fault,’ Eve said indignantly

Alison shrugged. ‘Try telling my mum that. I explained that Darren slipped past without me noticing, but she said I should have checked on him. The little horror was quiet as a mouse up there. You know what he’s like.’

‘Yes, I do,’ Eve said with feeling, remembering how Darren had run off
with Flame. ‘I’m really sorry you can’t come out today. Maybe we can go to the cinema another time.’

Alison nodded and gave her a watery smile. ‘Yeah, OK,’ she murmured, before shutting the door.

‘Poor Alison. She was really upset,’ Eve said to Flame as they retraced their steps back to the cattery. ‘I don’t know how she puts up with that little terror of a brother!’

‘Whose daft idea was it to volunteer to look after the cattery?’ Jim Dawson groaned on Sunday afternoon as he stretched and yawned.

Eve giggled and gave him a playful shove. ‘Mum’s and yours, silly!’

Her dad chuckled. ‘Well, next time I
have an idea like that, someone shoot me!’

Eve made everyone some hot chocolate. She took a mug in to her dad and then went into the office where her mum was catching up with some paperwork.

‘Thanks, love.’ Mary Dawson took the hot chocolate and sipped gratefully. ‘I’ve almost finished here. I thought we could all go out for a brisk walk and blow the cobwebs away.’

Eve put her head on one side. ‘Do you mind if I don’t come, Mum? I was planning to watch that new video Dad got for me, seeing as how I didn’t get to go to the cinema with Alison.’ Eve was looking forward to showing Flame what video and TV was like!

Her mum patted her arm. ‘No, that’s fine, love. How about you, Jo? Do you and Darren fancy coming?’

Jo had just popped in to deliver a pile of ironing. Darren was outside the back door, kicking a ball against the terrace wall. Jo smiled. ‘A walk’s probably just what Darren and I need. And it’ll give Alison a bit of peace
while she’s doing her homework.’

Eve felt pleased that Alison had some peace and quiet for a change, especially after the lipstick disaster. Even though she sometimes felt a little lonely without any brothers or sisters, she didn’t envy her having a brother like Darren.

After everyone had gone out, Eve decided she needed some crisps and a drink to go with the video. She looked in the kitchen cupboard, but they were out of crisps. Now that she’d set her heart on them, nothing else would do.

‘Come on, Flame. We’ll just have to go and buy some treats,’ she said, pulling on a jacket.

It was windy in the street. Yellow and green leaves scuttled along in little
whirlwinds along the pavement. Flame couldn’t resist them. He darted about play-growling and pouncing on leaves, his sandy tail whisking about with excitement.

At the shop Eve bought some crisps and chocolate and a big bottle of lemonade. As she came back, she passed Alison’s house. On impulse, she decided to ask Alison if she’d like to come and watch the video too.

‘I bet she’ll be glad to get away from doing boring homework,’ she said to Flame, as she knocked on the front door.

Alison took ages to answer. Eve was about to give up, when the door opened a crack.

‘Hi,’ Eve said brightly. ‘Dad rented a
video for me. Do you fancy coming to watch it with Flame and me?’

‘Oh, er… Hi, Eve,’ Alison puffed, out of breath.

Her cheeks were pink and her long brown hair was all over the place. Eve noticed there was a sticking plaster on the older girl’s finger. It looked new, as if Alison had just put it on. ‘Have you cut your finger?’ Eve asked worriedly.

‘No! I mean… I… er… burned it on the toaster. Silly, isn’t it?’ She gave Eve an awkward grin. ‘A video sounds great. Thanks. I’ll just grab my coat.’

Eve raised her eyebrows at Flame. Alison was acting really oddly.

Alison reappeared in her coat.

‘Ready? Let’s go.’

Back at the cattery, Eve, Alison and
Flame settled down in the sitting room. The video was fun. It was a brilliant fantasy adventure. Flame curled up on Eve’s lap, watching it intently and purring loudly.

Alison grinned. ‘Fancy that kitten liking films. It’s amazing.’

Eve just smiled, thinking that Flame was even more amazing than Alison realized!

As Eve took the video out of the player, her parents, Jo and Darren came in. They were all flushed and windblown from their walk.

‘Can I play in the garden?’ Darren asked.

‘I wish I had that boy’s energy,’ Mrs Dawson said with a smile, going into the kitchen after Darren. ‘I’ll make us all a hot drink.’

‘Hello, what are you doing here, Alison? I thought you were doing your homework,’ asked Jo, frowning.

‘That was my fault,’ Eve said quickly. ‘I asked her over to watch a video. That’s OK, isn’t it?’

Jo’s face softened as she smiled at Alison and Eve. ‘Course it is. It’s nice that you two are spending time
together. You can always finish your homework later, Alison.’

Alison rolled her eyes at Eve. ‘Thanks,’ she whispered. ‘I thought I was in trouble for a minute there!’

Eve chatted to her dad, Jo and Alison for a couple of minutes and then decided to go and see if her mum wanted any help. Flame followed her into the kitchen.

‘What’s that noise, Mum?’ Eve said, as she heard some scuffling and clanging coming from outside. She looked out of the kitchen window, expecting to see Darren kicking his ball around, but he wasn’t on the patio. ‘It’s coming from over the fence. Something’s going on near the pens. Come on, Flame. Let’s go and have a look.’

Her mum frowned. ‘Wait a minute, love. I’ll get your dad.’

But Eve and Flame were already rushing through the storeroom and running out into the yard. Eve stopped, her eyes widening with dismay as she saw the terrible mess.

The rubbish bins had been tipped over. Newspapers, food packaging and empty tins had spilled everywhere. And right in the middle of the rubbish, kicking tins and packets about, was Darren.

Chapter
* SEVEN *

Eve’s parents and Jo came out into the yard. ‘Oh, no!’ Mr and Mrs Dawson gasped.

Jo ran over to Darren. ‘You naughty boy! Whatever possessed you to do this?’ she shouted.

Darren looked up at his mum with innocent blue eyes. ‘It wasn’t me!’

Jo bent down in front of her son.
‘You’re only making it worse by telling fibs!’

‘I’m not!’ Darren insisted, sticking out his bottom lip. ‘It wasn’t me.’

Jo looked really embarrassed as she turned towards the Dawsons. ‘I’m really sorry about this! I’ll take Darren home and then come back and help clear up this mess. Alison, will you stay at home with him, please?’ she called to her daughter who stood in the doorway.

Alison’s shoulders slumped and she sighed heavily. ‘Why me?’ she complained. Then she saw her mum’s expression. ‘OΚ, if I have to,’ she said in a small voice.

Darren’s angelic face crumpled. He howled in protest as his mum marched him away.