The Clever Little Kitten Read online

  William and his parents lived in a little row of cottages further down the road from Molly’s house and the surgery. As they got there and Kitty wrestled with the front gate, Molly spotted Posy in the front window. She was sitting on the sill next to a vase of flowers, obviously watching out for them.

  “Oh look!” Kitty squeaked with excitement. “The kitten, the kitten!”

  Posy stared wide-eyed at Kitty, who was jumping up and down. Then she glanced at Molly, looking slightly worried. Molly smiled at her. Posy was thinking what she was thinking – that Kitty and William together could be a dangerous combination. She stood up, rather quickly, as Kitty ran to ring the doorbell.

  Molly could hear feet thundering down the hallway, and there was a rather loud crash. She peered back at the front window and sucked in a worried breath. Posy wasn’t there any more. And neither was the vase of flowers.

  The door took a while to open, as though whoever had been rushing to answer the bell had been distracted. Eventually, Janie came to let them in, smiling but looking a bit stressed. William was standing behind her, clutching a rather wet kitten.

  I was looking for you, Posy told Molly, her whiskers dripping. It was a very good place to watch from, in front of those flowers. I could see everyone coming up and down the road. But then I forgot they were there.

  Molly stroked her damp fur and Posy purred. A few little silvery sparks shimmered up between Molly’s fingers, and she blinked. Hopefully no one else had noticed. William was looking at Kitty taking off her wellies. “Be careful,” she whispered to Posy.

  “She knocked the vase over!” William said, nodding. “Posy’s not very good at being careful. But it didn’t break. Kitty, come and see my cars!” He hurried off, still holding Posy, and Kitty followed him.

  Janie sighed. “He’s right, it didn’t break. I think we’ve only got unbreakable vases left after nearly four years of William.”

  “She’s a bit accident-prone, then, your new kitten?” Mum asked as they went into the living room. Kitty and William were on the floor with the cars, and Posy was standing in a large red trailer that went with William’s tractor. She looked nervous. When she saw Molly, she took a careful leap on to the floor and hurried over to weave around Molly’s legs.

  “Posy!” William sighed. “You were going to be the animals for the farm.”

  “I’m not sure she likes the trailer,” Molly told him. “It’s a bit wobbly.”

  Much too wobbly! Posy agreed.

  “What about using Kitty’s elephant instead?” Molly suggested. “Then the tractor could be a zoo tractor.”

  Kitty held up her elephant hopefully. She’d brought it with her from her box of toy animals from home. The elephant was her favourite.

  William thought about it for a moment, and nodded.

  Posy gave a little purr of relief and climbed happily into Molly’s lap. Molly looked round. Mum and Janie had gone into the kitchen, talking about nursery, and Kitty and William were busy with their game now, rolling the tractor all round the room and out into the hallway. No one would notice if she whispered to Posy.

  “How’s your tail?”

  “Oh, it doesn’t hurt. Although I think maybe that’s why I knocked the vase over.” Posy nodded. “It’s put my balance off.”

  Molly had a feeling it was just that Posy had bumped into the vase, but it seemed mean to say so.

  “I was thinking, maybe we should try and find out what your magic does. I’m sure it’s useful for something.”

  Posy lay down flat with her paws stretched out in front of her and her chin on Molly’s leg. Even her ears drooped. “Are you? I’m not. Perhaps I’m just no good at magic.”

  She sounded so sad that Molly picked her up, cuddling the kitten against her shoulder. Posy gave a squeak of surprise and then rubbed her chin against Molly’s. “We’ll work it out, I know we will,” Molly whispered to her.

  Posy purred, and the sound was so deep and lovely that it made Molly’s hair shiver. “You promise?”

  Molly nodded. “I promise.” She wasn’t sure how they’d do it, but Posy’s purr had shimmered all through her. Molly felt as though even her fingernails were glittering.

  With that much magic in such a small kitten, they had to be able to find something special that Posy was meant to do.

  Chapter Four

  The Lost Elephant

  Molly sat dreamily in the corner of the living room, surrounded by William’s toys, with Posy snuggled into the hollow under her chin. Molly’s eyes were half-closed as Posy’s magic wrapped itself around her like a gorgeous shimmering scarf.

  She was woken out of her daydream by a sudden howl from Kitty.

  “My elephant! I can’t find him! Mummy, where’s my elephant?” Kitty stood in the doorway, wailing loudly, her eyes filling with tears.

  Molly’s mum came in from the kitchen and followed Kitty out into the hallway.

  “It’s probably just under another of the toys,” Molly heard her saying gently. “Don’t worry, Kitty.”

  Molly went back to stroking Posy, but a couple of minutes later, Mum led Kitty back into the living room, still crying. William was following them, looking worried. Janie was still in the kitchen, making the tea.

  “You haven’t found it yet?” Molly asked, frowning. Kitty loved that elephant – she usually took it to bed with her.

  Kitty shook her head. “William put it somewhere.” Her voice was wobbly.

  “It ran away from the zoo,” William muttered. “But I can’t remember where.” He went back out into the hallway, and Molly could hear him rooting through his toys. Her mum hurried after him – it sounded as though he was looking underneath by simply flinging them all up in the air.

  Kitty sat down next to Molly and leaned on her. “I might never find my elephant…” she whispered with a sniff. “He’ll miss me.”

  Molly hugged her carefully, trying not to squash Posy. “I’ll help you look too.”

  Molly felt Posy wriggle excitedly against her shoulder. I can find it! I’m sure I can. I’m ever so good at finding things. She stalked down Molly’s arm to the floor and set off around the room, her ears laid back and her nose to the ground.

  Kitty looked up at Molly, wide-eyed. “Is Posy looking for my elephant?”

  Molly hesitated. Kitty didn’t know about her magic, but her little sister loved animals too. Even if she did always want to dress them up. And right now, anything that made Kitty feel better was a good idea.

  She nodded and whispered to Kitty. “Yes. But I wouldn’t tell Mum. It’s a special secret.”

  “I promise!” Kitty breathed, her eyes wide and miraculously emptied of tears now. “She’s so clever!”

  Molly and Kitty giggled as they watched Posy search, her tail swishing from side to side. The kitten was concentrating so hard on sniffing her way along the carpet that she walked straight into the sofa, and then sat down, looking cross with herself and shaking her head as though her nose hurt.

  “Poor Posy!” Kitty patted her gently. “Please keep looking!” she whispered. “He’s grey, and he’s got a long trunk. His nose thing.”

  Posy looked up at Molly. Oh good. I wasn’t actually sure what an elephant was, she admitted. She stood up and prowled out into the hallway. Mum and William had gone into the kitchen now, and Molly could hear a banging of pans, as though William was emptying out the kitchen cupboards in search of Kitty’s elephant.

  Posy stuck her nose into a corner under the stairs and backed out sneezing, little delicate snorty sneezes, that made Kitty laugh. “She’s the cleverest kitten ever,” she told Molly. “How will she know where my elephant is?”

  Molly shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “Magic,” she whispered, and Kitty nodded, wide-eyed. “I thought so!”

  It’s dusty under there! Posy complained. But I’m close, I’m sure of it. It’s here somewhere.

  Molly crouched down beside her as Posy sniffed along the hall floor. “They were playing here,” she whispere
d. “It would make sense.”

  I know it’s here. I can feel your little sister. Posy looked up at Kitty, who was staring at her hopefully, her blue eyes filling her face, they were so wide. She needs it back, doesn’t she? Some things belong to people so much that you feel it. The elephant wants her back too.

  Molly blinked in surprise. Kitty had said her elephant would miss her, but Molly hadn’t realized it was true. Maybe it was. Perhaps Kitty had loved the elephant so much, he really belonged, and he knew he was lost. He was calling Posy to find him.

  Oooh! Posy purred excitedly, her tail sticking straight up in the air like a furry flag. We’re close, we’re close! She was nosing through the neat line of shoes and wellies standing by the front door. William’s were green with dinosaurs on, and Molly and Kitty had left theirs next to his, Molly’s pawprint purple ones and Kitty’s pink, scattered with little red hearts.

  Posy stood up on her back paws, peering into the tops of the wellies. But she wasn’t quite tall enough. With a little mew of crossness, she jumped, so suddenly that Molly gasped, “Careful!”

  Kitty squeaked as the tabby kitten swayed on the top of Molly’s purple welly boot.

  Posy teetered nervously, hanging on the edge and wobbling; then she disappeared half inside the boot, so only her bottom was sticking out.

  There was a strangled sort of meow, and her back end wriggled but didn’t budge.

  I’ve found it, she told Molly triumphantly. Then there was a little pause. But I’m stuck, she added. Help! And her tail flailed anxiously from side to side.

  Molly was trying very hard not to laugh. She knew Posy would hate it if she did, but the twitching tabby bottom sticking out of the welly was just so funny.

  Very gently, she tipped the welly a little and eased Posy out. The kitten came out backwards in a flurry of striped fur, and sat down immediately to swipe a paw across her nose and ears. She looked embarrassed, but she perked up when Kitty tipped the welly further and the grey toy elephant shot out. Kitty hugged it delightedly. “She found it! Posy found my elephant!” she cried. Then she looked at Molly and put her hand over her mouth in horror.

  William and his mum and Molly’s mum came out into the hallway, looking relieved.

  “Posy tipped my wellies over by accident,” Molly said quickly. “And Kitty’s elephant was in one of them!”

  William smiled suddenly. “Oh! I remember now. It just fitted.” He nodded happily, and then looked a little shamefaced as everyone glared at him.

  “Oh well.” Molly’s mum shook her head. “At least we’ve found it now. Thanks, Posy!” She leaned down and patted Posy gently.

  Molly and Kitty smiled at each other, a secret little smile, and Posy purred happily. I told you I was good at finding things, she reminded Molly smugly. I feel much better now.

  Molly nodded, and then she wrinkled her nose as a sudden thought came to her. Maybe this was Posy’s magic? All that curious cleverness that kept getting her into trouble – it was because she was a finding kitten!

  Chapter Five

  Practising Magic

  After tea, Kitty and William wanted to watch television, and Molly sat with them, with Posy lying on the sofa arm next to her.

  I’m sure your magic is for finding things, Molly said in her mind to Posy.

  Posy blinked and looked up at her questioningly.

  How else could you be so good at searching? Molly asked.

  So what should I do? Posy asked, her whiskers twitching. Should I go out and look for things that are lost?

  Molly said nothing for a moment as she thought things through. People lose things all the time. Now you know what to do, I’m sure it won’t be long before you can use your magic again.

  Posy yawned and stretched out her front paws. I want to use it now… she told Molly, sounding sad and a little bit grumpy.

  Molly frowned. It was being bored and having nothing to use her magic for that kept getting Posy into trouble. She needed something to keep her busy. Then Molly smiled. I know. Grandad showed me a game, one that you’ll love, Posy. Just close your eyes a minute, OK? Molly reached over to the little table next to the sofa and picked up a few little oddments – a pencil, one of Kitty’s hairslides, a pair of scissors, a toy car and a piece of William’s Lego. She arranged them on the sofa cushions between her and Posy, and then told the kitten, Now you can look! But only for a minute, Posy, and then you have to remember them all.

  Posy wriggled down the sofa arm so that she was almost vertical, with her paws just touching the cushions. I like this game! I can remember them all already.

  Sure? Molly asked, pulling her school jumper over the objects so Posy couldn’t see.

  Posy nodded. She closed her eyes, and her whiskers sparkled, little glittery lights jumping from whisker to whisker, so that she glowed. Molly leaned closer, to hide her from Kitty and William, and Posy recited the list perfectly.

  Wow. You’re much better than me and Kitty, Molly told her.

  Let’s do it again! Posy pleaded. I can feel it making my magic work really hard. It’s lovely!

  “Time to go home, girls.” Molly’s mum put her head round the door. “Sorry!” she added, as Kitty began to protest. “It’s late. Dad will be cooking our dinner by now.”

  Don’t worry, Molly told Posy, as they went out into the hallway. I’ve got a plan. You’re allowed out into the garden, aren’t you? We walk past here on the way to school, so I’ll find some more things and drop them over your fence when Mum isn’t looking. Then you can play the game yourself.

  When they got home, Molly searched out a bagful of odd bits from her bedroom and tucked them away inside her school bag. She was sure that practising with the game would help Posy keep her magic under control and stop her being quite so curious all the time.

  The next morning, she trailed a little behind Mum and Kitty as they went down the lane on the way to school. As they came up to William’s house, she saw Posy in her favourite spot in the window – it looked as though Janie had given up keeping a vase of flowers on the window sill.

  Posy was gazing hopefully out across the front garden, and as she saw Molly, she stood up excitedly, patting her paws against the glass.

  Molly could see her little pink tongue and hear just a hint of a mew through the window.

  Molly waved to her and then looked round. Mum and Kitty weren’t looking. Quickly, she dropped the little bag into the bushes on the other side of the fence, and pointed meaningfully at it. Posy immediately jumped down from the window sill, and Molly guessed that she was heading for her cat flap.

  Over the next couple of days, Molly was careful to look at William’s house on the way to school and back. She wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for. There was never any sign of an accident caused by a nosy kitten. And Posy certainly hadn’t been back to the vet’s; Molly kept checking with her dad. Hopefully the game she’d made up for Posy was keeping her out of trouble.

  That weekend, Molly was just wondering whether she could convince Kitty that she wanted to go and play with William so that they could see Posy again when her mum announced that actually, William was coming to Molly and Kitty’s house that afternoon.

  “I was saying to Janie that it was our turn to have William over, and she asked if it could be this weekend. They’re trying to do some decorating and she’s a bit worried about him getting into things… Apparently he got up at four o’clock this morning and tried to start painting his bedroom himself.”

  Molly nodded. She could just imagine William and a large pot of paint. It put an end to her hopes of seeing Posy, though, which was sad. She sighed. William and a pot of paint was bad enough, but what about Posy? Molly chewed her bottom lip. She just hoped that Posy was enjoying playing her game. Otherwise, there would be painty kitten footprints all over William’s house.

  Mum knew William well enough to want to keep him out of the house as much as possible, so as soon he arrived, she encouraged him and Kitty to go and play in the paddock b
ehind the old farmhouse. It was a bright, sunny day, even though it was still freezing outside. It had been raining so much over the last few weeks that Molly decided she would go out too.

  Kitty and William were playing a pirate game that seemed to Molly to be mostly just running around in circles, but it definitely had very complicated rules, as they kept having to stop and work out whether they were doing it properly or not.

  Whoever had got it wrong had to walk the plank, with loud screams.

  Molly sat on the fence between the paddock and the orchard and watched them for a while, but it was too cold for sitting still, so she wandered back inside. She had homework, unfortunately, and Mum made a fuss if she left it until the last minute.

  Luckily, the history worksheet turned out to be really easy, so it was only about half an hour later when Molly went back downstairs, planning to ask Mum for a snack.

  “Shall I get Kitty and William and see if they want some?” she asked, as her mum searched in the cupboard for some biscuits.

  Her mum nodded. “Yes, please, Molly. I was outside with those two and I was just thinking about getting everyone a snack, but the phone rang. I hope they’re all right out there,” she added, peering out of the kitchen window at the paddock. “I was on the phone a little while.” She frowned. “Well, Kitty looks as if she’s in one piece. I can’t see William.”

  “I’ll call them.” Molly ran out into the yard and round the side of the house. “Kitty! Bring William back in for a snack. Mum’s got biscuits.”

  Kitty raced towards her at once, and Molly hurried back inside. It was far too cold to be out without a coat.