Marmaduke

How can a little ginger cat spice up one family's life?

- A short story by Sharon Haston

've never been fond of cats. Their steely disdainful stares unnerve me and for years I've managed to resist my family's pleas to get a 'cute' kitten.

"I'm sure if you got to know a cat, you'd love them," my wife Rachel said. "It's because you're not used to them."

"And I'm equally sure I wouldn't. The answer is no." I stood my ground.

But I was forced to change my mind when I drove our new car away from the garage. I was delighted with my purchase. All was right in my world until I heard Evie and Noah whispering conspiratorially in the back seat. They were up to mischief.

"What are you two talking about?" I asked, glancing at them in my mirror.

"Mummy," Evie piped up. "Can we trade in Daddy for a kitten?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?" I asked before Rachel could answer.

"Well," Evie reasoned, "we traded in our old car for this new one, so Noah and I wondered if we could trade you in and get a kitten to come home to live with us instead.

"It's okay. You can go and live with Granny, and we'll come to visit you every day. We still love you, but we really want a kitten."

Shocked, I glanced at Rachel whose shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter.

I could hardly refuse their entreaties after that. Could I? But it didn't mean I was happy about the situation.

I sighed as a blur of ginger ran up the curtains, dangled from the pole, then spun upright and pranced along the top like a gymnast balancing on the beam.

Noah laughed. "Look at Marmaduke, Daddy. Isn't he brilliant?"