This
is a charming story, based partly on fact, which is suitable for all cat
lovers - the beautifully executed line drawings by Sally Holmes have
attracted much favourable comment. It makes an excellent gift for children
of eight upwards, especially at our new low price
of £9.50 including postage.
Here is an excerpt from the
first chapter of
The Expatriate Siamese:-
Mitzi
Earlier that morning, a thin layer of mist had obscured the coastal strip,
leaving hillocks standing out like islands in a grey sea, but it had cleared
quickly to reveal a calm blue Mediterranean and a cloudless sky.
The white buildings lining the south-west shore of Mallorca,
highlighted by the brilliant sunshine, contrasted sharply with the green
patchwork of almond orchards and olive groves covering the lower slopes of
the mountains, while thousands of pines clung tenaciously to crevices in the
rocks above.
However, the perfect day was marred for me because Graham was
preparing for a trip to the UK. I lay on the bed, scrutinising every
movement as he packed his suitcase and moaning involuntarily whenever I
thought of his impending departure—although I was unable to fully express my
feelings, he was aware
of my absolute devotion.
By eavesdropping on a telephone conversation, I already knew that
Graham had booked a return flight from Palma to Gatwick, but the purpose of
his hastily arranged journey was wrapped in mystery. I had followed him into
the bedroom in order to be near him for as long as possible before he left
for the airport.
Instead of his usual informal garb, Graham was wearing a
long-sleeved cream shirt, a pale blue silk tie, and grey trousers with
knife-edged creases; a matching jacket was draped casually over the
king-size bed, which dominated the room. Colourful rugs, some attractive
watercolours, and a crystal chandelier relieved the stark white walls and
plain tiled floor—typical of a Mallorquin house. The slatted
persianas
were closed against the midday sun but the
wood-framed windows were wide open, allowing a pleasantly cool breeze to
waft over my body.
I lay on the soft quilt, resting my head on a sleeve of Graham’s
jacket and nuzzling the material to savour the familiar scent of his
cologne. When he leaned over to place two clean shirts into his suitcase, I
stretched out seductively and lightly touched his arm. turned and looked at
me sympathetically: ‘I know darling—I’ll miss you too, but I’ll be back soon
bringing something exciting for you,’ he said as he slipped on his
jacket and clicked the case shut.
Still moaning intermittently, I followed him down the stairs to the
hall where his wife, Pam, was waiting to escort him to the car.
‘Good-bye Tia, cheer up—I’ll be home in two days,’ he said, gently
stroking my head.
I watched as he kissed Pam
tenderly, promising to telephone that evening; then he waved to us as he
drove off, the tyres of the car raising clouds of dust from the gravelled
drive that had not seen rain for many weeks. It was July and the heat would
be intense for the next two months. In our eyrie in the mountains above
Calviá, the temperature is at least five degrees lower than on the plain,
but even so I had to move quickly to avoid burning my feet on the hot tiles
as I walked round to the shady terrace in search of a comfortable lounger.
My full name is Tia Maria but it is usually shortened to Tia. I am
a chocolate-point Siamese with the perfect bone structure specified for my
breed—an elegantly domed head, well-formed chin, lithe leopard-like body
with high-set shoulder blades, and a long tail. The unusually soft fur of my
body is predominantly cream, merging into café-au-lait on my lower legs and
paws and a deeper brown on my mask, ears, and tail. My slightly pointed face
features an
imperious nose, large pricked ears—separated by a striped brow, long white
whiskers and luminous blue eyes set in slanted lids, which give me an
oriental appearance.
I know precisely how to exploit my feline mystique, so no one
really knows what lies behind my inscrutable stare. My manner is sometimes
interpreted as being a little haughty and condescending but, in reality, I
am very affectionate and loyal to people I like. Some would say that I am
pampered by Pam and Graham but the truth is that our lives have become so
interwoven during the sixteen years we have been together that they treat me
as one of the family—indeed there are times when I feel more human than
feline. In some respects, there has been a reversal of roles in our house so
that now I am the one who worries when they stay out late, unable to settle
for the night until they are home—unlike a few years ago when they waited
anxiously for my call to be let in, after I returned from a nocturnal
outing.
The illustration relates to an incident later in this chapter
when Tia encounters a friendly stray called Mitzi who is living rough on the
streets.
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