Writer’s Block

A curmudgeonly kitty discovers he has room in his heart for a new friend

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marillyn lives in Belwood, Ont., and began her writing career as a stay-at-home mom with two young children. In her spare time, she wrote articles on antiques for Canadiantiquer magazine. The sweet taste of success and the joy of reading to her children led to her true calling—writing for children. Marilyn is now the award-winning author of 30 children’s books and is currently working on a collection of short adult fiction. You can visit her website at www.marilynhelmer.com.

Iwoke up one morning to find a tiny orange-and-white ball of fluff drinking from my water dish. I dashed across the kitchen, hissing and spitting. Sean Haverchuk grabbed me and held me back.

“Don’t be rude, Max,” he said.

His sister, Jen, picked up the kitten. “Meet your new friend

Chloe,” she said.

I stalked out to the yard.

No one asked me if I wanted a new friend or not. If they had, I would have told them that there isn’t enough room for two cats in one house.

I caught a mouse for Mrs. Haverchuk.

Don’t get upset! I don’t kill mice. I catch them alive. Mrs. Haverchuk likes them that way. You should see her scream and yell and jump up and down when

I bring one home.

I let the mouse go in the living room.

Mrs. Haverchuk was impressed. I’ve never heard her scream that loudly before.

While everyone was chasing the mouse, Chloe came over to me. “You’re so clever and brave,” she purred. “Will you teach me everything you know?”

I gave her a big, friendly wink. She was so busy rubbing against my chin that she didn’t notice my sly grin.

Chloe learned quickly. I taught her to jump onto the kitchen counter when she was hungry. How could I know that she was going to break all those dishes? I showed her how to dig holes. I can’t imagine why she decided to practice in Mr. Haverchuk’s vegetable garden.

And I showed her the best place in the house to catnap. It wasn’t my fault she knocked over one of Mrs. Haverchuk’s prize African violets, was it? I sneaked Jen’s teddy bear into Chloe’s bed so she could chew on it.

By the end of the week, there were some very cranky people in the Haverchuk household.

“We have a problem,” Mrs. Haverchuk announced. I grinned from my hiding place under the kitchen table.

“There isn’t enough room for two cats in one house,” Mr. Haverchuk added. My grin grew wider. I could have told him that in the first place if he had only asked me. “The Sedgewicks are looking for a kitten,” he went on. “We’re going to give Chloe to them.”

Jen burst into tears. Sean ran to his room and slammed the door.

Things were working out just the way I hoped they would. Well, almost. I know the Sedgewicks. They live up the street and they have two big dogs and a lot of noisy children.

The next morning, Chloe was gone. I spent the day doing all my favourite things. I dug holes in the garden but no one came to admire my work. I checked the kitchen counter for tidbits but there was no one to share them with. I catnapped in the sunshine. No one snuggled up to me and cleaned my ears.

I roamed around looking for something else to do. Why was the house suddenly so huge? Why was the yard so empty?

That night I dreamed about two big dogs chasing one small kitten. When I woke up, I was alone. Down the hall I heard Jen crying in her room. I heard Sean’s bed creaking as he tossed and turned.

I lay awake for a long time, staring into the darkness. In the morning, I didn’t even wait for breakfast. I pushed the loose window screen aside, raced across the yard and headed for the Sedgewick’s house.

The Sedgewick children were outside, shouting and shoving each other, playing ball. Their dogs were barking and running after them. I spotted Chloe, hiding under a lilac bush. She looked terrified. Quick as a wink, I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and took her home.

Half an hour later, Mrs. Sedgewick knocked on the door. “Your kitten ran away,” she said. “If you find her, you can keep her. She’s too much trouble.”

The Haverchuks found Chloe and me, napping together in my basket.

“Mom, look, Chloe and Max are friends now,” Jen said. “Can’t we keep her? Please?”

“We’ll teach her to behave,” said Sean. “I bet Max will help us.”

Mrs. Haverchuk smiled as she scratched behind my ears. “Is there room for two cats in one house? What do you think, Max?”

I put a paw around Chloe’s neck and began to wash her ears. Yes, there is definitely room for two cats in the

Haverchuk household! n