Tom All Alone 19 (ii)

Final Chapter - 2 of 2

 

 

Moving day was arranged for the Saturday before the start of the school summer holidays. On the Thursday evening before it, Auntie Pat came over and helped mum and dad with some of the final packing. When they'd finished, mum and Auntie Pat sat in the kitchen talking over what would happen at the weekend. Uncle George was coming first thing on Saturday morning with a van he'd borrowed, to move everything over.

Tom was sitting there, too, because Bobby was nestled in his box in the corner - one of the first times he'd not been hiding since it all began. Maybe he was getting used to the idea, Tom thought. He had a bit of string that he was pulling across the lino to try to encourage Bobby to play - but he wasn't really interested. He was huddled up like a tea cosy, looking up every now and then at the women, almost like he was listening to them.

At one point, Auntie Pat turned her head and looked down at Bobby.

"What are you going to do about the cat, Cath?" she said.

"We'll find a box to put him in. He'll be alright."

Auntie Pat shook her head.

"I don't mean that. They don't allow animals in those blocks. Didn't you know that?"

Mum frowned.

"No one's told us that."

"Well, they should have done. You're not allowed to have pets in tower blocks. Can't your mum have him?"

Mum caught the look on Tom's face at that moment.

"No," she said, firmly. "He's coming with us. He's part of the family, and we're not leaving him behind. He's always been more of a house cat, anyway."

Auntie Pat raised her eyebrows.

"Don't say I didn't tell you. If they find out..."

At that instant, Bobby suddenly leapt from the box and rushed out of the room for the stairs. It happened so fast that Tom sat up in shock. He looked at mum quickly, and the surprise was there on her face as well. He got up and chased after him, just reaching the bottom of the stairs as nan came out of her scullery.

"Did you see where Bobby went, nan?"

She smiled at him. "Yes, duck. He went out to the back yard. Gone to do his business, I expect. He's alright."

Tom didn't sleep very well that night. Apart from all the excitement, he kept thinking about what Auntie Pat had said - even though mum's insistence had been reassuring. He didn't know how anyone would find out, anyway. And they could always hide Bobby if anyone came around to check, couldn't they?

 

The next morning, he got ready for school as usual and went upstairs for breakfast. The kitchen was bare now, except for the tables and chairs. Everything else had been packed away.

Mum put his bowl of Corn Flakes in front of him, then sat down with a cup of tea. As he ate, he noticed Bobby's food bowl underneath the open window. It still had his meat in it.

"Where's Bobby?" he asked.

She sipped her tea and put her cup down in the saucer. "He's still out. He'll be in when he's hungry. He's probably found a sunny spot in the back yard."

Tom kept his eye on the window as he ate.

"He's definitely coming with us, mum, isn't he?"

"Yes," she said. "Don't you worry about what Auntie Pat said. Dad said one of the other tenants there has got a cat, anyway."

That made him feel more settled. He finished his breakfast, then went and brushed his teeth, then got his shoes from the bedroom. When he got back up to the kitchen, mum was standing by the window rattling a knife against Bobby's dish.

"Bobbeeee!" she called out. "Bob-Bob-Bobbeeee!"

She turned and saw Tom standing there.

"Are you all ready?" she said, smiling.

"Yes."

"Good boy."

He could see something in her eyes then - like she couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh or cry. He ran towards her and she met him in her arms, and they hugged each other hard.

"I'll see you at lunchtime, then," she said, kissing his cheek. "Remember to look both ways when you cross the road."

He left the house and walked up the road to school for the last time. At the top, he turned the corner by Gibney's. At the kerb, he looked both ways and saw that it was clear. He was about to step into the road when he looked down and saw Bobby. He was lying there in the gutter, asleep.

Tom put his hand down to shake him awake.

"Come on, Bobby. Your breakfast is ready. Mum's been calling you."

Bobby didn't move. Tom shook him again with both hands now, feeling the silky softness of that fur he loved stroking so much.

And then he saw the blood at Bobby's mouth. And then the fine trail of it further out in the road - dried now.

"Bobby! Bobby Bobby!" he cried.

He knelt on the kerbstone then and lifted Bobby, feeling the dead weight that somehow felt heavier than he'd ever known.

"Oh, Bobby! Bobby!"

And then Jim Gibney was standing there in his white shop coat, come out to see what the problem was.

"Hello, Tom. What's up? Is he alright?"

But Tom wasn't listening. He stood up and turned, cradling Bobby against him, and began to walk back down the road.

Back down to home. To their home.

To the only home they'd ever had together.

THE END

 

P.S. Sorry about the sad ending. But, as with all other events in the novel, this actually happened - on the day before moving day. Mum always swore that 'Bobby' knew something. It was a very tough time - my first experience of grief coming on top of that major life-change for us. It took a long time to get over.