Whiskers Is Missing
“Natasha, are you home?” James burst into the flat and froze when he saw his wife in the hallway. She was crouched on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. “I couldnt understand a word you said on the phone. You were crying so hard. Then, of all times, my battery died. Whats wrong, love? You look absolutely shattered.”
“Whiskers is gone” Natasha barely managed to whisper. “Hes not in the house.”
“Gone?!” James exclaimed. “How? Where could he have gone?” He knelt beside her. “Can you explain properly? Maybe hes hiding somewhere?”
“No. Your sister Vicky She said he accidentally ran into the hallway when she was taking Michael out for a walk. But you know Whiskers, James Hed never just bolt out like that. Why would he? After what happened to him outside before I think she let him out on purpose.”
“What?!” James clenched his fists. “Where is she now? Wheres Vicky?”
“She went to the shops, I think I dont know. Ive been searching everywhere, but theres no sign of him. No ones seen him. How could anyone do this, James? Throw a helpless creature out in the cold, in winter? What kind of person does that?”
“A person wouldnt. But Vicky Vicky would. Especially since shes done it before. Dont worry, Ill make sure shes out of this flat by tonight. And Ill find Whiskers.”
—
A month earlier
James was walking toward the bus stop when he spotted something grey beneath a layer of snow.
At first, he thought it was just a stone. But then he noticed it was tremblinglike an old fridge rattling on its last legs.
Curiosity got the better of him. Hed never seen a stone shiver from the cold before.
Stepping off the path, he moved closer, only to realize it wasnt a stone at allit was a tiny grey kitten.
“Well, Ill be” James muttered, scratching his head. “What are you doing out here, little one?”
It was a rhetorical question. Any fool could see what a pet was doing outside in winterstruggling to survive.
The kitten wasnt meowing or crying for help. Just lying there, shivering, as if it had given up on anyone caring.
James gently scooped it up, brushing the snow from its fur, then tucked it inside his coat and hurried to catch the approaching bus.
On the way home, he remembered Natasha had been wanting a kittena grey tabby, just like this onebut theyd never found the time to visit a shelter.
Now, fate had practically dropped one at his feet.
“Natasha, Ive got a surprise for you,” James announced cheerfully as he stepped inside.
“Oh, youve been spoiling me lately,” she smiled, walking into the hall. “First those gold earrings, then the phone Ive been eyeing, now cinema tickets. Whats next? A ski trip?”
“Better!” James beamed, unzipping his coat and pulling out the kitten. “Found him outside. Isnt he just the sort you wanted? Grey and striped?”
“Oh my goodness,” Natasha gasped. “Hes freezing, poor thing. Give him here, Ill warm him up. Go wash updinners ready.”
She cradled the kitten, smiling. “Hes beautiful”
Thats how Whiskers came into their lives. Theyd debated namesTom, Felixbut settled on something simple.
“Whiskers suits him better than something fancy,” Natasha said.
“Agreed, love.”
It happened in late November, just as the first snow fell. Whiskers had never known the harshness of winter outsidethankfully. Many didnt survive it.
In the two weeks since, James and Natasha had grown attached.
No, that wasnt quite right. Theyd loved him instantly, but with each passing day, that love deepened.
Whiskers adored them too. Kind people. The sort who wouldnt hurt him, wouldnt abandon him like his previous owners had.
Even when he knocked things overthe TV remote, for the tenth timethey never shouted, just asked him to be more careful.
“Of course!” hed meow back, leaping onto the dresser again.
Everything was perfectuntil the knock at the door.
“Whos visiting this early on a Sunday?” James rubbed his eyes, squinting at the clockhalf six. Still dark outside.
“Maybe the neighbours?” Natasha suggested. “Something urgent?”
“Ill check.”
When James opened the door, he found his sister Vicky on the doorstepwith her five-year-old son, Michael, in tow.
“Hello, little brother,” she grinned. “Surprise visit. You dont mind, do you?”
“Well, actually”
“Oh, I know, I shouldve called. But it was sudden, and you wouldnt have picked up this early anyway. So here we are. Let us in, will you? And help me with the suitcasedragging it up four flights nearly killed me.”
James reluctantly let them in, though the suitcase unsettled him. People didnt usually bring luggage for a casual visit.
“Did something happen?”
“Isnt it obvious?” Vicky sighed dramatically. “My husband kicked me out. Found himself a new woman, can you believe it? Nowhere else to go. Mind if we crash here for a bit? Until I sort things out. We can even spend New Years togethernice, eh? Been ages since we caught up.”
“You know why we dont talk,” James muttered.
“Oh, come off it. Who holds a grudge forever? People make mistakes.”
James bit his tongue. No point starting the day with a row. Natasha wouldnt approve, especially with Vicky freshly dumped.
But he had every reason to resent her.
Five years ago, their father had died. Hed left behind a spacious three-bedroom flat in London, meant to be split between them.
At the time, Vicky was pregnant (by whom, no one knew). With their mothers backing, shed pleaded with James to sign over his share.
“Come on, I need the space more than you,” shed said. “Youre single, youll manage.”
James had agreed. He was living in student digs thenfigured she needed it more.
Then, after Michael was born, she sold the flat and moved in with some new boyfriend.
“Vals got a business to grow,” shed explained. “Besides, its my flat. Ill do what I want with it.”
James had exploded. The deal was shed keep it, not sell it off. At the very least, she couldve given him half the money.
But noit all went into Vals “business.”
Their mother had refused to intervene. “Sort it out yourselves,” shed said.
Ten years earlier, when they were kids, shed done the same.
Back then, James had brought home a stray kitten. A few days later, it vanished.
He never suspected his mothershed allowed him to keep it. But Vicky?
“Where is he? Tell me!” hed shouted.
Shed denied it, but her eyes gave her away.
Hed brought home another kitten soon after. That one disappeared too.
Coincidence? Unlikely.
After that, hed stopped bringing pets home.
No wonder their relationship was strained.
And now here she was, suitcase in hand, asking to stay.
“James, where else can she go?” Natasha sighed later. “Let her stay awhile. Just until she finds a place. Its nearly New Yearsmaybe youll patch things up.”
“Fine,” James relented. “But if youre okay with it.”
Something told him this wouldnt end well.
It didnt.
The very next day, Vicky started complaining about Whiskers. He was “too noisy,” “shedding on the sofa,” giving her “weird looks.”
Then Michael developed a sniffle.
“Allergies,” Vicky declared. “Probably from your cat.”
“Doubt it,” James countered. “More likely he caught a cold outside. Even if it is allergies, what then? Whiskers isnt going anywhere.”
“Oh, dont be ridiculous,” Vicky scoffed. “Member of the family? Grow up. How does Natasha put up with this?”
“Natasha loves animals as much as I do. Unlike you. Whats your problem with them, anyway?”
“Theyre a nuisance. I cant sleep with that thing racing around. Neither can Michael. Do you even care about your nephew?”
James fell silent. Childrenthat was a sore spot.
Theyd been trying for years. Doctors couldnt pinpoint why it wasnt happening.
And Vicky knew. Their mother mustve told her. Yet shed gone straight for
