Scout Stories: Bruised Beginnings

A Cat of Many Colours

"You caught it?" asked Keefe.

"More like it caught me."

She stroked her hand across it's back and Keefe could hear the purring. She smiled up at the boys.

"I sat down thinking I had lost it and it just jumped on me."

Keir sat next to her to stare at the cat in wonder.

"Did you already make your wish?" asked Keefe.

Peigi nodded, but most of her attention was on the cat. Keefe frowned as he sat down at the other side of her. Peigi's wish had been the worst.

"Oh don't be such a sore loser," she said.

The cat turned to look at him for a moment before jumping from her lap to Keefe's. The thing was so big that it pushed his legs into the floor. Then it rubbed against his chest and head-butted his chin.

"He likes you!" said Keir.

"Might not be a boy," said Keefe.

"Oh he's definitely a boy," said Peigi, who was getting a full display.

Keefe rested a hand on its back, just to see if it would let him. When it did, he gave it a scratch on the chin with his other hand as a reward for behaving.

"Can I touch it?" asked Keir.

"Be gentle," said Keefe. He guided his little brother's hand so that it brushed along the cat's back. The cat looked into Keefe's eyes and purred.

"This can't be a wild cat," said Keefe, "It has to be someone's pet. Like Auntie's. I don't think wishes count if you catch a pet."

The cat swiped at his arm, before squirming out of his lap and waddling away.

"What now?" asked Keir.

"Let's go back," said Peigi, "Before Grand-pa comes looking for us."

"You aren't to tell him about this," said Keefe.

"I'm not an idiot," she said.

"How will we know if your wish worked?" asked Keir.

"I don't know," said Peigi. "In the story, the hero got his family back the next day so maybe you have to go to sleep first."

Keefe looked in the direction of where the cat had gone before following the other two back to the party. He sat while the others talked and laughed. He only had a few of the sweets offered and had only one cup of cider. He didn't take part in any of the songs or stories, nor did he listen to what they were saying. Eventually, he walked up to Oisín and tapped on his shoulder.

"What is it, lad?"

"You said earlier that the story continued," said Keefe. "After the man beat all the monster, caught the cat and got his family back."

"I did."

"So what's the end of it?"

Oisín shook his head. "It's one of the old tales. I can't tell you the rest until after your next naming day."

"But you told Peigi, and she's younger than me. And Keir."

"I did but-"

"-but what? They get to listen to stories they haven't earned yet, but I don't?"

Oisín shook his head. "I can't, lad. Not yet. But I will tell you one thing: That story is the story of this village, and it's not a happy tale. The next tale is about the forecast."

"But that's a good thing."

"True, but it wasn't worth it."

"I don't get it," said Keefe. "What's that got to do with us catching cats?"

"Nothing," said Oisín. "It's about bargains."

"Bargains?"

"No one ever said anything about wishes being free, lad."

Note: Are you sensing a theme here? 
What would you be willing to give up for your wish? What are your wishes?

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