Morris and the Cat Flap. Vivian French

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      Dedication

      For dearest Tricia,

       with love

      Contents

      Title Page

      Dedication

      Chapter One

      Morris was ginger and white and very fat.

      Chapter Two

      After Morris had cleaned his whiskers he licked his paws.

      Chapter Three

      Mother Cat ate her breakfast and slid through the cat…

      Chapter Four

      Morris stopped thinking and sniffed. What was that? He sat…

      Other Books by Vivian French

      Credits

      Copyright

      About the Publisher

      Chapter One

      Morris was ginger and white and very fat.

      “Morris!” said his big sister Rose.

      “Look what we’ve got!”

      Morris gazed round the kitchen.

      Everything looked much the same as usual.

      “What is it?” he asked.

      Rose sighed. “Look at the door!”

      Rose was right. Something very strange had happened to the back door. Morris sat in the middle of the kitchen floor and stared.

      “What’s it for?” he asked. “Why is there a window in the door? We’ve got windows already. Big ones.”

      “It’s not a window,” said Rose. “It’s a cat flap.”

      “But what’s it FOR?” Morris asked again.

      “It’s for us,” said Rose. “We can go outside whenever we like.” She bounced outside.

      The cat flap shut behind her with a SNAP. Morris jumped.

      “And,” said Rose as she bounced back, “we can come inside whenever we like. See?”

      Morris didn’t see. His eyes were closed.

      “Why are you sitting with your eyes closed?” asked Rose.

      “I’m waiting for the SNAP,” said Morris.

      “It won’t hurt you,” said Rose. “Come and try!”

      “No, thank you,” said Morris.

      “Suit yourself,” said Rose, and she bounced out again.

      Morris went to see if there was anything to eat.

      Mother Cat yawned, stretched, and sat up on the big chair.

      “Morris,” she said. “What are you doing?”

      “Eating,” said Morris.

      His mother leapt down. “Has Rose shown you how to use the cat flap?”

      Morris nodded. His mouth was full.

      “Good,” said his mother. “It’s getting too cold to leave the window open all the time.” She slid gracefully through the cat flap.

      Morris shut his eyes and waited for the SNAP. Nothing happened, so he opened them again. His mother had disappeared.

      “Morris!” Mother Cat’s head was pushing the flap open. “Come outside!”

      Morris licked the last crumbs from his bowl. “I’m busy,” he said.

      “Nonsense,” said his mother. “You need some fresh air.”

      Morris inspected the door. “I can’t,” he said. “The door’s shut.” He looked up at the window. “And the window’s shut too.”

      “Use the cat flap!” said his mother.

      Morris sat down. “I think I’ll just clean my whiskers. You always tell us to clean our whiskers after eating.”

      “Hmm,” said his mother, and she vanished.

      Morris’s little brother Tom came skipping in to the kitchen.

      “Hello, Morris!” he said. “Have you seen our new door?”

      “It’s not a door,” Morris said. “It’s a flap. And it snaps.”