Matilda and Trickle are enjoying a relaxing moment on the sofa.

M: “So, I think we’ve been here for two weeks now. Are you happy in our home?”

 T: “I love it! I was a bit scared when we arrived, but…”

M: (interrupting) “Scared? You were terrified of everything, like the dogs!

T: “I’d never seen a dog before! I hadn’t really seen anything; I’d spent eight weeks in one room of a house! The lady there was always cleaning, so at least I was used to the vacuum cleaner, but that’s about it.”

M: “Don’t complain; I never went into a house until I was four weeks old.”

T: “Really? Where…. where were you born and brought up then?”

M: (quietly) “I don’t really remember, but I think I was born outside. All I remember is that someone found me in a car park. I was all alone, starving and very sick.”

T: “That’s terrible! What happened next?”

M: “The lady who came to get me was lovely. I was weak and filthy and had no mum. The lady took me home, kept me in a warm room, and bottle-fed me milk until I was stronger. She took me to the vet, where they checked me over and gave me a bath. Baths are the pits! It was comfy at her house, and the dogs and adult cats there were kind to me. I was sad when she said she couldn’t keep me, but she promised she’d find me a lovely home with someone she knew and trusted. It turns out she’d known She for a few years and thought I’d be all right here. She said that it’s the perfect place for cats to live and promised that She would look after me.”

T: “I think she was right about that. They look after us so well, don’t they? Lots of meals, toys, and attention.”

M: “Well, they must pay attention to you because of the places you get to. Who would ever want to climb into a washing machine or a wood burner? You’re nuts!”

 T: “The washer was empty, and the stove wasn’t lit!”

 M: “You want to be careful; you’ll get into real trouble one of these days. I’m thinking your name is actually TrickleNo!”

T: “At least I knew how to use a litter tray properly; for the first few days, I had to cover up your messes for you. Eew!”

M: “Um… sorry about that. I never had a mum to teach me things like that when I should have been learning them. I didn’t have any siblings until I met you. I didn’t even know I was a kitten. I thought I was an adult cat, or maybe even a dog or a human. After we came here together, I got to know you, and everything fell into place.

T: “It’s fun, us being together, isn’t it?”

M: “It is! Except I’m sane and you’re a bit mad, and I hate it when I want to nap in peace and you won’t let me.”

T: “I get bored easily.”

M: “Tell me about it *rolls eyes*. Because of that, I now have a secret napping spot, hidden from you. So there!”

 T: “You have? Where?”

 M: (in a patient tone) “It’s a secret. Because of that, I won’t reveal its location. Hey look, there’s a bird on the windowsill!”

T runs to the window and eagerly looks out.

M dashes up the hall, into the bedroom, somehow climbs onto the wardrobe, and settles down in a box of winter boots.

T: “Matilda! Matildaaa! Where are you?” From high in the bedroom, where Matilda settled down for a well-earned nap, no one heard the quiet giggling