Abbie's Tat
I’m Tom’s cat.
Soft and fluffy.
Stripey.
Right now?
Right now I’m having a lovely nap.
On Tom’s books!
Paws tucked in,
eyes closed,
tail wrapped round like a scarf.
Mmmmmmm.
Tom walks past.
He looks at me.
He smiles.
‘Abbie is coming today,’ he says.
Abbie?
What’s an Abbie?
I don’t know what that means.
So I close my eyes again.
Back to sleep.
Mmmmmmm.
But then –
DING DONG!
The doorbell!
Ear twitch!
Eye blink!
Tom opens the door and in comes…
a little girl!
Red coat,
bouncy shoes,
big eyes.
‘Hello, Abbie!’ says Tom.
Oh!
OH!
So THAT’S what an Abbie is!
I don’t know this Abbie.
Abbie sees me.
Eyes go wide, wide, WIDE.
‘TOM’S TAT!’
Oh! That’s LOUD!
And now she’s running!
THUMP THUMP THUMP
go her bouncy shoes.
THUMP THUMP THUMP!
My ears?
Flat, flat, flat against my head.
My tail?
Swish, swish, swish!
I jump off the books and –
ZOOM!
Behind the sofa!
Dark and safe.
Dark and safe behind the sofa.
‘Where Tom’s Tat go?’ says Abbie.
Tom kneels down.
‘Look,’ he says. ’Did you see his ears?
Flat, flat, flat.
And his tail?
Swish, swish, swish.
That means he was frightened.’
I peep out.
Just a tiny bit.
Abbie’s looking at the sofa.
Big eyes.
‘Oh,’ she whispers.
A little while later…
I come out again.
Very slowly.
Pad, pad, pad
go my paws.
Pad, pad, pad.
Perhaps this Abbie is different now?
But then –
She reaches out FAST!
Tries to scoop me up!
Oh no!
Tail swishing!
Swish, swish, SWISH!
I jump in the air and –
ZOOM!
Behind the sofa again!
‘Awww!’ says Abbie.
Tom sits down.
‘Your tail is swishing,’ he says.
And he wiggles his hand.
Fast, fast, fast.
’Swish, swish, swish!
Just like his tail.
Swish, swish, swish.
When a cat’s tail goes swish swish swish,
it means they’re getting upset.’
Abbie wiggles her hand.
‘Swish, swish?’
‘Swish, swish,’ says Tom.
Behind the sofa,
my tail is still now.
I peep out.
Just my nose.
Just my whiskers.
Just my head.
Maybe Abbie has learned?
But she starts crawling!
Crawl, crawl, crawl!
Oh no!
My eyes?
Big and round and black.
Big, round, black!
I turn.
I walk away.
But she crawls FASTER!
So I run!
ZOOM!
Behind the sofa again!
‘Tom’s Tat don’t like me,’ says Abbie.
Sad voice.
Thump.
She sits down.
Tom sits down too.
He opens his eyes.
Very wide.
Very round.
’Did you see his eyes?
Big and round like this.
That’s his frightened face.’
Abbie makes her eyes big and round.
‘Like this?’
‘Just like that,’ says Tom.
’But I know a secret.
Would you like to know the secret?’
‘Yes!’ whispers Abbie.
’The secret is…
you have to wait.
Very still.
Very quiet.
Like a statue.
And then he might come to you.’
‘Like a statue?’
‘Like a statue.’
So Abbie sits.
Very still.
Very quiet.
Like a statue.
Tom sits like a statue too.
They don’t move.
They don’t make noise.
They just wait.
I wait behind the sofa.
Listening.
No loud sounds.
No running.
No grabbing.
No chasing.
I wait.
A bit longer.
Then I peep out.
Abbie whispers.
Soft like the wind.
‘Hello, Tom’s Tat.’
Oh!
My ears turn.
Twitch, twitch.
Abbie’s still sitting.
Like a statue.
So I come out.
A little bit more.
Pad, pad.
She still doesn’t move!
So I come out even more.
Pad.
I walk right up.
Right up to Abbie.
Sniff her hand.
Sniff, sniff, sniff.
Biscuits!
And outside!
And something nice!
Then I do something special.
I rub my head.
Against her fingers.
Rub, rub, rub.
‘He’s doing it!’ whispers Abbie.
‘He’s doing the head rub!’
Yes!
I am!
That’s my way of saying hello.
Tom whispers.
’Now you can stroke him.
Very gentle.
Just on his head.’
Abbie lifts her hand.
Very, very slowly.
One finger.
Touches my head.
Stroke.
Ohhhhh.
I close my eyes.
And something magical happens.
I start to purr.
Purrrrrr.
‘Listen!’ whispers Abbie.
‘The rumbly sound!’
Yes!
The rumbly sound!
Abbie keeps stroking.
Soft and slow.
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
My purr gets louder.
Purrrrrr.
Then LOUDER!
PURRRRRRR!
I lean into her hand.
This Abbie…
This Abbie is alright.
After a while,
I walk to my toy box.
Pick up my mouse.
Little mouse toy.
Carry it back and –
Plop!
Drop it by her hand.
‘Oh!’ says Abbie.
‘He brought his mouse!’
Yes!
My mouse!
Let’s play!
Abbie picks it up.
Wiggles it.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!
My eyes go wide!
My bottom wiggles!
Wiggle, wiggle!
Then –
POUNCE!
Got it!
Abbie giggles.
Wiggles again.
I pounce again!
POUNCE!
We play and play.
Wiggle, pounce!
Wiggle, pounce!
Wiggle, pounce!
Abbie’s gentle.
Abbie’s quiet.
When I walk away,
she doesn’t chase.
When I come back,
she waits.
I don’t hide behind the sofa.
Not even once!
After playing,
I’m hungry.
I walk to my bowl.
Empty!
I look at Tom.
Meow!
‘Are you hungry?’ says Tom.
‘Abbie, would you like to help feed him?’
‘Yes!’ says Abbie.
Tom gets my food.
Shows Abbie how to scoop it.
Into my bowl.
Scoop, scoop, scoop.
Careful, careful.
Not too much,
not too little.
Just right!
Abbie kneels down.
Very gentle.
Puts the bowl on the floor.
I walk over.
Sniff, sniff, sniff.
Start to eat.
Munch, munch, munch.
Abbie watches.
Very quiet.
Very still.
Not touching.
Just watching.
Good Abbie!
You learned!
When I’m eating,
I need space.
Munch, munch, munch.
When I’m finished,
I look up.
Abbie’s still there.
Waiting.
I walk over.
Rub my head against her knee.
Rub, rub, rub.
Thank you, Abbie.
‘He’s saying thank you!’ whispers Tom.
Yes!
I am!
Later,
Tom’s reading his book.
On the big chair.
Abbie’s sitting on the floor.
Drawing pictures.
Quiet and calm.
I walk over to Abbie.
Sniff her picture.
Sniff, sniff.
‘Look!’ whispers Abbie to Tom.
‘He’s looking at my picture!’
I am!
It’s got colours!
Red and blue and yellow!
Then I do something.
Something special.
I climb into Abbie’s lap.
Turn around,
around,
around.
Settle down.
Tuck my paws in.
Start to purr.
Purrrrrr.
‘He’s sitting on me!’ whispers Abbie.
Very quiet.
Very still.
Scared to move.
But happy.
So happy.
‘That means he really trusts you,’ says Tom.
Yes!
I do!
I trust Abbie now.
Abbie strokes me.
Very gentle.
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
I purr louder.
PURRRRRRR.
We sit like that.
For a long time.
Abbie drawing.
Me purring.
Purrrrrr.
When it gets dark,
Tom says bedtime.
Abbie’s staying!
A sleepover!
But first –
‘Story time!’ says Tom.
Abbie sits on the sofa.
Tom sits next to her.
With a book.
‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea!’ says Abbie.
And I…
I jump up too!
Up onto the sofa.
Next to Abbie.
Curl up.
Right beside her.
‘Oh!’ says Abbie.
‘Tom’s Tat is here!’
Tom smiles.
‘He likes stories too.’
Tom opens the book.
He reads.
About a tiger.
A big tiger.
Who comes for tea.
I close my eyes.
Listen to Tom’s voice.
So nice.
So calm.
And I imagine…
I’m the tiger!
Big and stripy!
Coming for tea!
Eating all the food!
Drinking all the drinks!
I start to purr.
Purrrrrr.
Abbie strokes me.
Very gentle.
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
While Tom reads.
Perfect.
This is perfect.
Then Tom makes a bed.
On the sofa.
Soft pillows,
warm blanket,
Abbie’s teddy.
‘Night night, Abbie,’ says Tom.
‘Night night, Tom,’ says Abbie.
‘Night night, Tom’s Tat.’
I jump down.
Go to the armchair.
Watching.
Tom turns off the light.
Abbie closes her eyes.
After a while…
Fast asleep.
In the dark,
quiet room,
I make a decision.
Jump down.
Pad, pad, pad.
Walk to the sofa.
Look at Abbie sleeping.
Breathing soft.
Smells like biscuits.
And cuddles.
And outside.
This Abbie –
she learned my language.
Flat ears,
swishy tail,
big frightened eyes.
She learned about gentle strokes.
The head rub.
The rumbly purr.
We played with the mouse.
Wiggle, pounce!
So very carefully,
I jump up.
Onto the sofa.
Walk across the blanket.
Soft paws.
Pad, pad, pad.
Curl up.
Right next to Abbie.
Warm, fluffy body
against her side.
Tuck my paws in.
Wrap my tail round.
Like a scarf.
Start to purr.
Purrrrrr.
Abbie feels something.
Soft and warm.
Hears the rumbling.
Eyes open.
Tiny bit.
In the dark,
black and white fur.
She smiles.
Sleepy smile.
Whispers.
Very, very quiet.
‘Abbie’s Tat?’
My purr gets louder.
Yes.
Abbie’s Cat.
We fall asleep.
Together.
Purrrrrrrr.
Next morning.
Abbie wakes.
I’m still there!
Still purring,
still warm,
still fluffy,
still cosy.
Abbie doesn’t move.
Doesn’t want to wake me.
So she just lies there.
Very still.
Very quiet.
Watching me sleep.
Then my eyes open.
Blink, blink.
I see Abbie.
I stretch.
Big stretch!
Front paws,
back paws,
tail up high.
Then I curl up again.
Even closer.
Snuggle right in.
Abbie giggles.
Soft giggle.
And strokes me.
Gentlest stroke.
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
‘Good morning, Abbie’s Tat.’
I rub my head.
Rub, rub, rub.
Good morning, Abbie!
We lie there.
Together.
Quiet and cosy.
Just me and Abbie.
Until Tom calls.
‘Breakfast time!’
After breakfast –
DING DONG!
The doorbell!
Abbie’s mummy!
Come to take her home.
Abbie puts on her red coat.
Bouncy shoes.
But before she leaves,
she kneels down.
Next to me.
Holds out her hand.
Very still.
I sniff.
Sniff, sniff.
She strokes.
One last time.
’Bye bye, Abbie’s Tat.
I come back soon.’
I rub my head.
Rub, rub, rub.
Yes.
Come back soon.
Abbie waves.
’Bye, Tom!
Bye, Abbie’s Tat!’
Tom waves back.
I watch.
From the window.
Watch Abbie get in the car.
Watch the car drive away.
Down the street,
round the corner,
until I can’t see it.
My tail droops.
Just a little bit.
Tom picks me up.
Gentle.
Strokes me.
‘She’ll come back,’ says Tom.
‘She always does.’
I purr.
Because I know.
It’s true.
Abbie will come back.
And when she does…
She did come back.
The very next week!
And the week after that!
And the week after that!
Every time,
Abbie remembers.
She waits.
Like a statue.
I do the head rub.
Rub, rub, rub.
She does the gentle stroke.
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
We play with the mouse.
Wiggle, pounce!
She helps with my food.
Scoop, scoop, scoop.
I sit in her lap.
Purrrrrr.
She draws.
I watch.
Tom reads stories.
I listen.
And imagine I’m the tiger.
Purrrrrr.
I’ll always be Tom’s Cat.
That’s who I am.
Tom’s Cat.
But now…
now I’m something else too.
Now I’m also always going to be Abbie’s Tat.
Tom’s Cat.
And Abbie’s Tat.
Both.
Always.
The End
