I padded over to the area where we cats often hang out, sort of our recreation ground on Edgar Road. Nellie was there, lying near a bush, and Elvis was nearby playing with some leaves. I joined them.
‘Hey, Alfie,’ they both greeted me.
‘Have you seen George?’ I asked.
‘He came by earlier and said that he was going to see Harold.’
‘Right, and did he tell you about the puppy?’ I asked.
‘Yes, and I got the impression he’s not too impressed,’ Nellie said. ‘He said that dogs are dumb and he shouldn’t have to be nice to it.’
‘Pickles, not it,’ I said. ‘Goodness, this might be worse than I thought. I was afraid that this might happen, but Pickles is just a baby, and it looks like he’s a full member of the family now. They’re not going to give him back after all. And I wouldn’t want that to happen to any pet.’
‘A dog, in a cat’s world,’ Elvis mused.
‘What am I going to do? I’ve always been against dogs, but now I am babysitting one! Anyway, I like him, and I need to find a way to get George to do the same.’
‘Your life is always getting complicated, isn’t it?’ Nellie pointed out. She was right, it was. And now there was Pickles.
‘The lad is still hurting about Tiger, and now there’s yet another change in his life.’ Elvis could be a very wise cat when the mood took him.
‘I know, so I can’t be too demanding, but I think I need to get him to at least tolerate Pickles sooner rather than later. He’s going to be at our house a lot, and I don’t want George to go out every time he comes.’ I felt a shudder run through my fur at the thought of me having to babysit the dog alone. I didn’t want Pickles to come between us. ‘And when he’s a bit older we can probably go out and leave him. Or maybe Claire will take him with her more, dogs tend to go out with humans a lot, so it’s just in the short term. Hopefully.’ The idea that I could sell this to George cheered me.
‘Exactly, Alfie, this dog is now part of the family, so maybe you should just get George to think of him as his little brother and teach him what he knows,’ Nellie said.
‘What?’ I was confused.
‘Well, if they brought another kitten in he might be a bit jealous at first, but then you’d say he was a big brother and he had to teach the kitten to cat, so why don’t you give him that role with Pickles?’
‘You know, Nellie, you might have something there. I’ll tell him he’s a big brother now with responsibility, and if he teaches Pickles all he knows—’ I paused and tried not to think of all the scrapes George got himself in ‘—then he might accept him more readily. You guys are amazing, thank you. And where’s Rocky?’
‘Oh he was tired, so he went off for a nap. That cat likes its sleep.’
‘What cat doesn’t?’ I replied.
George appeared shortly afterwards, saving me from having to go and find him.
‘How was Harold?’ I asked. Harold and George shared a love of digestive biscuits, among other things. Harold dunked them in strong tea, until they were soggy and then fed them to George.
‘He was fine, good actually. It’s nice and quiet at his house. Not like ours,’ George replied in that stroppy way of his when he was sulking. ‘Although Claire took Pickles to see him earlier and even he said the dog was sweet.’ He stomped his paw.
‘George, I know you’re not happy about Pickles, but I need you to help me,’ I started, carefully.
‘Help you do what?’ George asked, sounding surly.
‘George, when you came to live with me, I was your dad straight away, and you were so tiny, there was so much for me to teach you.’
‘So?’ Gosh this boy could act like a teenager at times.
‘Well, you had me, and our cat friends, and Tiger mum to help you learn as you grew, so that made you very lucky.’
‘S’pose.’
‘Right, but Pickles, well he doesn’t have anyone to guide him, apart from us. And I know it’s different because he’s a dog but he doesn’t have any other dog friends. He probably misses his mum very much, he’s just a baby.’
‘I guess so. But what can I do about it?’
‘You can be a big brother to him, like Aleksy, Henry and Toby all are. It’s a very important, responsible role.’
‘It is?’
‘Of course, you’ve seen how much our human big brothers take care of the little ones, and it’s a role that I think you are ready for.’
I noticed that Elvis and Nellie were listening and trying not to grin. We all knew the way to get George to agree to anything was flattery.
‘In fact,’ I continued, ‘you would probably make the best big brother ever.’
No,’ George said. Which surprised me.
‘Why not?’ I asked.
‘He doesn’t live with me so he can’t be my brother.’ He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
‘What about a cousin then?’ Nellie suggested. ‘I’m like an aunt to you, George, so how about you be a big cousin to Pickles.’
‘That’s a great idea, Nellie.’ I nuzzled her in gratitude.
‘But what do I have to do as a big cousin?’ George asked.
‘You can teach him things,’ Elvis said.
‘Yes,’ Nellie added. ‘You are a cat, and he’s a dog, but there’s still plenty you can show him.’
‘You mean that I can teach him things that I can do?’ George at least sounded interested now.
‘That’s right, George. You can also show him how to be kind, how to be caring, all the important lessons that we taught you,’ I added.
‘And what about you? You can’t be his dad because you’re my dad,’ he said, and I heard jealousy rearing up in his voice.
‘If you’re like a cousin to him then maybe I can be a bit like an uncle to him. Does that sound OK with you? Because you are my son, my number one and you always will be, understood?’
‘Yes, you’re right, we need to be nice to Pickles. He can be my friend, after all.’ George hopped around, and even I was surprised by the sudden change in attitude.
‘Oh George, that’s so great, and you’ll grow to love him, I’m sure you will.’ I crossed my paws he would anyway.
‘After all, I have a very big heart,’ George said.
‘You do,’ Nellie agreed, in the motherly way of hers.
‘The biggest,’ Elvis added, he was a wise cat, when he felt like it, as he licked his paw.
‘And I am proud of you every single day,’ I added, as emotion overwhelmed me.
‘A bit like how I was friends with Hana when she moved from Japan and was lonely, I can try to be the same with Pickles. But Hana’s my best friend, so I won’t like Pickles as much as I like her.’
‘That’s OK.’ I sensed the need for baby steps.
‘You’re right, Dad. Pickles is a silly puppy, who doesn’t know anything, right?’
‘I’m not sure about the silly part but yes,’ I agreed. Actually, he was silly, but I was trying to get George to