DRAGON IN THE SHADOWS - 1st book in the cat analysis trilogy

Chapter 4: Ching Chang

Peter opened the door.
     "Hoy! Ching Chang come see you!"
     Peter was so startled he nearly fell over. Sitting on the ground was a short man holding a round object wrapped in bubble wrap.
     "Who's Ching Chang?" Peter asked nervously.
     "Me Ching Chang!" He let out a stout laugh, stood up and walked inside.
     "And why are you here?"
     "Why, to check on your clock of course!"
     "My clock's fine though" Peter said, confused.
     "No, its not. Where is it?"
     "Over there", Peter pointed at his bedroom door.
     He followed Ching Chang into his bedroom and watched as he smashed the clock on the floor, gathered up the bits and shoved them in his pocket. He then pulled the round object out of the bubble wrap and Peter saw that it was a shiny new clock with a black dragon in its centre.
     However, it was not just any dragon, but the same dragon that was in his dream!
     "Uh... Thanks?" Peter said, more confused than before.
     "My pleasure. Enjoy!" Ching Chang went into the kitchen and began to look through the cupboards.
     "Would you like something to eat?"
     "Yes, yes!" He said, sounding somewhat excited.
     "Toast?"
     "What is this toast you speak of?"
     "Ok... Bread?"
     "Well, why didn't you say so? Bread it is!"
     Peter organized toast for Ching Chang and him self, set out the toppings and some knives. Ching Chang took a look at the toppings, then the toast and shoved the toast in his mouth whole and left the house.
     "Well then", he muttered to himself, "That was weird."
     Lucinda entered the room. "What a weird guy", she said, "Why did he smash your clock?"
     "I don't know, but why were you eavesdropping?"
     "I heard a weird voice and I just couldn't help myself."
     "That's what you always say! Why can't you just give me a valid reason for once?"
     "But it is a valid reason!" She complained.
     "You know what Mum would say, 'Don't make a fool of yourself honey', now I'm going to say the same."
     "But I'm not making a fool of myself", she said stubbornly.
     "Yes you are, but no matter. Would you like some toast? I made too much for Ching... Whatever his name was."
     "Yes, please", she said, smiling again.
     "There's some in the toaster. Leave a piece for me."
     "Ok", she said, hopping across the kitchen.
     They sat down and were about to eat when the doorbell rang again. Peter opened the door.
     "You again!" He exclaimed.
     "Ching Chang forget to give you this!" Said Ching Chang. He held out his hand and in it sat a small, bright green, slightly transparent gem like object.
     "Why do I need this?" Asked peter as he took it from his hand.
     "Ching Chang does not know. Cheery bye!" And with that he was walking down the riverbank, back into Frostvale.
     "This day keeps getting weirder and weirder", Peter said.
     "Yes, it does, but I'd say more interesting, rather than weirder", Lucinda said with her mouth full of toast. She got up and washed up the remaining plates.
     "I'm going to lie down with midnight for a while", said peter and he walked into his bedroom.
     "Peter, wait!"
     "What, Lucinda?"
     "You forgot the gem thing."
     "Oh." He picked it up and went into his room.
     When Peter got there he sat on his bed next to Midnight and stroked him. He purred and purred, then fell asleep on his lap. He stared at the beautiful black cat as he slept and found that he was beginning to feel slightly tired. He put midnight, who was still sleeping, on the end of his bed and stared at him for a while longer. When tiredness began to lick at his body and mind, he lay down and a cloud of confusion swept over him as he remembered he interesting occurrence a few nights earlier. As he wondered about the peaceful cat in wonder and absolute amazement, dreams flooded into his mind, forcing him to forget about his confusion and rest his body.
     He was nearly asleep when Lucinda ran in for the second time that day.
     "Peter, come quickly!"
     "What is it?"
     "Midnight's bed, it's... it's... I don't know... teleported?"
     He grumbled and got out of bed, putting his dressing gown on.