THE SAUSAGE THIEF
He just cant ignore this cat, not because he dislikes him, but because the cat keeps stealing from his small corner shop in a way that makes it simply impossible to be cross. In fact, quite the opposite.
The shopkeeper eagerly awaits the cats antics, filming them all on his phone. In the evenings, he shows the footage to his wife, and together they laugh at the spectacle.
The cat always sits for ages outside the open doors, acting as if hes just stopped by for a rest, not up to anything suspicious at all. He has a good look around to check no ones about, while the owner hides behind the large chiller, recording the scene.
Cautiously, the cat slinks inside and heads straight for the sausage display. Once there, he speeds up, nabs a sausage or a chipolata in his teeth, and immediately bolts for the exitexcept hunger never lets him get far. Just a few paces from the corner shop, he stops and tucks in.
The owner comes outside, keeping a safe distance, and calls out:
Is it tasty?
The cat looks up and gives a confirming meow.
Well, thats a relief, the owner replies, grinning. Come again, wont you?
Perhaps youre wondering: how is it possible? A pile of sausages just sitting out on a counter, not even chilled, and individual chipolatas and frankfurters left openly on display? Its really quite simple.
The shopkeeper just has a very kind heart.
He decided to feed the cat in his own way. When the cat first arrived, he was thin and scruffy, but he absolutely refused to let any human come near or take food from a persons hand. So the man came up with a plan.
At first, he left sausages right by the door, so that Oliverthats what he named the thiefcould grab something to eat entirely on his own, as if hed earned it through his little heist.
It worked. Gradually, the shopkeeper began leaving the sausages farther and farther inside, until eventually they were on the lower shelf with the other productsa little feeding station on the floor.
Oliver long ago could have simply walked in, picked up what he fancied, and left, but by now, its not just about foodits about the thrill of the steal. Somehow, a sausage won is a sausage twice as tasty.
Soon enough, the man placed a water bowl, a large dish of top-notch cat food, and a litter box in a plastic container right by the front. He even set down a small dog kennel with a warm blanket inside.
Oliver still isnt keen to be handled, but he does like a chat. The owner will step out after each sausage theft and start a conversation. Every so often, the cat will stop chewing, glance over, and reply with a chirrup.
But now, the shopkeepers become rather puzzled. Oliver is looking plumper and glossier by the day, and surely isnt hungry enough to need to filch sausages anymore. Yet, reliably, twice a day, he pinches a few and races off round the corner.
Many times, the owner has tried to follow and see where he goes, but Olivers just too quick. So the man installs a small camera, the type with a wide lens, streaming the footage to the computer in his back office. And one day, he finally uncovers Olivers secret.
From the basement window of the house nearby, a ginger kitten squeezes out and launches himself at whatever sausage Oliver has delivered.
The very next dayyou hear me? Tomorrow you bring them both home! his wife sobs in the evening, wiping away tears as she cuddles the video footage.
But that proves easier said than done. Its now not too difficult to catch Oliver (whos taken to napping right in the middle of the shop), but getting hold of the ginger kitten would be nigh-on impossible.
Days pass. On the camera feed, the owner watches as the tiny ginger kitten comes up to sip water from Olivers bowl or lies curled up in the dog kennelbut at the slightest human approach, hes off like a flaming rocket.
Then, today, an unusual commotion comes from the shop entrance. The place is empty. Stepping away from the till, the man follows the sound.
There on the doorstep sits the ginger kitten, yowling at the top of his lungs.
Whats the matter, little one? the man asks, taken aback.
The kitten runs to him, stares right into his eyes, and leads him toward the back. Round the corner, lying on the ground, is Oliver, moaninghes been bitten in the back leg by a dog. He managed to escape, but the wound is deep.
The ginger kitten presses his tiny head to Olivers side and starts crying again.
Oh, heavens, sighs the shopkeeper.
He pulls off his coat, gently places the groaning Oliver inside, scoops up the ginger kitten into his jacket pocket, and locks the shop up behind them. Off they all go in his car to the vet.
They spend five hours in the surgery as the vet cleans and stitches up Olivers wound. During this time, the man gets to know the ginger kitten, whom he decides to call Spark. Spark turns out to be playful and full of beans.
That evening, the shop is closed up as the man brings home a groggy Oliver and a now-familiar Spark. His wife is thrilled. And what does a thrilled Englishwoman do? She promptly rings up all her friends. This process is lengthy and requires in-depth telling, analysis, and plenty of advice.
By the time shes finished, the man, Oliver, and Spark are all sprawled, fast asleep, on the bed.
Good heavens, his wife says with a smile, where am I supposed to sleep?
No matterSpark shuffles over to make room, then presses up against her with his little paws kneading her.
And so, they found a home.
Now, two plump and dignified cats lounge around the house, a far cry from their days on the street. Every now and then, Oliver, out of habit, gives Spark a lick, and Spark doesnt mind a bit.
Across the road, beside the shoe shop, a little grey cat has taken up residence. The saleswoman there often nips across to the corner store to buy her food.
Maybe shell take the cat home one day?
Maybe, someday, all of them will be taken home?
Will cats become so precious that youll have to queue for them and attend a special course just to be allowed one?
What do you thinkcould it ever happen?
