A Friend Called Alfie. Rachel Wells

      The education of Pickles would have to wait because we had headed next door to Sylvie’s for a Japanese night. The night started out badly when Jonathan was late, because of his new job, which led to an angry hushed exchange at our house between him and Claire. I knew it was because he wanted to change out of his suit, but Claire said he didn’t have time, and that he should have left work earlier. I could see both points, Jonathan was working hard, which he had warned us he would have to, but the reality wasn’t as easy as the theory, it seemed.

      Sylvie served up some wonderful Japanese food, including raw fish – sashimi – for me, Hana and George before the humans were seated. It was delicious. When Sylvie hosted Japanese night, as many of our families who could make it usually attended. Tonight Polly and Matt couldn’t be there, and Tomasz was working, so it was just Claire and Jonathan, Franceska, her children, Aleksy and Tommy, along with Harold, Sylvie, Marcus and Connie. And us cats of course. Our children were being looked after by our babysitter, Rosie, who lived on our street and helped out for us all from time to time.

      ‘Who’s hungry?’ Sylvie asked, ushering everyone to sit around their large dining table where the colourful food was laid out waiting for the humans. I wanted to bound over and get stuck in, but I had to show Hana and George manners, so I held back, although my mouth was literally watering from the taster I’d enjoyed beforehand. Harold made a huge fuss of George as usual as he slowly made his way over to the feast.

      ‘Have you got any bread? Any English food?’ Harold asked, once seated. He insisted on coming to Japanese night, but he refused to eat the food. Perhaps there was some hope of an extra portion?

      ‘I’ll get you some, Harold,’ Connie offered. ‘Would you like a sandwich?’ she asked, sweetly.

      ‘If you insist and a nice bit of ham wouldn’t go amiss,’ he mumbled.

      ‘Anything for you, Harold,’ Sylvie said. She was so calm and patient these days, which with Harold you had to be.

      ‘Wine?’ Marcus asked, filling up glasses with a warm smile.

      ‘Yes please,’ Tommy asked, and giggled. Out of the two boys he was the most likely to get into trouble.

      ‘Tommy, you are far too young,’ Franceska chastised, ruffling his hair in her maternal fashion.

      ‘As are you, Connie, before you get any ideas,’ Sylvie added but it was all in good humour. Tommy was nearly thirteen, and Connie and Aleksy almost fifteen, growing up so fast. When I first met Tommy, he was still in a pushchair. Goodness, that made me feel old.

      ‘So how’s the puppy settling in?’ Marcus asked.

      ‘Ah, he’s gorgeous,’ Claire said. ‘So sweet and so much fun.’

      ‘But not as gorgeous as our George,’ Harold said, and I purred in agreement.

      ‘I can’t wait to meet him,’ Connie added. Claire had organised a sort of ‘welcome to the family’ party for him at the weekend, which of course annoyed George. His whiskers had definitely been put out of joint.

      ‘I know, I haven’t even seen him yet,’ Jonathan added. ‘Working long hours means I barely see my own family let alone the new puppy.’ He sounded sad, and I did worry about him. He and Claire said it would only be like this while he settled into his new job, and I just hoped it wouldn’t take too long for things to change.

      ‘But the weekend will be lovely, having us all together,’ Claire reiterated. ‘Harold, you’re definitely coming, aren’t you?’

      ‘As long as we get some normal food,’ he blustered.

      ‘Luckily we don’t get easily offended,’ Marcus laughed. But we were all used to Harold’s ways, and we loved him for it.

      ‘Then after lunch, we can watch the footie together, Harold,’ Jonathan said.

      ‘Now, you’re talking.’ He grinned.

      ‘Can we do anything?’ Sylvie asked.

      ‘No, all under control, just bring yourselves,’ Claire beamed.

      ‘And Tomasz has promised he will definitely be here,’ Franceska said. Tomasz could work too hard at the restaurant as well, but he was much better lately now he had a full team of staff in place.

      ‘I’ll probably be the one to play most with the puppy,’ Tommy said.

      ‘How come?’ his mum asked.

      ‘Because I’m the odd one out now. Connie and Aleksy spend the whole time holding hands and making gooey noises, and the other children are still really young kids, so I am in the middle. I’ll train the puppy, I might get him to do some tricks. Even teach him to dance.’

      Good luck with that, I thought, as I headed over to experience our feast.

      I sat back and cleaned myself up, hoping that a morsel might make its way in my direction. George and Hana were occupied, their little heads almost touching, and paws entwined. I was just glad they had each other.

      ‘George told me all about the puppy,’ Hana said, as I joined them. ‘He sounds interesting,’ she said carefully.

      ‘Pickles, he’s quite exhausting but quite sweet, Hana. I’m sure you’ll meet him soon,’ I said.

      ‘I would like to meet him, I’ve never met a dog before, but I’m a little nervous,’ she said. She’d lived a very sheltered life in Japan.

      ‘Don’t worry, Hana I will be right by your side when you do,’ George said, puffing his chest out.

      ‘Oh George, you are the best,’ she replied.

      ‘Then I’m excited to meet him,’ she finished, with a grin. I smiled, because these two were like chalk and cheese. George, a bundle of energy who barely ever stood still and Hana, so calm, even the way she moved was sleek and graceful. George had all the grace of a dog. Oh goodness, now with Pickles in our lives, I really ought to stop thinking that way.

      I left my boy happily playing with Hana, and I went back to see the humans. I jumped onto Aleksy’s lap and let him fuss over me. He also gave me some of his leftovers, which I received gratefully.

      ‘Does Alfie like the puppy?’ Aleksy asked.

      ‘You know Alfie, he’s kind to everyone,’ Claire said, echoing my thoughts.

      ‘But you know, cats don’t always like dogs,’ Jonathan pointed out.

      ‘Alfie and George seem to have taken to him, and he already adores them. He follows them around everywhere.’

      ‘Alfie, you need to come to our house soon, Dustbin has been really busy, but he’d like to see you,’ Tommy said. Franceska, Tomasz, Aleksy and Tommy lived a few streets away from Edgar Road, and I visited them often, I even stayed there sometimes,