MAGIC FOR MERLIN

The rain had stopped and he crept out of his temporary shelter of a parked car. It was cold, so cold that his breath came out in puffs. He started to walk down the road looking for overflowing dustbins where he might find food, but nowadays all the bins had lids and any surplus left behind them rarely contained anything edible.His grey fur was matted and he hadn't eaten much for so long that his ribs had started to show. Once he had been a pampered cat but his owners had sold their house and moved away  leaving him behind.

"Someone will look after him" they convinced themselves, "cats always manage. We can't take him with us.He is used to a garden and would be unhappy cooped up in a flat".

Their conciousness salved they forgot about him. At first he stayed by the front door waiting for someone to come and let him in. He didn't understand why no one came until he realised that nobody was coming, ever!! The fine weather turned cold and wet and he was cold and hungry!

He looked around and found he was near a flight of stone steps. He walked down until he saw a small gate that led into a garden, at the end of which was a house with a closed window. He was so tired and so hungry that he crept up to the window uttering sad and mournful cries that held the full extent of his despair. The window opened and a head appeared. A woman gazed down at him, turned away and came back with a dish of food. She reached down and placed it near him. He edged forward, sniffed and  ate until the dish was clean. Replete for the first time in ages , he curled up in the grass and fell asleep.

He awoke when he heard a door open and a woman appeared, her hands laden with small plates. These she placed inside a small wooden house opposite to where he was. He watched as cats appeared as if by magic, entered the little house and and ate. When they had gone he crept out and looked in and saw the remains of bowls of food and milk. He also noticed many places where there was shelter. A real cat friendly place!! The cats that fed there were like him, companions àf misfortune. Days went by and he joined them. Kindly eyes watched over him, good food appeared twice a day. 

Thus he was named MERLIN  and became one more of the hillside cats!!