Travis Finds New Friends

TRAVIS FINDS NEW FRIENDS


Travis was practicing his stalking and pouncing in the long wet grass in the back yard. Though he was still a kitten; he was determined to be as good a hunter as his big cousin the lion in Africa. Travis did not want to hurt the butterfly; he just wanted to practice on him.

The orange and black insect was too fast for Travis so he crouched down and waited until it fluttered by his nose, and then he sprang up out of the grass. Missed again! Oh well, at least he was getting better.

The butterfly flew to the flower garden and gently landed on a tall blossom safely out of reach so Travis rested from his practicing and thought about the day.

Travis had been at his new home just three days and other than Wendy Jane and the butterfly, Travis didn’t have anyone to play with. But that was about to change. Today the children and their father were coming home from summer camp! Travis was so excited it felt like there was a butterfly inside his stomach.

Travis padded up the long sloping sidewalk that led to the back porch. Halfway there, he turned around and looked at his wet footprints. He smiled to himself; his footprints were quite unusual. His large paws with five toes on each front paw left large wet marks as he walked. He came from a home where all the cats were show cats. Travis would never be a show cat with such unusual feet so he came to live here and be a pet for the children.

Travis and Wendy Jane sat in the porch swing together waiting for the children and their father to come home. He began to groom his soft gray fur. His feet and stomach were all wet from playing in the grass and he wanted to look his best because he wanted his new friends to like him.

“The children will be so surprised when they see you, Travis,” said the children’s mother.

A while later, a van drove into the yard. It had hardly stopped when a boy and a girl jumped out. They were about the same size, both tanned from the summer sun and they looked so much alike that Travis thought they must be the six year-old twins that Wendy Jane had told him about.

They had short hair that curled around their forehead and ears like a blond cap. Their blue eyes sparkled with excitement and joy and their smiles seemed to be permanently in place.

Wendy Jane jumped from her seat. “Stephanie, Steven!” she called, running over and giving them a big hug. There was a lot of shouting and laughing. Then the twins ran to the back of the van, popped open the door and pulled out a large chair with big wheels. Their father, Darrell, climbed out of the van, opened the side door and helped an older girl out of the van. He placed her into the wheelchair. This must be Lindsay thought Travis. She had long blond hair that fell down her back and shining bright blue eyes. Travis thought she was very beautiful. Wendy Jane bent down to hug Lindsay. “I’m so glad you’re all home, I’ve missed you all so much. I have a surprise for you,” said their mother.

Lindsay rolled her wheelchair up the long sloping sidewalk to the porch. That is when she spotted Travis sitting on the swing. “Oh, mom,” she cried, “he’s beautiful, can we keep him?”

“Yes,” said her mom. “His name is Travis but you can choose a different name if you want.”

“Oh, no,” said Lindsay, “Travis suites him perfectly.” She called to Stephanie and Steven, “Come and look at the beautiful kitten.”

The twins came running over; then all three children were laughing and shouting again. They were ever so happy to have a kitten.

Just then a big black flying beetle flew past Travis’ nose. Quickly, without thinking he swatted at the beetle with his big paw and surprised himself when he knocked it flying across the porch.

“Wow,” screeched Stephanie, “that was just like a tennis player.”

His heart swelled with pride and he noticed that the butterflies in his stomach had gone away.

The children took turns holding and petting him. They played with his toys and he liked being the centre of attention. He felt happy and loved. He knew he was going to enjoy living here, they did not mind that he was not perfect and that he had big feet. They just want a pet to play with and I just want a family that loves me, thought Travis.

Travis especially liked the idea that Lindsay got around in a wheelchair, she always had a lap where he could curl up. He loved to go for rides with her and she loved taking him with her. At mealtime, if he stayed very quiet and did not poke his nose onto the table, he could sit with her in the wheelchair while the family ate their meals. Lindsay and Travis became special friends.

That evening Travis was exhausted after his first day of playing with his new friends. When he settled down in his bed that night, he thought about his new family and he did not feel lonely anymore.

As he sank into his cushiony soft bed he dreamt about the morning. I hope that every day will be just as good as today he thought drowsily.

Word count: 925