The Land of Meow Short Story Series

Chapters One to Seven: The Burglars

Chapter One: "The Report Card".

Jonathon Fielding arrived home worn-out that evening, because school and then Out of School Hours Care together made a long day. Despite his weariness, however, he knew there was something he knew he wanted to tell his mother, Natalya.

"Mother!" he cried, running into the house and dropping his satchel on the living-room floor.

"Yes," Mother said, preoccupied with the mail she was opening. Jonathon's mother Natalya worked hard and had only just arrived home herself. And the letterbox was so often filled with bills. Boring bills that Jonathon had learned put a dampener on family fun.

"I've got my report card," Jonathon announced proudly. "I got an A!"

Natalya snapped to attention. "Did you?" she asked excitedly. Jonathon's report would make much nicer reading than their overdue expenses. "Show me!"

Jonathon pulled his report card out of his bag and handed it to his mother, waiting in delicious anticipation for her exclamation of praise. Then his attention wandered towards the kitchen area. "Can I have a snack?"

"Yes, Jonathon dear," Mother said. She was still busy with his report. "Remember to wash your hands."

Jonathon wandered into their house's attractive kitchenette and was pleased to see that Mother had been shopping. Bananas were his favourite fruit. He grabbed one from the bowl on the table and flopped down on the sofa in front of the television, where his sister Teela was watching some dumb afternoon school show.

Ginger-Fluff jumped up onto Jonathon's lap. The cat wasn't really meant to get on Jonathon's uniform pants, but Jonathon was too tired to object. He patted Ginger-Fluff, who purred a self-satisfied purr.

Chapter Two: "Ginger-Fluff and Cute Calico."

Jonathon must have fallen asleep on the sofa, because he found himself looking just like a cat and addressing Ginger-Fluff in cat language.

"What are you so happy about?" he asked.

Ginger-Fluff looked smug. "I saw Cute Calico this afternoon," Ginger-Fluff purred. "She told me that she still likes me. Spoilt Sopher is far too old for her and they are just good friends."

Spoilt Sopher was a new cat in town. His house was full of padded cushions and he was served plates of fancy feast by his owner. Cute Calico, Ginger-Fluffs' girlfriend, had been spending her free time at Spoilt Sopher's house lately, enjoying sleeping on soft cushions and eating fine food. This had Ginger-Fluff worried and a bit jealous.

"I could have told you that," Jonathon mewed. "In fact, I think I did!"

"I liked it better when Cute Calico told me herself," Ginger-Fluff purred. "She even licked my face and cleaned behind my ears for me."

"That's weird," Jonathon giggled.

"You will understand when you meet a girl cat," Ginger-Fluff purred.

"I don't think so," Jonathon had enough of girl troubles from his sister Teela.

"I promised Cute Calico that I would go and play," Ginger-Fluff said. "I will see you again later tonight, Jonathon."

Ginger-Fluff leaped off the sofa and headed towards the front door. The cat scratched at the door frame and Mother let him outside. Jonathon's lap suddenly felt empty and he woke up, encased in the body of an eight year old boy once again. He yawned and stretched.

Teela was looking at him in amusement. "Sleepy-head," she teased affectionately.

"Junior High is boring," Jonathon retorted.