**Diary Entry: For Mum and Little One**
I found him tucked behind a house corner, just darting between piles of rubbish in search of food. Thats when I spotted the tiny grey kitten.
The little thing was scrabbling across the pavement, crying desperately. Nearby stood a big, filthy, red-haired dogor at least, I think it was red. The dirt caked on his fur was so thick, it was hard to tell. He hesitated, and the kitten…
The moment the kitten saw him, it squeaked and crawled closer. The dog growled, but the kitten didnt flinch.
*”What the devil?”* the dog thought. *”Just what I need. Here, here! Your mumll be back soon. Stop bothering me.”*
He tried nudging the persistent little thing away with his paw, but the kitten ignored him, pressing against that grubby paw and clinging with tiny claws. Then it went quiet.
*”Fine,”* the dog huffed. *”Ill wait till his mum comes back, then Im off.”*
The kitten curled up and dozed off, perfectly content. The big, mud-coloured dog lay down too and waited.
He waited a long timetoo long. In fact, the mother cat never came.
A day passed, then evening fell, and still no sign of her. Night came, and the dog understood. Waiting any longer was pointless. Something terrible mustve happened to her.
When the kitten woke, it nuzzled the dogs belly, hungry.
*”Another problem,”* the dog sighed. *”What now? Cant just leave him to starve, can I?”*
Right.
Hed take the kitten to the bins behind the pub. They always had scrapsgood ones, too. There was even a hole in the side of the big skip where he usually scavenged. Hed feed the little thing there, then leave him. He couldnt be expected to lug a kitten around, could he?
Gripping the kitten by the scruff, he stood and trudged off. It wasnt far. He left the kitten in the bushes so it wouldnt wander while he rummaged.
The dog fidgeted nervously, ears pricked for the kittens anxious mewling. The grey scrap was calling for himno, for its *mum*.
*”Blast,”* the dog muttered. *”What mum? Shes not coming.”*
He found a few half-eaten yoghurt pots and carried them back. Lapping up the sweet, thick stuff, he didnt swallow itinstead, he smeared it onto the kittens face. The little thing licked it off, purring.
*”There. Sorted.”*
Pleased, the dog watched as the kitten clambered onto his warm side, dug tiny claws into his matted fur, and fell asleep.
*”Alright,”* the dog thought. *”Ill stay till morning. Feed him, then then Ill go.”*
But the kitten woke in the night, crying. The dog licked him quiet, soothing him till dawn. When the dog opened his eyes again, he met two tiny grey ones staring back. The kitten booped his wet nose and mewed.
*”Mum.”*
And just like that, the dog knewhe wasnt going anywhere.
From then on, he chewed food soft for his kitten, who ate eagerly before curling into him. The little thing hugged his doggy mum, played with his tail, slept on him. And somehow, the dog felt right. Like hed found home.
They ate together, slept together. The rest of the time, the dog made the kitten run and jump.
*”Might as well teach him to survive.”*
By summer, the kitten had grown. The dog, though, had gotten thinner. Then autumn came, endless rain turning their scavenging spots soggy. Sometimes, the dog wrapped his paws around his little one, shielding him from the cold, trembling as he licked him dry.
The dog caught a chillsniffling, sneezing, eyes watering. The kitten watched, worried.
*”Mum? Mum, whats wrong? Are you ill?”*
*”No, no, dont fret,”* the dog rasped. *”Just a sniffle. Come here, Ill keep you warm.”*
His vision blurred with tears as rain hammered down. The skip was emptytheyd have to move. Teeth gently gripping the kittens scruff, he carried him.
Water gushed down the pavement, the road. The sky wept without end, drops pelting the dogs back. But he only cared about one thing:
*”Cant let his paws get wet. Cant let him catch cold.”*
He hurried across the roadtoo fast to notice the car rounding the corner.
Thank God it was slow. The wipers couldnt keep up with the downpour. The bumper clipped him, just enough to send him sprawling onto the pavement.
The driver stopped, stepping out.
*”Let me see,”* he said, but the dog
The dog snarled, clutching something tight against his chest.
*”Easy,”* the man soothed. *”Im a doctor. Let me help.”*
Rain lashed harder. The doctor winced as water soaked his back, but the dog only curled tighter, eyes squeezed shut.
*”Whatve you got there?”*
Peering closer, the doctor gasped. Beneath the dogs paws blinked two feline eyes.
*”Ah. Right. Come on.”*
He spread his coat on the wet ground, carefully lifting them both into the car.
At his old friends vet clinic, the place was empty.
*”Bloody weather,”* the vet grumbled. *”Whatve you brought?”*
Without a word, the doctor laid the soaked dog on the tablestill cradling the kitten.
*”You hit him?”*
*”I did.”*
The vet took the kitten, passing it to the doctor.
*”Sit over there. Dont distract me.”*
Needles, tools, quick hands. The kitten squirmed, desperate.
*”Mum! Mum! Im here! Dont be scared!”*
*”Shh,”* the doctor murmured. *”Shes in good hands.”*
The kitten stared, wide-eyed, as the vet worked. Exhausted, he finally slept in the doctors arms.
Hours later, the vet said the dog could go homeneeded shots, check-ups.
*”Tell you what,”* the vet added. *”Ill stop by tonight. Check on your patient. Maybe share a pint.”*
Days later, the vet found this scene:
The big red dog, awake now, being hand-fed treats by the doctor. Still too weak to stand. Beside him sat a lanky grey kitten, watching every bite with concern.
*”Worried for his friend,”* the doctor said.
The vet, who knew animals betterwho had dogs and cats of his ownknelt beside them.
*”Youve got it wrong. Hes not worried for his friend. Hes worried for his *mum*.”*
*”What?”*
The vet stroked the kitten, winking.
*”Dont fret. Shell be fine.”*
The kitten purred, butting his hand.
*”Mind if I take them once hes better?”* the doctor asked later, over drinks.
*”Perfect,”* the vet said. *”A toastto his recovery. And whatll you name them?”*
The doctor thought, then smiled.
*”The dog? *Mum.* The kitten? *Little One.*”*
The vet raised his glass.
*”To Mum and Little One.”*
They drank, laughed, reminisced. Meanwhile, Little One climbed onto Mum, hugged his bandaged leg, and dozed off.
The dog gazed down, wonderinghow had he ever lived without this kitten?
**Lesson learned:** Sometimes, family isnt what youre born into. Its what finds you in the rain.
