Bad. Bad and bitter, bitter and painful, painful and cruel.
No tears left to cry.
What for? Why did he do this to me?
Seven years, seven happy years.
Holding hands, never a harsh word, and now… just like that, he walks away. No, not walksflees like a coward.
The phone rings and rings. Who on earthwhat do they want?
Mum.
«Hello, duck… duck, what are you doing?»
«Nothing, Mum.» Must keep my voice steady.
«Well, thats good. Youre not crying, are you? No need to shed tears over some useless bloke.»
«Useless then, useless now,» Mum chuckles at her own joke. «Duck, I wanted to invite you to the cottage this Friday. Auntie Mollys coming, and so is her nephew, Jeremyyou dont know him, but I do. Lovely lad, just had a rough go of it.»
«Lovely lad, but the wife he ended up withutter waste of space. Good riddance, really.»
«Strangled her, did he?»
«What? Who strangled who?»
«His wife. You said he got rid of her.»
«Oh, for heavens sake, duck! Dark humour, eh? But thats goodlaugh, duck, laugh. Helps, you know. When Kenneth left meI told you that story, didnt I? We were at music school together. I played the cello, he played the French horn. Sweet lad, tousled blond hair, lovely really. I was mad for him, absolutely madand then the rotten sod ran off with the clarinetist, Natalie. Oh, duck, how I sobbed! Skipped lessons, wandered along the riverbank, even thought aboutwell, you know.»
«Mum I’m not really up for talking right now.»
«Oh? Alright, duck. So, will you come? Friday, well expect you.»
«Dont know, Mum, dont know.»
«No, Lottie, thats no answer. Promise me, hear?»
«Fine, Mum. Ill come. Not for long.»
«Good. Mums always here, love. Dad tooyes, Michael, I told her youre here as well. Duck? Lottie? You hear? Dad loves you, and so does Mum…»
Wrap up in a blanket, lie on my side, lights off.
No tears. No strength left to cry.
Just one question.
One.
Why?
What did I do?
Phone.
Again.
Sister.
Dont pick up. But if I dont, shell have the whole family in an uproar.
«Hello.»
«Sis, whats wrong? Crying?»
«No, why would I cry? My husband just left mebig deal. The man I was going to have children with, the man Ive been through everything with.»
«Good riddance, then! Blubbing over some tosser? When Gary dumped me, I thought Id just shrivel up and die. Remember Gary? Proper fit, we dated six months, I was mad about him. And look at me now, eh? Exactly. Anyway, were going campingcouples onlyand since Nigels wife left, we thought, well, Nigels decent, maybe you two could hit it off. And your ex? Never liked him anyway…»
«Lou? Lou? You in?»
«Ill think about it, Tess»
«Think hard, Lottie.»
Cold. Cold and aching. Physically aching. Cant open my eyesthey sting from tears.
Bzzzt.
Grandma.
God.
«Hello»
«Louisa, duck Come round, Ill make your favourite scones, hot chocolate, well even have a little tipple, eh? Send Grandad to the shed, just us girls I know how you feel. When Nigel left meoh, duck, I took up smoking. Not for long, mind. Then I met your grandfather, and he swept me right off my feet»
«Alright, Gran Ill think about it.»
And so it wentall day, someone ringing, someone else recounting their own heartbreak.
By evening, when Louisa finally dozed off, the doorbell rang.
Who now? Not answering.
But the bell kept ringing, insistent.
Louisa dragged herself up and opened the door.
Oddno one there. She moved to shut it, then heard an irritated voice.
«Well? Standing in the doorway, are we? Let a chap through. This is what I get for helping.»
Louisa looked down.
Good Lord, what?
Marching into her flat in single file were
«Hicwho are you?»
«Us? Cant you tell? Were kittens.»
«What kittens?»
«All sorts. Weve come to help. Right, patient, step inside and shut the doorlast thing we need is you catching a chill.»
«Were the family. The Whiskers family.»
«Mum, look at the state of her head!»
«Son, check her heart. Other sonpulse. Daughter, put the kettle on.»
«Sit, sit.»
Louisa sat. She knew she must be losing her mind, but the kittens scurried about with busy little airs.
«Grandma Whiskers, the patient needs a story.»
«Purrr, my dear let the bad float away, let the good settle in. Papa Whiskers, tuck her into bed. Auntie Whiskers, fluff the pillow for our girl.»
«Baby Whiskers, behave. Put that downprecious thing. Sweetheart, take the phone off the little one.»
Louisa watched, dreamlike, as tiny Whiskers snapped a selfie on her phone.
«Grandad Whiskers, massage her hands. Uncle Whiskers, her feet.»
And so they didsettling her in, kneading her limbs until she drifted off.
Through the haze, she heard the soft pattering of paws
Waking, Louisa was surprised to feel lighter.
She went to the kitchenwhere were the Whiskers family? Ah, just a dream.
She looked out the windowdawn breaking, golden autumn light.
Silly, taking leave just to cry. Rightwhats today? Friday. Promised Mum the cottage.
Stepping outside, she heard a faint mewl.
What?
Good heavens.
Alone by the doorstep sat Whiskers. What in the world?
«Wheres your lot, little one?» Louisa bent down, but he only mewed pitifully, pink mouth open in a tiny triangle.
She glanced aroundno one. Scooping him up under her coat, she decidedtake him to the cottage, sort it there. Cant leave him.
She didnt see the Whiskers family peeking from round the corner.
They high-fived with their paws and scampered offmore souls to save.
Louisa and the kitten boarded the train.
At the station, a young man stepped off too, glancing aboutclearly his first time.
«Where you headed?» Louisa asked.
«Me? Brightwood. Never been.»
«Come on, Im going that way.»
They chatted as they walked. Maxthat was his nametook her bag. By Brightwood, they were fast friends.
Louisa didnt want him to leave, but manners
«Lou, you wouldnt happen to know number thirty-seven, would you? Far from here?»
«Thirty-seven? Youyoure Auntie Mollys nephew.»
«And youre Auntie Lizs daughter.»
Laughing, they stepped through the gate.
«Whove you been cradling so tenderly? Thought for a moment you might be expecting.»
«Thats my son.»
«Your son?»
«Meet Whiskers!»
«Whiskers, eh?» Max grinned.
«Problem with his name?»
«None at all. Splendid name. Allow meMaximilian Alexander Whiskers.»
When Maxs aunt and Louisas parents appeared, the pair were wiping tears of laughter. At their feet, the kitten watched, head tilting.
***
A great grey tom sat on the windowsill, staring out.
«Well, where are they?» he rumbled. «Two months old, and theyre dragging him about like baggagedisgrace.»
Once, hed been small too.
Louisa often wonderedhow had Whiskers taken that selfie?
She and Max debated theories. Louisa still thought it a dream
Then *he* turned up.
Bottle of champagne, box of chocolates.
Louisa wasnt homeshe and Max werent married yet, but close.
And *he*thought hed sweet-talk his way back in. As if.
Whiskers stepped up, chest out. «What dyou want?»
The man near fainted.
Whiskers balled a tiny paw, pointed at the door.
«Run,» he ordered. «And dont you dare come near our Louisa again.»
Thencouldnt help it, still a babyhe tinkled in the mans shoe. Well, why not?
Good morning, dears! Listen quick, before the Whiskers family comes
Hugs, rays of sunshine and cheer.
Always yours.
