Short Story: Mali

Short Story - The Traveler

She lay curled in a warm and fuzzy blanket. Her eyes were not yet open, but she could feel and hear gentle hearts beating around her. Suddenly, there was a warm tongue licking her tiny eyelid. She attempted to open them, but was blinded by a ray of bright sunshine. Her tummy rumbled and Mali realized that she was hungry. She let out a quiet, “Meow…” and her momma crawled to her side.
This was the beginning of a new life…

One year later.
Walking along the roof slats of the red barn, Mali searched for mice scampering across the hay-strewn ground. It was time for lunch. Scanning left and right, up and down, Mali hunted intently. She froze! The little brown mouse peeked out of the tack room doorway and looked both ways before crossing. But it was too late. Mali leaped onto the stack of hay. Peering cautiously around the corner, she spotted the mouse. He was just beginning to take a step into the dangerous war zone of the entranceway. Flying through the air, Mali bounded in the direction of the hairy mouse. The mouse scampered but it was too slow for Mali. She dashed after it and within seconds had landed. Hoping she hadn’t misjudged the position on the ground, she peered underneath her belly. The mouse was dead, lunch was caught!
Two days later, Mali decided that time was up at the old, red farmhouse. It was time to move on. Almost forgetting her most favorable possession, she snatched her sachet of catnip off the shelf. Cautiously, she slinked through the tall grasses, past the family house, the cow’s barn, the chicken huts, and the car garage. Nervous to go out in open space, Mali crossed the street. Creeping along the fence line, Mali arrived in a parking lot. Perfect, she thought. She glanced all around her, taking every little thing in. Cars were constantly coming and going. It would be so easy to jump in the back seat and not be seen.
Slipping out from underneath the bus stop bench, Mali made her way into the hectic parking lot. She saw her target. The little red Mazda Protégé would be taking a kitten home today. For almost an hour, Mali hung around the parking lot, constantly keeping an eye in the back of her head watching the car. “When are those people going to come back?” Mali thought. She was longing for a catnap after all this activity, but she could not miss her one and only chance of a lifetime. She knew there were many other cars to sneak into, but she felt that this one was “special”.
“Score!” Mali purred to herself. She saw the family coming. It was heading straight for the little red car. The keys came out of the pocket and were inserted into the keyhole. Mali dashed towards the car beside her target and crept underneath. She had it all planned out in her little brain, the minute the back door was opened, she would let out a “Meow…” to distract the parents, and then she would slip inside and hide underneath the seat.
“Click,” the door opened. “Meow…Meow…” purred Mali. Heads turned, cats jumped, children yelled at “the imaginary kitten”, and then all fell silent. Now, she would have to “disappear”. Finding a comfy spot between the metal bars of the passenger seat, Mali drifted off to sleep at once.
She woke up to hear the “I’m going to visit Grandma and I’m gonna to bring with me…” game being played by the mother and two children. Realizing that much time had passed since she fell asleep, she began to listen to the conversation up front. Luckily, they began discussing directions and names of cities. She heard a familiar name. Vancouver! Mali thought to herself, “I’ve been there before! They have really good treats in the back alleys…” purring quietly to herself, Mali dreamed of the delicious kitty treats.
The motor stopped at a small, old house on a deserted country lane. Everyone jumped out of the car and rushed towards the doorway to say “Hi” to grandma. Luckily, the back doors of the car were left open in order to get the suitcases. Mali stuck her head out the door to make sure she would not be spotted. She ran into the hedge trees to decide her future plans. Minutes passed and then, “Oh great,” she thought, as dogs began to howl from the inside of the house. “This would not be the house for her,” she decided.
Mali began walking along the sidewalk, always on the lookout for fellow doggy neighbors. Hearing traffic close by, she continued her journey. Immediately, she saw her future. Dashing towards the bus fifty feet in front of her, she leapt up the bus steps and under the closest seat. Panting and in great need of water, she found a few wet raindrops on the floor. “They’re probably full of germs and whatnot, but I can’t go on any longer without a sip of water,” she thought. Glancing up towards the destination sign, she almost meowed out in delight! She was headed towards Surrey, where all her buddies lived. She instantly saw past memories flash through her mind, alley get-togethers, backyard group meetings, the list went on and on.
Arriving in Surrey, Mali wandered down the nearest side street hoping to find a homey, little cottage type house in which she could find a new home. Instead, she found a cult-de-sac of large houses, all similar in size and shape. Walking along, she picked a house. She only picked it because the cardboard box by the front door looked like a nice, comfy bed for the night. She snuggled inside and went to sleep, not forgetting her prayers before drifting off.
The front door opened and Mali was awakened instantly. She had not meant to sleep this late, as now there was a little girl of eleven or twelve, reaching down to pick her up. The little girl’s eyes were almost jumping out in wonder at her new discovery. Mali tried to scramble out of the little girl’s grasp, but it was impossible. She was doomed. It was too late to go back to her old farmhouse. She had smelt it as soon as the door had opened. In this house, already lived dogs and cats. Multiple cats.
Mali glanced around the house from where she was sitting, as the little girl would not let her go, and Mali didn’t want to cause any harm. In the kitchen, she could hear phone calls being made. Mali prayed to heaven above that the S.P.C.A was not on the other line. Mali gracefully thanked the Lord as the phone was put back without any addresses being read aloud. This was a good sign.
During the next fifteen minutes or so, Mali was handed back and worth between the child and the mother about fifty times! Just as she was getting frustrated and ready to jump away, the doorbell rang. The dog began barking and he ran and slid toward the door. All cats, including Mali, ran to some sort of the house to get away from the horrible noise. “Who could it be?” she thought,” she instantly saw an S.P.C.A van and became afraid.” Her fear disappeared however when a young girl appeared in the doorway.
“Jodie! Jodie! Jodie! You’re going to love her! She is so adorable,” said the little girl. Jodie cautiously searched the house for the kitten she could possibly own.
Mali wasn’t too sure about this “Jodie” person, but she had on a fuzzy jacket that looked to be a good sleeping bed, so she crawled out from under the couch. Cuddling into her arms, Mali knew instantly that she would be going to live with this nice young lady. She smelled of yummy treats, warm milk, and toasty bread, all of Mali’s favorites.
Falling asleep in her new owner’s arms, Mali could feel a warm blanket being snugly put around her on the car seat. The car started, and they were off. Her latest home was waiting for the new addition to their little family.

The End


*** Please help!!! Any suggestions or comments???.....Any would be appreciated. I am in Grade 12.