CATS ON A MONDAY MORNING
Privet Drive on a Monday morning was never lively. The majority of the residents were either at work, college or school, both primary and secondary. Rarely anyone, went out for a simple stroll as they were too wrapped up in certain tasks that needed to be done, or were attempting to keep control of their own household.
And that was precisely what Petunia Dursley was doing that Monday morning. She had discovered that her brat of a nephew had heaped his toy trains into the washing machine before turning it on, thus ruining the machine and her son's old toys.
Whilst berating the brat, promising him that his Uncle would have a 'few choice words' to tell him when he got home, Petunia failed to realise that her own brat was up to mischief.
Two year old Dudley Dursley stood on his tip toes, babbling happily to himself as he wrapped his chubby fist around the door handle. Swinging it down, he nearly fell when the door opened but caught himself in time, standing up straight and puffing his chest out in pride as he surveyed the world, situated outside of his house.
Dudley released his hold on the handle, craning his head round. His mother was still in the kitchen, he could hear her screaming at the freak. Snorting, Dudley faced the outside world again and uneasily stepped over the threshold and onto the concrete.
Leaving the door wide open, Dudley's eyes widened as he tread down the pathway. He halted at the end of the path, a broad smile slapping onto his round face when the cat came further into his view. He had never seen a cat properly before, as his mother loathed animals and always carried her baby away from them, to 'safety.' So now, Dudley was relishing the chance to see one up close.
Dudley's smile vanished and he gave a cry as the cat suddenly streaked past him and down the road, towards the end of Privet Drive. However, his smile returned somewhat when the cat leapt onto the brick wall situated at the end of the street.
Giggling as the cat's tail flopped back and forth, Dudley toddled along the pavement. His thick blond hair ruffled in the breeze, his overalls straining to contain his ever growing mass.
Five minutes later, he reached the end of the street and ventured up to the cat. The animal gazed down at him through half lidded eyes, inclining its head when Dudley reached up and started to stroke the fur on the cat's head with podgy fingers.
Dudley grinned, chirping: "Good kitty! You mine!"
Retracting his fingers, he reached out with his hands, aiming to pick up the cat. The cat yowled slightly as Dudley's chubby hands gripped its body tightly. Sensing the animal's distress, Dudley loosened his grip, giggling when the cat began to purr. Cuddling it to him, he toddled back to his house, observing that the cat had no collar.
Which meant that the animal was most likely a stray or belonged to Mrs Figg, the 'Crazy Cat Lady' as Dudley called her, even to her face.
As he ventured up the path towards the front door, Dudley hoped that his mother would let him keep the cat and if she did, that she would not hand it to the freak to deal with.
Dudley wanted to care for the cat, all by himself!
Stepping into the house, Dudley kicked the door shut behind him and barged into the kitchen, where Petunia was still shouting at her nephew. Dudley grinned as his mother caught sight of him, holding up the cat carefully.
"Mummy! Look!"
Petunia's eyes widened in horror and she let loose a shrill scream. Amidst the screaming, Dudley drawled:
"Sooooo, can I keep it?!"