“Hey, listen to this…
‘Mum, whos Phyllis? Is she our owner? Then why doesnt she feed us properly?’ Tiny, curious eyes stared up at Sima, waiting for an answer. ‘No, love, shes not our owner. Shes just an old, sick woman. Doesnt know what shes doing.’ ‘Mum, will the big cats eat me too, like they did with my sister?’ whispered Rusty, trembling. Sima sighed sadly. ‘No, sweetheart, I wont let them. I promise.’ She licked her belovednow onlychild until he settled, his tiny breaths evening out as he drifted to sleep.
Sima was born in the basement of a high-rise in Manchester. Four kittens in the litter. Her mum was youngfirst time aroundand when a new tomcat showed up, she forgot all about them, chasing after love instead. Still, Sima remembered her fondly. Despite everything, her mum had fed them, taught them to eat on their own. After she vanished, the kittens crept out to the street. At first, they stuck together in the courtyard, where kind souls sometimes left scraps. But time passed Grey Brother was hit by a car. Tiger was torn apart by dogs. Sima mourned them, her tears falling on their little bodies, staying until the caretaker shooed her away. She watched as he scooped them onto his shovel and tossed them into the bin. Her sisters fate? Unknown.
Grown up, Sima learned the rules of the streets. Stay quiet. Stay unseen.
Then came hell. Phyllis.
She found Sima by the bins, rummaging with her giant sack, muttering. ‘Puss, puss, come ‘ere!’ Sima didnt know to fear toothless old womenshe hoped for food. Thenwham!Phyllis grabbed her under one arm, hauled her inside, and dumped her on the floor. ‘Youre Sima now.’ And just like that, she was forgotten.
Dozens of hungry eyes locked onto her. ‘Puss, puss!’ Phyllis called from the kitchen, and the cats scattered, leaving Sima to take in the horror. Filth everywhere. Towers of mouldy dishes. The stench of urine, droppings, swarms of flies. And catsso many. Skinny, sick, broken. A few fat bullies, Phylliss favourites. The rest? No one knew why she kept them.
Sima adapted. Found a hidden corner. Survived.
Thenterror. She was pregnant. A tomcat had courted her on the streets, but it didnt last. Now, in this nightmare, she gave birth silently. Two perfect kittens: a black girl like her father, and a ginger boy just like her. Button and Rusty.
She guarded them fiercely. But hunger drove the other cats closer. One day, exhausted, she dozedthen woke to Buttons squeal. The crunch of tiny bones. Her baby, curious, had wandered out. Sima snarled, fur on end, ready to attackuntil Rustys tiny voice: ‘Mum did they eat Button?’
She froze. If she died fighting, whod protect him? Choking back grief, she whispered, ‘Well escape. Ill save you.’ And waited.
Thena knock. ‘Police! Open up!’ Phyllis panicked. The door swung openSima bolted, Rusty clutched in her teeth, down the stairs
PC James stared into her pain-glazed eyes, tears rolling. He understood. ‘Dont worry. Ill look after him.’ Beside him, Rustyuncharacteristically quietlicked her face. Sima was dying. Her heart, broken by loss, gave out.
Rain fell the day she died. James buried her in a birch grove, then stood there with Rusty, remembering. Itd been a dark time for himhis parents gone, car crash. Duty called, and there he was, at that madwomans flat, the stench, the chaos and a ginger cat with a kitten, begging at the door with her eyes.
‘Runaway, eh? I get it.’ Hed smiled. ‘Come home with me. I could use the company.’ He opened his car door. And just like that, he had purpose again.
He called her ‘my beauty.’ Rusty stayed Rusty. James spoiled themtop-tier food, a massive climbing post, everything to make them forget. When Sima fell ill, he begged vets, cradled her, pleaded: ‘Stay.’ But her eyes said, ‘Let me go.’
Now, Sima ran across the rainbow. Beside her, Buttons little paws pattered. ‘Mum, what about Rusty? Hes all alone!’ Sima smiled. ‘No, love. Look’
The rain stopped. A rainbow arched over the trees. James sighed, lifted Rusty, kissed his tear-damp nose. ‘Well be alright, mate.’ And they walked to the cartwo wounded hearts, but not alone. A strong young man and a tiny ginger kitten. Rusty.”
