It very soon became clear that my stock had fallen to new depths, because I had only
to step out of the back door to send Olly scurrying away into the fields. The situation became so bad that I began to brood about it.
Helen, I said one morning, this thing with Olly is getting on my nerves. I wish there was something I could do about it.
There is, Jim, she said. Youll really have to get to know him. And hell have to get to know you.
I gave her a glum look. Im afraid if you asked him, hed tell you that he knows me only too well.
Oh, I know, but when you think about it, over all the years that weve had these cats, theyve hardly seen anything of you, except in an emergency. Ive been the one to feed them, talk to them, pet them, day in day out. They know me and trust me.
Thats right, but I just havent had the time.
Of course you havent. Your life is one long rush. Youre no sooner in the house than youre out again.
I nodded thoughtfully. She was so right.
Over the years I had been attached to those cats, enjoyed the sight of them trotting down the slope for their food, playing in the long grass in the field, being fondled by Helen, but I was a comparative stranger to them. I felt a pang at the realisation that all that time had flashed past so quickly.
Well, probably its too late. Do you think there is anything I can do?
Yes, she said. You have to start feeding them. Youll just have to find the time to do it. Oh, I know you cant do it always, but if theres the slightest chance, youll have to get out there with their food.
So you think its just a case of cupboard love with them?
Absolutely not. Im sure youve seen me with them often enough. They wont look at their food until Ive made a fuss of them for quite a long time. Its the attention and friendship they want most.
But I havent a hope. They hate the sight of me.
Youll just have to persevere. It took me a long time to get their trust. Especially with Ginny. Shes always been the more timid one. Even now if I move my hand too quickly, shes off. Despite all thats happened, I think Olly might be your best hopetheres a big well of friendliness in that cat.
Right, I said. Give me the food and milk. Ill start now.
That was the beginning of one of the little sagas in my life. At every opportunity, I was the one who called them down, placed the food on the wall top and stood there waiting. At first I waited in vain. I could see the two of them watching me from the log shedthe blackand-white face and the yellow, gold and white one observing me from the straw bedsand for a long time they would never venture down until I had retreated into the house. Because of my irregular job, it was difficult to keep the new system going and sometimes when I had an early morning call they didnt get their breakfast on time, but it was on one of those occasions when breakfast was over an hour late that their hunger overcame their fear and they came down cautiously while I stood stock still by the wall. They ate quickly with nervous glances at me, then scurried away. I smiled in satisfaction. It was the first breakthrough. After that, there was a long period when I just stood there as they ate until they became used to me as part of the scenery. Then I tried a careful extension of a hand. To start with, they backed away at that but, as the days passed, I could see that my hand was becoming less and less of a threat and my hopes rose steadily. As Helen had prophesied, Ginny was the one who shied right away from me at the slightest movement, whereas Olly, after retreating, began to look at me with an appraising eye as though he might possibly be willing to forget the past and revise his opinion of me. With infinite patience, day by day, I managed to get my hand nearer and nearer to him, and it was a memorable occasion when he at last stood still and allowed me to touch his cheek with a forefinger. As I gently stroked the fur, he regarded me with unmistakably friendly eyes before skipping away.
Helen, I said, looking round at the kitchen window, Ive made it!
Were going to be friends at last. Its a matter of time now till Im stroking him as you do.
I was filled with an irrational pleasure and sense of fulfilment. It did seem a foolish reaction in a man who was dealing every day with animals of all kinds, but I was looking forward to years of friendship with that particular cat. I was wrong. At that moment I could not know that Olly would be dead within forty-eight hours. It was the following morning when Helen called to me from the back garden. She sounded distraught.
Jim, come quickly! Its Olly!
I rushed out to where she was standing near the top of the slope near the log shed. Ginny was there, but all I could see of Olly was a dark smudge on the grass.
Helen
gripped my arm as I bent over him.
Whats happened to him?
He was motionless, his legs extended stiffly, his back arched in a dreadful rigor, his eyes staring.
I Im afraid hes gone. It looks like strychnine poisoning.