Short story

Anne has always been a dog lover, so she is reluctant to look after her son’s cat

Anne’s son said persuasively: “It would only be for three weeks. Will you at least think about it?”

Anne frowned. “Steven, you know very well that I’m not a cat person. Dogs I understand. I have no idea how to look after a cat.”

He gave her a smile. “Amber is a lovely cat, Mum. She’s half Siamese and really friendly.”

“Look, I’m sorry to spoil your holiday plans, but I really can’t see it working. Can’t you put her in a cattery?”

“That’s the problem – Eloise cries if we suggest it and says Amber will think we’ve abandoned her forever.”

Anne sighed. She knew her granddaughter adored the family pet. If only Amber had been a dog… “I’m sorry, love, I just don’t think... ”

“This is a one-off chance to stay with friends in their villa,” Steven interrupted. “It’s important for Eloise to visit other countries. I don’t want to see her being left behind when all the other kids are travelling abroad.” Anne smiled. “She’s a bright spark that one. No fear of her being left behind.” Although she was only six, Eloise was older than her years. Anne hated to disappoint her, but the thought of looking after Amber was too much. Strange slinky

‘But Amber is such a good cat, Granny, she’d be no trouble…. She never wees on the floor or anything like that’

things, cats. And you couldn’t even take them for a nice walk.

“Well anyway, I’m going to put the kettle on. Call her in from the garden and I’ll do her some juice.”

Eloise came into the kitchen, smiling and full of chatter, as always. “I saw some birds. They had green on them. I don’t know what they are called, though.”

“Greenfinches, maybe?” Steven guessed. “We’ll try to find them on the internet later. Now listen, darling, Granny and I have had a chat and we really don’t think it would be fair for Amber to come and stay here, so we might have to think of something else.”

Eloise’s face fell. “That’s so sad! Why don’t you want Amber to come, Granny?”

Handing her a tumbler of juice, Anne said: “I don’t think Granny would be very good with a cat, poppet. And I’ve only met her once.”

Sitting with her elbows on the table and chin resting on one hand, Eloise frowned. She said very seriously: “But Amber is such a good cat, Granny, she’d be no trouble. She’s very tidy with her litter tray, so she won’t dig up your garden. She never wees on the floor or anything like that.”

Steven said: “I think we have to respect Grandma’s decision. She really doesn’t know much about cats.”

Eloise considered this for a moment, then said: “I know you and Amber are only acquaintances but you could become friends if you get to know each other.”