Double Trouble
by Leo
My devoted slave had the decorator yet again and I was not a happy cat at all, for as soon as I got comfortable anywhere, there he was with his brushes and horrible smelling cans of paint, chasing me out of the room, or rather my devoted slave kept moving me, saying I might do some damage. Damage? Me? It was the decorator doing the damage covering my walls with horrible gooey paint and tearing off all the paper I’d so lovingly decorated with my claw marks over the years.
I retaliated by depriving my devoted slave of my company and spending as little time indoors as possible. I’d found a comfortable chair discarded in the outhouse and was living there until peace and order were restored by the departure of the decorator. My devoted slave seemed too preoccupied to even notice my absence as she spent her time fussing over colours and telling the decorator on no account to leave the front door open.
My devoted slave had gone shopping leaving the decorator to continue working Once I was sure he was safely upstairs out of my way, I slipped back into the house to see if my devoted slave had left me any tea and was delighted she’d filled my dish with my favourite tuna flavour. I was just tucking in when the doorbell rang. The door was ajar so I decided to see who it was, as contrary to popular belief; curiosity did not kill the cat as I’ve always found it pays to be well informed.
I heard the decorator grumbling to himself “Silly woman must have forgotten her keys!” before opening the door. I recognised the voice of the woman standing there and froze in fear, as it was she who’d once taken me to the Vet where I’d been deprived of various vital parts of my anatomy! I was not letting her catch me again, as Goodness knows what I might lose next; I wasn’t risking my beautiful tail for example!
“I’m from the Cat’s Protection.” I heard her say.” This cat was brought in today and he belongs to the lady who lives here.”
“ She’s out.” The decorator replied.
“I can’t wait as I’m due to go into work so I’ll just drop him off. Tell her when she gets back, please. I know she’ll have been dreadfully worried about him.”
I heard the sound of a cat basket being unfastened followed by that of a car drawing away.
Then I heard the decorator’s footsteps approaching the kitchen. “It’s a good thing you can’t talk, Kitty,” he said.” If she knew I’d left the door open when I was moving my stuff in, she’d sack me. I’m in luck you were found before she noticed and is out at the moment. In you go!”
He shut the kitchen door and I prepared to do battle with the newcomer. Instead, I stood transfixed staring at what looked like my own reflection in a mirror.
I have ginger striped fur and a cream tipped tail. So did he. I have a red collar. So did he. I have an identity tag with my name,” Leo” round my neck. He even had that too “!
“Hello” I mewed after a few moments.” I’m Leo”
”Hello mewed the newcomer. “I’m Leo too. I ran away as my slave has a new puppy and then a lady put me in box and brought me here .Is this my new home?”
Before I could reply my mother, Queenie, and my sister Josephine came in from the garden. Josephine gave an angry hiss and made to chase the newcomer away but my mother stopped her.
“Can it be?” she mewed excitedly.” Is it my long lost kitten?”
She turned to Josephine.” Don’t you remember your little brother?”
I dodged a swat from Josephine’s paw “How could I forget? “ she hissed. “No, not him, you silly girl. Your other brother. Your littermate, the beautiful little ginger kitten who was born just after you and vanished before his eyes opened. Someone took him from me ! Are you my long lost baby ? ” she asked the newcomer.
“I can’t remember my mother.” He replied.
Queenie took this for confirmation and ran to him and began to wash his ears.
Ginger then arrived and as Ginger is of a very friendly disposition, he warmly welcomed the newcomer, and together with my mother showed, him where everything, including the food was. I was glad I’d already had my tea as he ate what was left in the dish. Josephine and I didn’t dare to object as our mother’s word is law and if she thought he was our brother, we had to welcome him as such. I supposed it were possible he might be my brother, as I’d no idea what had become of my two sisters who were born at the same time as I was. Maybe the reason Josephine had never liked me was because I reminded her of a brother she’d lost?
My devoted slave didn’t come home until late and after checking, her e-mail went straight to bed. I settled myself alongside Ginger in my usual place while she was in the bathroom changing into her nightgown and waited for my mother to join us. Much to my consternation she brought the other Leo to join us.
“ What will our devoted slave say?” I mewed.
“I’m sure she’ll welcome your long lost brother.” My mother replied. My devoted slave climbed straight into bed without switching the light on and fell asleep straight away.
When she awoke it, was morning and the sunlight was streaming through the curtains .For the first time, she noticed the three ginger cats on the bed. She sat and stared at us and then she screamed.
“I’m seeing things! I must be going mad! “ She covered her hands with her eyes and the newcomer took his chance to make good his escape. My devoted slave uncovered her eyes, looked at Ginger and myself, and reached for the phone.
“Doctor, I need you come. No, I can’t come to the surgery. I’m having hallucinations .I fear it’s something serious!” I heard her say. I wondered what I should do. I didn’t want my devoted slave to think she was seeing things but I couldn’t chase the newcomer away, especially if he were my brother!
Ginger, my mother, and I all crept downstairs.
Shortly afterwards the doctor arrived and I waited anxiously outside as she went into my devoted slave’s room.
“I can’t find anything wrong with you.” I heard the doctor say.” You say you are seeing too many cats. Could a strange one have got in and then you have four couldn’t you are mixing them up?”
“ But they were both alike.” my devoted slave protested”. They even had the same collars and nametags on. I know my own cats and I’m seeing double!” “It’s probably stress. You must have been overdoing things.” the doctor said ” I’ll give you some tablets and advise you to rest.”
I retreated into the kitchen where Queenie and the other Leo were sitting. I heard my devoted slave and the doctor coming down the stairs and expected them to go straight to the front door but instead they came towards us. I heard my devoted slave saying.
“These are my cats here! No, they’re duplicated again! I’m going crazy” “You’re not seeing things said the doctor. I can see two identical cats myself. If you are hallucinating, so am I! “
Just then, the phone rang.
“No I didn’t know you’d come yesterday.” I heard her saying “And Leo hadn’t gone missing but he seems to have been duplicated! I don’t know what’s going on. I’ll call you back”
The doctor had picked up the local paper, which was lying on the table. “I think I’ve solved the mystery.” she said “Just listen to this “” Missing. Ginger tabby. Red collar. ID tag. Name Leo” There’s a phone number to ring I don’t think you need those tablets after all! I must go now as I’ve other calls to make.”
Looking rather dazed, my devoted slave took the paper from her and picked up the phone again.
An hour or so later a woman arrived carrying a cat basket. The other Leo ran to her purring loudly.
“Thank you so much for calling me.” She said to my devoted slave. He ran away while I was looking after my sister’s puppy for a few days. I was so worried as he’s special and I feared he’d gone for ever.”
“My Leo is special too.” My devoted slave said, making me purr too.” They are so alike. I wonder if they’re related. I have my Leo’s mother and sister.
“I don’t know,” the lady said. My sister found him as a tiny kitten and brought him to me. She loves dogs whereas I’ve always been a cat person. It was love at first sight and I’ve had him ever since. I’d better go now but here’s some money to buy your Leo a special treat”
My mother was upset when she learned the other Leo had gone but I felt one of me was quite sufficient though I’ll always wonder if he really were my brother or not.
