It was early afternoon and Demeter and Bombalurina had just finished their lunch and sat down in the sun to watch the kittens playing. Victoria was sat talking to Plato and Etcetera and Jemima were trying to get her attention by running around her and laughing and calling her. Electra was building a tower of old paint cans and Pouncival was stalking after Tumblebrutus who was looking for a rat to eat.
"They're so sweet aren't they," Bombalurina commented after watching them for a while, "I would like one of my own one day." She sighed.
"I never thought I'd hear you say that," laughed Demeter," Don't you remember when we were little you said you would never want a kitten when you grew up."
"Oh yes, I remember. I don't want one now. Maybe in a few years." Bombalurina grinned at her friend, "I don't want to settle down yet."
Demeter rolled her eyes and changed the subject, "It's great having Macavity back isn't it?"
"I know! I still can't believe it. Everybody was so pleased to see him..." Bombalurina paused, "Well almost everybody..."
Demeter looked at her friend with a frown. "What do you mean 'almost everybody'? I thought all the others were happy to see him."
Bombalurina looked worried. "So did I at the time. When he arrived did you notice if Coricopat and Tantomile were there?"
Demeter shook her head. "They were out."
"Well this morning they were sat with Alonzo and Cassandra eating breakfast and Macavity and I went over to join them. Cassandra and Alonzo said good morning to us normally but Coricopat and Tantomile got up and walked off without saying anything. They didn't even finish their food. It was really awkward. Cassandra had to make up some excuse about them being busy," Bombalurina told her friend. She had been very upset by the incident and wanted somebody to tell her it was fine and not to let it bother her.
Demeter shrugged. "They were probably busy or just in a bad mood."
"It's not that. They won't talk to him. He said something to Tantomile yesterday and she pulled a disgusted face and ignored him!"
"Bomba, don't let it bother you. They can be a bit weird sometimes. They...," Demeter was saying when she broke off as Macavity came over to join them. "Hi, Macavity."
"Hi, Demeter." Macavity smiled at her and sat down beside her. "Hi, Bombalurina."
"Hi." Bombalurina was a little hurt that he had greeted Demeter first and chosen to sit next to her. She would've thought he wanted to talk to her after he had been away for so long. "No," she thought, "This was silly. I am not going to be jealous of my best friend because my brother said hello to her first." She tried to concentrate on the conversation. Macavity was telling a story and Demeter was laughing. Bombalurina laughed politely but had no idea what he had been saying.
"Are you ok?", Demeter asked her looking concerned.
"I'm fine. Just feeling a bit odd. I'll be ok in a second."
"Ok," said Demeter looking doubtful, "I have to go now. I promised to take Jemima and Victoria to the park. I'll see you later."
"I could come with you if you like," Macavity offered jumping to his feet.
Demeter laughed, "You don't even like kittens. You said so yesterday. Why do you want to come?"
Macavity shrugged and grinned, "I fancy going for a walk and if I go with you I'll have somebody to talk to."
"Come if you want to," Demeter said and went off to find Jemima and Victoria.
"Bye!", Bombalurina called after them and Demeter waved over her shoulder to her friend.
They found Victoria and Jemima playing with a teddy infront of their den. "Are you coming, you two?", Demeter asked them, "You wanted to go to the park didn't you."
"Yes, of course we do." Victoria got up and pulled Jemima to her feet and the four of them set off across the Junkyard with the kittens running ahead. As they passed an old oven Demeter saw two pairs of eyes glaring out at them and heard a faint hiss. She hurried on and didn't mention it to Macavity but it worried her.
By the time they reached the park she was feeling much better and enjoying chatting to her old friend and watching the kittens chasing each other along the pavement and back again. The slipped under the park fence and strolled across the grass. Far away in the distance there were some children playing with a ball and an old lady with a small dog on a lead. Nothing to disturb the cats. There was a duck pond in the middle of the park surrounded by trees and they made for this. As they walked Jemima and Victoria jumped up onto the park benches, chased each other round trees and crept under bushes and through flowerbeds. Demeter was happy to watch the kittens and walk quietly but she suspected that Macavity was bored. Victoria came running back to them holding two pretty yellow flowers.
"For you," she laughed and handed the each one. Demeter thanked her and smiling tucked the flower into her collar. Macavity said nothing and as Victoria turned and ran back to Jemima he dropped it on the floor and stepped on it when he thought Demeter wasn't looking. She was a bit hurt and very upset but blamed the incident on him being fed up and bored and tried not to think about it.
An hour later it was still annoying her and she found she wasn't having as much fun as before so she suggested turning for home. Macavity agreed a little too eagerly Demeter thought. They were quicker getting home than they had been getting to the park because Macavity walked faster than before so at times Demeter almost felt rushed. He talked to her and told her stories about his life before he had found them again but she didn't feel in the mood to listen and was very relieved when they finally got home and she could go and find Munkustrap. She sat down beside him and put her head on his shoulder. He snuggled up to her and she thought how nice it was that he didn't feel the need to talk at her all the time like Macavity. As she sat there she reflected on what a trying afternoon it had been.