The Adventures of Munchies

Munchies was a small, black kitten. He lived with a girl called Amy who loved him very much. Munchies was very happy to be part of Amy’s family.

Every day, Munchies would wake up in the kitchen to the sound of Amy coming down the stairs. He would bound up to meet her and they would have breakfast together. As soon as Munchies had emptied his bowl and licked all round to make sure he hadn’t missed anything, he would push his way through the cat flap into the garden.

The garden was Munchies’ favourite place. He was still too small to do much hunting, but he liked running after birds and leaping into the air as they flew away. He also liked to climb into other gardens and poke his nose into every corner.
Once, this curiosity got him into trouble. He had skittered along, wriggling through hedges and under fences into strange gardens when he suddenly came face to face with a huge, fierce looking cat. It was nearly twice as big as him, and it was clearly angry.

Munchies stopped short, his tail bristling and his ears flat back. He and the other cat stood for a second, glaring into each other’s eyes, when suddenly the other cat shot out a paw and Munchies’ nerve broke. He bolted for the wall, the big cat close behind.

Poor little Munchies was chased all the way across three gardens and into his own, where he shot up a tree and sat, cowering, on a branch. The angry cat came to a halt, looked up at Munchies perching above him, and sat down at the foot of the tree. It looked as though he was going to wait all day.

They sat like that for what seemed to Munchies like hours, just waiting and watching. The terrified little kitten crouched in the tree with his claws firmly dug into the bark, clinging on for dear life. Just when it seemed that he couldn’t possibly hold on any longer and he was going to fall down, down, into the waiting clutches of the huge cat, the door of the house opened and Amy came out.

The big bully cat took one look at her and bolted.

“Munchies? Where are you?” Amy called, coming down the path. “Oh Munchies, you silly kitten!” she exclaimed, spying him in the tree. “Come on down, it’s time for your tea.”
Munchies lost his grip entirely, and tumbled out of the branches and onto the grass. Amy picked him up gently.
“Are you hurt?” she said, gently hugging him close. In reply, Munchies began to purr.

***

It was a sunny Saturday morning and Munchies was playing in the garden when he spotted a new, interesting-looking object hidden in the grass. He sniffed, and began to stalk it, tail up, ears back. When he got close enough, he crouched low, wiggled his bottom and pounced!

With a yelp, a small bundle of fur shot out from underneath him, gave him a sharp biff on the nose and galloped off across the garden, bounding with powerful back legs and long ears flapping. Munchies sat gently wiggling his tender nose and trying to decide how badly he was hurt.

Coming to the conclusion that all he needed was a good cuddle, he started back up towards the house and the warmth of Amy’s room. But he never bothered a sleeping rabbit again. He’d learnt his lesson… for now!

***

Munchies loved living with Amy and her family, but he was very confused sometimes. Almost every day, Amy would come downstairs and feed him, they would play a little and he would curl up and drop of to sleep. When he woke up, Amy would have vanished and however much he searched, he couldn't find her.

One day, he decided to find out where it was that she went. Although his breakfast made him feel very sleepy, he made sure that he didn't fall asleep and he snuck after Amy as she went upstairs.

At the top of the stairs was Amy's room, and she went inside and shut the door before Munchies could dash in after her. Feeling rather offended, he crept under the hall table to wait for her to come out.

A few minutes later, Amy's door opened and she came out wearing different clothes and carrying a bag. Munchies crept out from under the table and took a flying LEAP into the bag, just as Amy put it down on the floor and called something to someone in another room. Snuggling down quickly, Munchies settled himself amongst some sharp-cornered objects and peered out as he was carried down the stairs, out of the house and across the road.

They stopped at a large red pole, which Munchies had seen before but had never been close to. Amy put the bag down on the floor and reached into it, jumping with surprise when she felt Munchies' fur.

"Munchies!" she cried, startled. "What are you doing in there? Silly kitten! Now I have to take you home again."

She scooped him up and crossed the road again, scolding him tenderly.

"If I miss my bus, silly kitty, then it'll be all your fault! You can't come to school with me, Munchies. Now then, stay here and have fun."

Amy placed him down in the garden, gave him a little wave and went running back towards the road again. Munchies watched her with interest. School, she had said. What a strange place that sounded. He was much better staying here and sleeping.

And with that thought, he jumped up onto the top of a wall and fell asleep in the sunshine.