The cat unexpectedly stumbled upon a mobile phone
The cat, padding through the hedge, brushed up against an unfamiliar object lying on the grass. It smelled intensely of human and radiated a pleasant warmth. Nestling down, he hugged it with his paws and settled himself on top. To his surprise, the phone lit up immediately beneath a single gentle tap of his paw.
Charlotte barely had time to enjoy her new mobile. From the very start, the phone proved to be faultyit would heat up at the slightest touch. Worse yet, she managed to lose it by afternoon.
Such a shame It had been a brilliant phone: large screen, battery that was supposed to last for daysthat very battery was what let her down. Now there was no hope of returning itthe device had vanished without trace.
Calling herself “an utter fool,” Charlotte dug out her old brick phonethe old-school one with the clunky buttonsand dialled her own number. The dial tone rang and rang, but there was no answer.
Sighing, she poured herself a dose of valerian drops, climbed into bed, and tried to retrace her steps in her mind. Maybe, if she walked back through her day, the phone would turn up. Suddenly, something began to buzz under her handsomeone was ringing her. The screen displayed a number she knew painfully wellher own.
“Hello! Who is this?” she burst out.
Only faint rustling, short sighs floated back to her and then, out of nowhere: Meow
Charlotte cut the call at once. Someones making fun of me, she grumbled. Pity she hadnt put a lock on itnow someone was having a laugh with her phone. Her irritation was soon cut short by another call.
Again, those sighs. More rustling. Then the same feline mewing, as soon as she spoke.
Stop calling me! she snapped.
But the calls didnt stop. Eventually, giving up on sleep, Charlotte bundled into her coat and stepped outside. The strange sounds clearly echoed from nearbymeaning whoever had found the phone might be somewhere on her street. All she had to do was follow her usual route.
She walked along, ringing her number every so often. Suddenly, she heard the unmistakable ringtone just ahead, under a big chestnut tree. Charlotte marched towards the sound, ready to give the prankster an earful.
Meanwhile, the cat remained curled up on the phone, utterly fascinated as it came to life and spoke to him. He gave it a thorough sniff, but the device kept up its odd human chatter. So, very politely, he replied.
The phone fell silent. The cat prodded it delicately, only for it to start talking once more. The warmth grew even more enticing on this blustery evening. The cat nudged it again.
Then, the phone suddenly burst into song. Alarmed, the cat batted it sharply with his pawsyet it kept on ringing. So frantically did he paw at the thing that he hardly noticed when a shadow appeared under the tree.
Charlottes indignation melted away the moment she glimpsed the real thief: under the chestnut squatted a ginger tomcat, looking slightly worse for wear, whacking her phone with his paw in a desperate attempt to make it stop making noise. But when he caught sight of her
He bounded over, as if greeting a long-lost friend. His purrs rumbled, his head butted eagerly at her handsCharlotte found herself charmed by such shameless affection.
The cat rubbed his cheeks against hers, as though giving kisses. She realised just how cold he wasno wonder the phones warmth had lured him. Tucking the phone into her coat pocket and the ginger tom in her arms, Charlotte strolled slowly home, marvelling at the feeling of love at first sight. The cat seemed utterly smitten, and after such an outpouring of affection, Charlotte simply couldnt leave him there under the tree.
Overjoyed, the tomcat writhed in her arms, trembling with happiness, nudging her chin and lipseven as Charlotte tried, unconvincingly, to dodge his bold attentions. Hard to believe he was a stray when he was this affectionate.
But, of course, the reason was all too simple
The cat was tipsy on the lingering scent of valerian that Charlotte had spilled earlier, intending to calm her nerves.
