Community Cat Chronicles 3 , livre ebook

Marshall Cavendish International - J Madsen Lachlan

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

83 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

Satu, Dua and Tiga have spent their entire kittenhood together on Avenue 1 but their mother, Theodora Tuxedo, toughened from an early life on the streets, is anxious for them to each find their own way in the world, worried they've become too pampered as 'house' cats.The siblings have become part of the community and can't understand the hurry (or need) to leave, since they've made dear friends with neighbourhood felines and various other species. As they quickly approach the time they become officially 'cats' and no longer kittens, their human family also worry the chances of finding them forever homes will diminish.Based on genuine experiences and observations of real cats and "two leggeds", The Community Cat Chronicles 3 are the continuing stories of Avenue 1.The AuthorsLachlan J. Madsen is a creative writer/producer who has lived in Singapore for almost 20 years, working in television. He has considerable experience in the children's genre, including writing and producing for Disney and Nickelodeon. The Community Cat Chronicles is one of his many passion projects inspired from residing in the Singapore heartlands, while attending to the beloved community cats.Eleanor Nilsson used to work as a teacher and has had 24 books published for children. Three of them, Tatty, The 89th Kitten and Pomily's Wish also feature cats. The House Guest, for young adult readers, won The Australian Children's Book of the Year Award, two State Awards, and was shortlisted for the Gold and Silver Pencil Award in Holland. Several of her other titles have been translated into Japanese, German, Italian and French.

Informations

Publié par	Marshall Cavendish International
Date de parution	24 mars 2022
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9789815044249
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0400€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

2022 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited
Text Lachlan J. Madsen and Eleanor Nilsson
Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions
An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International

All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Requests for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: (65) 6213 9300 E-mail: genref@sg.marshallcavendish.com
Website: www.marshallcavendish.com
The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this book, and specifically disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
Other Marshall Cavendish Offices:
Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 800 Westchester Ave, Suite N-641, Rye Brook, NY 10573, USA Marshall Cavendish International (Thailand) Co Ltd, 253 Asoke, 16th Floor, Sukhumvit 21 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Times Subang, Lot 46, Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Marshall Cavendish is a registered trademark of Times Publishing Limited
eISBN: 978 981 5044 24 9
Printed in Singapore
To Bonnie
CONTENTS
A Home for Chia
Satu and the Tom
Where is Mister Bubbles?
Theodora Goes Wild
Nightmare
Safari 27
The Ninth Life
Salil and the Water Drops
A New Game
Powder Boy
Fighting or Playing
The River Bank
Koko s Backpack
Empty Tins
Mickey
A Forever Home
The Cat in the Window
Headlines
The Karang Guni Kitten
Cat Overboard!
The Kitty Litter
In the Wrong Colour
Woods or Trees
Burning Leaves
The Smorgasbord
The Laser Pointer
Theodora Alone
About the Authors
A Home for Chia
Chia looked up plaintively at Theodora. I can t find a home.
Theodora stared intently at the other cat. It was no wonder. She was so straggly, unkempt, not even clean. She resisted sniffing her. She had seen her hanging around Block 223, sometimes even parading up and down in front of the apartments, although parading was hardly the right word for one so poorly groomed.
You are not set off to advantage, concluded Theodora, although I suspect the basics are there. I can help you, if you want.
Theodora rather liked the idea of having a prot g . She was at a loose end now that the kittens were grown and didn t need her attention quite so much. I want, said Chia.
Since she was so willing and pliable, and it was such a big job, Theodora enlisted the help of the kittens to lick her completely clean.
At first Satu wrinkled up his nose. You don t smell so good, he told her in his frank little way.
Theodora was surprised at how glossy her coat came up, and how pretty and unusual it was, as if ground peppercorns had been sprinkled liberally over her dark tabby coat. Another becoming feature was the softening way in which her hair fluffed up around her face. Chia looked down at herself. She was surprised too. She had a vague memory that once this was how she had always looked.
Theodora surveyed her from all angles. Now we have to work out your best side.
I like the side with the white paw best, said Dua. See how well I washed it?
Although there is a splash of pure black on the other side which is very attractive, contributed Tiga.
The young cat was unusual in that she had white markings on her left side but not on her right, which gave her a lopsided yet pleasant appearance.
So, when you are close to a human, Theodora explained, make sure they can see your white side, which is more attractive.
Chia listened humbly, soaking up the advice. She was desperate for a home. She had a vague feeling that she had one in the past, but it had been torn away from her. A dog had had something to do with it.
Next, Theodora asked her to walk in front of her. Head up, tail up - this is the correct posture for a homed or any other cat.
I had deportment lessons, said Tiga, proudly. It s really difficult to hold up both at once, but I found it easier if you got your head right first.
And you have to walk with one foot planted carefully in front of the other, added Dua, like all well-bred cats or kittens. This will give you the desired sway.
Satu had nothing to add as he just clumped along as best he could.
Leave it to me, said Theodora, impatiently.
So, in heavy silence, their advice cast aside, the kittens watched Chia parading up and down in front of the critical eye of their mother.
That s better, she said at last. It s not perfect, but it will come, with confidence.
But she had to admit to herself that there was something attractive about the very hesitancy of Chia s walk, and the questioning angle at which she held her head.
You have to accept that many people do not like cats, or not enough to provide them with a home. This may seem strange to you, but it is true. There is also something of an oversupply at the moment, and at most moments. So there is no point in parading in a general way. You have to select the areas and apartments that might want a cat. For example, level 4 of our building has no cats at all. There may be an opening there.
So she sent Chia off to search, in a more refined and focussed way, for a kindly person who might possibly take her in.

Days passed, but there was no word back from Chia. Theodora and the kittens caught glimpses of her from time to time, pacing up and down on the walkways of the block.
Even with her fresh and glowing appearance, Chia was still finding it difficult to attract the right sort of attention. Often she got shooed away, or even shouted at. It became clear to her quite early on that the fourth floor had no cats because that was how they liked it. It was hard to keep holding her tail erect when the signs were so discouraging. She started yowling on various front door mats in the hope of attracting more positive attention.
Theodora could hear her plainly, even though Chia was on a different floor altogether. She hurriedly followed her up. That s not the way. A cat must never meow too much or meow in too high-pitched a way. Meowing must be discreet, tuneful and controlled. And she gave her a demonstration.
Nobody wants me, meowed Chia, in a discreet yet heartbreaking way.
Theodora was sympathetic. I know what you re going through. I too was homeless and searching desperately for a home. But the residents on the lower floors were quite hostile. They even chased me away!
And then you found Eugene. Chia sighed.
Yes. But you must realise that Eugene is extraordinary.
There aren t many boys, or indeed grown people, like him.
Do you think ? began Chia.
Out of the question. There s a slight chance that Eugene might find you appealing, but there are three kittens and one cat in his apartment already. He knows he can t manage more. I suggest you ease off your search for a week or two while the residents calm down, and meanwhile I will make enquiries about any possible new openings.
So Theodora roamed the neighbourhood, chatting to her friends. Mister Bubbles had no suggestions at all, or no sensible ones, but, as usual, the Champagne Princess, at the very centre of the gossip hub in the area, had a useful story. A lady in Block 222 had lost her cat some weeks before, and was in extreme distress. Theodora knew what the woman would be imagining. She would fear that the cat had been run over or taken, or else had become suddenly ill and crawled away to die under a bush, or been attacked by that horrible yellow dog who hung around more than he should.
Theodora brightened at the thought of a possible opening. She now spent a good slice of her early mornings at Block 222 searching for the sad lady.
One day she was sure she saw her, weeping on the bench at the edge of the lawn. She was holding a tiny red collar and talking to it.
Oh Kitty, she was saying, how did you slip your collar? I still miss you so much. I never want another cat. No one could replace you.
Theodora almost ran back to Block 223. Running was not dignified now that she was a mature cat and a mother, but she went as quickly as she could nonetheless. She found Chia sitting sadly in the bamboo grove looking up at Kucinta, who was spread out in a relaxed way on the Manis boulder.
Off you go to Block 222, Theodora instructed her. A woman on the lawn there is weeping. I think it is because some time ago she lost her cat and it has not returned. Approach her in an appealing way and you never know what might happen.
Chia ran to the neighbouring block, sensibly pulling up before she reached the bench and walking towards it in the desired, slinky way that Dua had suggested.
The woman was still wiping her eyes with a soggy tissue, and didn t see her at first. In a clearly interested way, Chia sniffed the collar she was holding. Remembering Theodora s advice, she made sure she turned at an angle to reveal her best side, at the same time sticking out her front paw, as pure and white as snow.
But actually, she didn t need to.

Theodora didn t see Chia all week, and wondered what had happened in the encounter with the lady. Perhaps she had moved off before Chia got there. She felt sadder than she would have imagined possible for the little cat s disappointment. Then, at the beginning of the second week, Chia called in to visit. She was wearing a sparkling red and silver collar with a bright bell, and looked happy and buoyant and quite beautiful.
At first Theodora was speechless, but, recovering quickly, The sad lady gave you a home, then? She s got over the cat she