The cat regarded her in silence. Taking a deep breath, gathering courage, Annabelle reached out, hoping the sleeves of her leather jacket might save her hands from the claws of the fluffy fare-dodger
The shift was done, and Annabelle moved to the back of the double-decker bus, carefully peering beneath every seat.
The bus was like her second home; and at home, Annabelle always kept everything spotless. Perhaps because there was no one around to ever make a mess?
Annie, its high time you found yourself a bloke, the matronly dispatchers would say. Youre nearly thirty, love, and still on your own! Not to mention, bus driving isnt really a ladys jobmost men couldnt keep their patience with these quarrelsome passengers you get these days!
My passengers are all right, shed smile, And I like the job. I mean, a husband isnt a pet, is he? You dont just get one like you would a cat or dog!
Theyd glance at each other knowingly. They understood well enough: looking after a man was much more trouble than looking after a pet.
Well, get yourself a cat, then, they recommended. No sense being alone!
Annabelle sighed. A cat hasnt turned up yet, shed tell the well-meaning ladies before heading off home, putting on some tunes, making herself dinner, reading a bit, and then heading off to bed
The days drifted by in a blur of sameness, each one indistinguishable from the last. She didn’t care for weekends, either. Then she always seemed to have too much time on her hands. On those days, shed ride her own bus as a passenger.
She enjoyed pretending, for a little while, that she was going off somewhere grandthat someone else was taking her to a happy, pretty place.
This day was no different. When her route ended, Annabelle checked the carriage, tidying up as usual.
Crouching to look beneath the rear bench, she jerked backwardsthe unblinking gaze of two glowing eyes stared out at her.
Hey! You therehere, kitty, kitty, kitty! Howd you end up back there? Annabelle squatted. Lost, are you?
The cat watched her, cryptic and silent.
She exhaled, nerves buzzing, and dared to reach into the trembling shadows, trusting the worn leather of her sleeves to ward off any feline wrath.
The cat allowed himself to be pulled out, and Annabelle could finally get a good look at him.
He was magnificent.
She wasnt one for cat breed trivia, but the distinctively flat face and cloudlike luxury of his coat told her she had a Persian before her. Around his neck a collar gleamed, a round silver tag shining in the dusk.
Merlin, she read aloud, turning him left, then right. Well, well! Is it really you? The great magician?
Merlin the cat yawneda slow, deliberate gesture, as though he didnt rule out wizardry as his profession.
So what am I to do with you, your magical honour? She decided such a cat merited extra politeness. Shall we look for your people, then?
Merlin yawned again. Who knows, his eyes seemed to say. By the way, dinner wouldnt go amissand a nap wouldnt hurt either.
Annabelle resigned herself; in truth, there were only two options, but how could anyone leave such a fare-dodger on the street?
So, right, she told him firmly. Youll spend tonight at mine. Tomorrow Ill post up notices with your picturesomeones probably out there worried sick about you!
Merlin offered no argument. Still, as soon as Annabelle headed towards the door, he wriggled free and slipped to the floor, scurrying back under the seat. He returned, clutching something in his jaws.
What have you got there? Annabelle leaned over.
The cat dropped a lottery ticket neatly into her open palm.
Well, would you look at that! Annabelle turned over the little rectangle. So, your owner lost you and their ticket?
Merlin blinked at her, then flicked his tail, clearly wishing shed hurry up and take him home.
So home she went, pondering if the notice should mention the lottery ticket. But what if some trickster claimed both cat and fortune as their own? Shed have to be clever about it. In the meantime, she ought to buy the guest a treat.
What do you fancy? she asked at the corner shop, bewildered before the dazzling rows of cat food.
Merlin surveyed the packets, then stretched a dainty paw toward one in particular, compelling Annabelle closer.
This one, then? she replied.
Merlin grabbed the pouch with his teeth, leaving no room for doubt.
Youre a clever cat! she praised.
He made a noise that hinted, I know! After buying groceries for herself and her guest, she returned home.
Get comfortable, she suggested, setting the cat down on the carpet.
Merlin immediately wandered off to conduct a detailed inspection. Annabelle headed to the kitchen, setting out two saucers for his food and watershe didn’t own any cat dishes.
Once Merlin had finished eating, Annabelle snapped his photo and printed out a notice. She wisely omitted any mention of his name or lottery ticket.
She held the sheet up to him. Look how fine youve turned out! Ill put this up in the bus tomorrowhopefully someone comes for you. She stopped, a sudden realisation fluttering through her.
Her shift was tomorrow; she had nowhere to keep Merlin.
Take him along? Out of the questionher mind would stray, and a distracted driver put passengers at risk. Leave him alone? Hed already been lost oncesurely that would be cruel.
She recalled Nicholas, the neighbour just across the landing. He worked from homeno office to trap him, no steering wheel to command. Just a laptop and Wi-Fiwhat else mattered?
They often bumped into each other when Nicholas ran out of food. He was tall, a bit gawky, glasses sometimes askew.
Theyd nod in the corridor and scurry past each other. Still, he seemed trustworthy enough to watch a cat.
Mustered by resolve, Annabelle knocked next door. Nicholas answered, looking rumpled in slippers and stretched-kneed trousers, blinking at her in surprise.
She explained her request as persuasively as she could muster. But he simply nodded, wordless as ever, and accepted her spare key.
She felt a flicker of disappointment that Nicholas hardly seemed to notice her, but brushed it off, called out, Here, kitty-kitty! Merlin, where are you?
The cat was by the balcony door, making it quite plain he wished to be outside.
Annabelle hesitated, then decided that such a smart cat would hardly throw himself from the eighth floor. She cracked open the door, and together they stepped out into the night.
In a single, graceful leap, Merlin perched atop the railing. Annabelle gasped, rushing over to steady him.
He glanced at her with a mixture of curiosity and pride, then turned his head up toward the sky. Annabelle, stroking his cloud-soft fur, followed his gazeand saw the stars.
Above them, the sky watched back, a thousand glimmering eyes alight. Annabelle saw one star slip, streaking down the horizon like a tear.
The cat nudged her hand, urginggo on, make a wish! So she did.
She fell asleep at once, as soon as she lay downno film, no novels. Perhaps it was the purring lullaby of the cat called Merlin beside her.
In the morning, giving Nicholas some last-minute instructions through a haze of sleep, she hurried off to her double-decker.
All day she circled Oxford with the notice inside; yet no one cared to claim the handsome, mysterious runaway.
Annabelle felt a pang of guilt, but also a secret relief. She drove home light as air, for someonesomeone dearwas waiting now.
The flat greeted her with the rich aroma of freshly-brewed coffeea real treat, for she usually drank the instant kind. It struck her at oncehit her right in the nose.
Ive done a spot of housekeeping, Nicholas admitted, “No offence, but your coffee is rubbish. I brought my own and made a fresh pot. Want some?
Oh, yes, please, Annabelle said with delight. Wheres Merlin, though?
The cat appeared in the hallway as if conjured, wearing a look of utter satisfaction. He brushed against Annabelles leg, declaring his highest regard.
Your Merlins just fine, Nicholas said, stooping to stroke the cat. You know, I havent relaxed like that in ages. Thought Id just work, but once I opened the laptop I suddenly didnt want to do web stuff
He laughed sheepishly. So I wrote a storyfor the first time in, well, forever. About a cat.
Show me? Annabelle was instantly interested.
Its nothing, just a silly tale, he feigned reluctance, though he plainly wanted to. You really want to see?
Absolutely! I love storieswell, fantasy, but its all the same, really, she promised.
Of course Nicholas relented.
Later, they sipped coffee and read his tale together, while Merlin the cat sat regally close by, eyeing them as though they were a pair of muddled, playful kittens.
Annabelle loved the story. When Nicholas returned to his own flat, she felt a shadow of melancholyonly a shadow, though, for she still had the cat.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Merlin started, then walked with purpose to the door. Annabelle called, Who is it?
About the notice, came the reply, and her heart stilled.
Her first instinct was to bolt the door, but that wouldnt be right. She opened it. On the threshold stood a tall, elderly man in a black cloak. He smiled.
Dont fuss, dear, he said gently. Im truly here for the cat, and to prove it, Ill say his name is Merlin. And here he is.
Merlin flew straight to the old mans arms, leaving Annabelle no doubt at all.
Come in, please, she managed, voice small.
It was foolish, but she wanted to cry. How could a person become so attached to a cat in a single day? The old man entered, sniffed the air, smiled again. She fancied they exchanged knowing glances, he and the cat.
Nip of coffee? he requested.
She brewed a potthank goodness for Nicholass leftovers in the pretty tin. All the while, man and cat sat gazing at each other, locked in their silent conversation.
By the way, the old man broke the silence, Did you happen to find anything else?
Annabelle blushed, then handed him the lottery ticket. He waved her hand away.
Thats for you, he said, kindly.
But its yours! Annabelle protested.
And yet, you found it, with Merlins helphe has no objections, the man smiled on.
What if it wins? she faltered.
And will you deny yourself even the chance to be a bit happier? the old man asked softly.
She lowered her gaze. That was exactly what shed wished for, wasnt it, as the star fell?
Let happiness in, dear girl, he said. And cheer up! I daresay well meet again. When you come back
Come back from where? she meant to ask, but the old man had already departed, gently drawing the door shut behind him.
The lock clicked quietly, and drowsiness swept over Annabelle. Half-stumbling, she made for her bed, and soon dreamed Nicholass story through her sleep.
A story of a mighty magician who had cared for nothing but himself. His magic never brought happiness; as punishment, he was turned into a cat to wander the earth, until his selfishness melted away
The next day, work beckoned as usualbut today, somehow, the sun seemed brighter, the passengers smiled at her, and the big red bus seemed to dance down the road.
She checked the lottery ticket and, with hardly a shred of surprise, realised shed won a seaside holiday. She was far more astonished when her manager told her:
Take the break, Annabelle. Well deserved. The lads will coverdont fret!
And so there was the seathe sparkling waves, the streaks of stars, the utter sense of renewal.
When she returned home, happy and glowing, bringing with her shells and the memory of the waves now splashing in her heart, she opened her door and found Nicholas emerging from his own.
They came by for you yesterday, he said. Left wellhang on He paused, taking in her changed face. You look different. Beautiful.
Thank you. She grinned. Andwhat did they leave?
Nicholas slapped his forehead and ducked back in. He emerged with a small grey Persian kitten in his arms, wearing a familiar expression.
Although, all Persians looked a bit proud, didnt they?
This, uh this is your cats son. Um, the cat you found. Hes called Arthur.
The old man said Merlin and hewell, he said theyd trust you to raise him. Or, well, he said something else
How? Annabelle felt her heart thumping.
He saidhe said theyd trust us to care for him, Nicholas admitted at last.
Miaow! confirmed Arthur the kitten, stretching out to his new mistress.
She reached out her hand, and found it met by Nicholass. And just like that, the world turned a little gentler, a little warmer, and happiness curled up quietly, right there among them.
