Hello,
My name is Jacqueline and here is a story I wrote for my grandchildren.
I hope you enjoy it.
Now settle back,
Get yourself comfortable and I will begin.
Tommy Tommy loves going for walks with his humans.
They don't actually take him for a walk,
He just tags along with them when they go out of their front door.
Their walks are always to the park which is just up the road and around the corner.
Tommy is a ginger tabby cat.
His body is very long and slender with a beautiful pale orange colour.
When he walks his steps are very precise and dainty for a boy cat.
He is a very affectionate cat and devoted to his humans.
He loves them unconditionally and always wants to be with them.
When his humans are not home,
He spends most of the day indoors sleeping,
Curled up on one of the humans' beds.
He doesn't mind which bed he sleeps on because they are all soft and comfortable.
He waits for the humans to go out and then he jumps upon his chosen bed and goes right on the covers up against the pillows.
Then he walks around in many tiny circles until he feels the spot is just right.
Only then will he lay down and peacefully sleep until his humans come home.
He doesn't know where the humans go but he knows that when he wakes up they will be home.
The noise they make coming into the house always wakes him up as they are not quiet humans at all.
Most mornings Tommy will follow his humans around the house while they go from room to room doing things and making noises.
Sometimes they will stop what they are doing and stroke him,
But most mornings they seem to be in a rush and will just ignore him.
When they have finished going from room to room they go downstairs and have some food.
If he stands by his bowl which is on the floor by the back door one of the humans will put some of his food into it for him.
Tommy likes to sit next to the little humans while they eat because they feed him some of their food.
He doesn't actually sit next to the little human,
He actually sits on the table next to their plate of food.
However if one of the big humans see him on the table they shout and push him off onto the floor.
But Tommy doesn't care,
He just waits until they are not looking and jumps back up onto the table again.
The little humans think this is very funny and laugh out loud and give him more of their food.
Most days after the humans have eaten they go out of the front door together.
Tommy always follows them.
Sometimes they get into their car and Tommy knows that this means they will be gone for a while.
When this happens he goes back up the stairs and chooses which comfy bed he is going to sleep on and stays there until they come home.
Today Tommy followed his humans as he did every day.
They did not seem to be in their usual hurry so he knew that they could be staying home with him.
The humans sat around after they had eaten their food and the little humans played with Tommy when he walked over and robbed against them.
He loved their cuddles and attention and he purred loudly to show his appreciation.
Sometime later in the day the humans started getting ready to go out.
Tommy followed them around the house and eventually they went out of the front door.
Today they did not get into the car.
Instead they walked past the car and up the road which led to the park.
They did not go to the park very often but when they did Tommy enjoyed going along with them and watching the little humans play.
The humans walked up the road and Tommy followed a little way behind them.
Then at the top of the road instead of turning left to go to the park as they had always done before they turned right and walked along this new road.
Tommy had never been down this road before.
Where were they going?
Tommy had no idea but followed his humans anyway.
They walked down the road,
Turned left and then right,
Continued walking past a new park the little humans seemed excited about and soon afterwards they stopped at a really busy road.
Tommy had never seen such a busy road so he crept into a garden close by and sat beside a bush where he could just about keep an eye on what was going on.
The humans stood on the curb near the busy road and kept looking left and right and the cars kept zooming past them.
Eventually the big humans shouted something in a very firm and loud voice and they all walked across the busy road really quickly.
Tommy ran out from the garden towards the busy road.
He wanted to go with them but then he heard his humans calling his name and holding their hands up and shouting,
No!
Stay there!
Tommy stopped at the curb just as six cars went by,
Each of them going really fast.
The noise the cars made frightened him.
The next thing he heard was his humans telling him he was a good boy and then they waved at him and continued walking up the road ahead of them.
Tommy watched them go,
Feeling upset as he was unable to follow because more cars were coming along this busy road.
One car went past and beeped its horn really loudly which made Tommy jump.
He didn't like this busy road.
The roads near his house were virtually quiet compared to this one with only a few cars going by now and again.
Tommy moved back from the curb and went to sit in the garden by the bush.
What should he do now?
He liked going for a walk with his humans but crossing this busy road was far too scary.
Tommy was in deep thought when he heard a rustling sound nearby.
He looked over and saw a big black bird using his beak to search for something in the old dead leaves on the ground.
Now animals can't talk out loud but they can communicate with each other using their minds.
Hey,
What are you looking for?
Tommy asked the black bird.
I'm looking for worms to eat.
I'm feeling a little peckish,
Replied the black bird as he hopped closer to Tommy.
What are you doing?
I'm waiting for my humans to come back,
Said Tommy.
They crossed over that busy road there and now I can't follow them.
The black bird looked over at the busy road.
Why not?
He asked.
There are too many fast cars going by and I'm scared they may hit me,
Tommy said looking really sad.
Can't you fly over the road?
The black bird asked trying to help.
I'm a cat,
Not a bird,
Tommy laughed.
I don't have wings.
Oh yes,
I see that now,
The black bird said as he studied Tommy a little closer.
Well maybe you should just sit here and wait for them to come back.
I have to go now.
There are no worms under these leaves so I must look somewhere else.
And he flew off without even saying goodbye.
Tommy watched the big black bird fly away and then heard a squeaking noise close by him.
He looked down and saw a tiny grey mouse sitting next to his paws.
What are you looking at?
The mouse squeaked at Tommy.
The big black bird who was here a minute ago,
Said Tommy.
The mouse ran around Tommy a few times.
He ran so quickly that Tommy felt dizzy trying to watching.
Coming to a halt in front of Tommy,
The mouse said,
Are you doing anything fun today?
No,
Replied Tommy sadly.
I was walking with my humans until they crossed that busy road.
I'm too scared to cross it because there are so many fast cars so I'm just sitting here waiting until they return.
The mouse started running around Tommy again.
Why don't you just run across the road really fast like me then the cars won't get you.
I'm a cat not a mouse and I can't run as fast as you,
Tommy said laughing.
You are tiny and move like grease lightning.
I doubt there's much that will catch you.
Unfortunately,
I'm a lot bigger than you and cannot go as fast.
Oh yes,
I see that now,
The mouse said as he studied Tommy a little closer.
Well maybe you should just sit here and wait for them to come back.
I have to go now.
Life is always busy.
And he was gone in a flash without even saying goodbye.
What are you doing in my garden?
A big gruff voice said behind Tommy.
Tommy turned around slowly and sure of who or what this frightening voice belonged to.
He came face to face with a little brown dog.
Not what he was expecting at all.
You sound really scary,
Said Tommy laughing,
But you are only a little dog.
Yes,
Said the little dog.
Isn't that funny?
I like tricking people into thinking I am a big ferocious beast.
Anyway,
I've been watching you sit here for a while now.
What are you waiting for?
Again,
Tommy repeated his story and then said,
So all I can do now is wait for them to return.
After the little dog thought about Tommy's difficult situation for a moment,
He said,
Why don't you just walk slowly out into the road?
When I do that,
All the cars slow down and stop for me.
When they stop for you,
You can then continue to cross the road and go and find your humans.
I'm a cat,
Not a dog,
Said Tommy,
Feeling he was getting nowhere with the help from his new friends.
When I step into the road,
The cars just beep their horns at me and carry on driving.
Oh yes,
I see that now,
The little dog said as he studied Tommy a little closer.
Well,
Maybe you should just sit here and wait for them to come back.
I have to go now.
It's time for my dinner.
And he walked off without even saying goodbye.
It was starting to get dark now and Tommy was feeling a little tired.
He had been sitting in this garden for ages and he hadn't had his nap today.
What am I going to do?
He thought as he watched the cars go racing by.
What are you going to do about what?
Said a gentle voice.
Tommy turned around and saw a big fluffy white Persian cat slowly walking towards him.
I see you are watching the cars,
The Persian cat said as she sat down beside Tommy.
You don't want to go near that busy road.
My sister tried to cross it last week and was knocked over by a speeding car.
She still hasn't recovered properly.
I'm sorry to hear that,
Tommy said.
I was following my humans and they crossed that busy road and told me to stay here.
I love going for walks with them,
But I'm scared of the cars.
Well,
My advice to you is to stay here and wait,
The Persian cat said reassuringly.
Humans have a tendency of walking back the same way as they went.
Thank you,
Tommy said,
Feeling a little happier with this advice.
We cats understand each other,
The Persian cat continued,
And know how to follow our instincts.
If something doesn't feel right,
Then you shouldn't do it.
When you wait patiently,
Good things can happen.
The Persian cat stood up and stretched her elegant body.
I have a feeling your humans won't be too much longer.
Enjoy your time relaxing in this pretty garden.
Goodbye.
Goodbye,
Said Tommy and he watched the Persian cat walk slowly and gracefully away.
Suddenly,
Tommy heard his name being called.
He looked over in the direction of the busy road and there he saw his humans walking back down the road they had walked up earlier.
They stopped at the curb and waited until there were no cars and then crossed the road.
Tommy ran over to meet them and they were all excited to see him.
The little humans bent down and stroked him and Tommy walked around each one of them purring loudly.
The big humans started walking and called the little humans.
Come on,
Let's go home.
You must all be hungry because it's time for tea.
Tommy realized that he felt really hungry and followed his humans home.
Thankful that they were all back together again.
