THE FERALS

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey And so it was. Of course there were some hiccups - Brodie was delighted to have a new mum, but Sophie found it a little hard to have to answer to Jake as well as Alice. Jake tried hard to be fair and supportive and Sophie gradually adjusted. The wedding was beautiful. Brodie absolutely refused to be page boy, but Sophie was delighted to be a bridesmaid and flower girl. It was a lovely day. Both families were happy for them. A year later, a little boy was born - Alec James. Ethel was delighted as James was for Jake's grandad, Jim Tyson, who had been a friend to Ethel for many a year. Both children were very happy. Brodie happy no longer to be the youngest and Sophie very pleased to have a "live" doll to look after. Alice and Jake both had faith challenges, but as the pastor had said, a threefold cord is not easily broken. Jake's faith helped him with his colleague, John. There was hope and light in a darkening world. Only God had all the an...

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER EIGHT A few days later, Ethel decided to take the children for a "feast." Seeing Ethel reminded Brodie of the fish 'n chip shop near where they used to live, and he kept talking about their time there on Christmas Eve. He was beginning to realise it was meant as a joke when Ethel had said she had come to visit  for a "nice cuppa" and somewhere to sleep, but he was still a little puzzled. Didn't she have food and drink and a bed at her house? Couldn't she see that their house had burned down? After a while he shrugged and got on with his life. As the children left with "Auntie Ethel," happy and chatting, she gave Jake a wink and said, "now lad, get a move on!" The children didn't really notice, but Jake flushed scarlet. Yesterday Ethel had talked to him in a motherly way and told him life was "too short to muck around!" So he had invited Alice and Sophie to visit. When the two adults w...

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey   Just then, his mobile phone rang. "Hi," he answered, recognizing the number. "Judy here," affirmed the principal. "Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Was it faulty wiring?" "Yes," Jake replied. "We will get full insurance, but..." "Memories and toys are gone," added Judy Enfield. "How is your son?" "He is upset, but a friend is staying with us at Alice Baker's house." "About that," was the reply. "As you probably know, Jill Heslop is leaving the school and her rental property is vacant from tomorrow. Would you consider renting in the meantime, Jake? The unit is only two-bedroomed, but is fully furnished. The accommodation is actually the property of the school board, but obviously your situation takes precedence." "What about the replacement teacher?" queried Jake. "She has her own property, not far away. If you want to pick up the keys...

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey "We need showers," broke in Jake ruefully regarding their singed and smoky clothes. "I can help," declared Ethel. They all turned to the older lady. "Well, I bought new clothes on the way. I am not daft yer know. I guessed the sizes so that can maybe make you have a giggle!!" Alice produced towels and the two men hurried off to the bathroom. A while later they emerged, much fresher and brighter. "Now, a trip to town to get more clothes - and toys," Jake added, seeing his son's face. "Maybe not a new bike today, but soon." "You need a shave too, daddy," declared his son, "and Alice doesn't shave or Sophie," he added thoughtfully. "We'll fix all that, then how about a meal in town for us all? Is that okay, Ethel, Alice?" Alice agreed, but Ethel offered to stay and deal with dishes and washing. "I don't want to go out gallivanting today. "Let me help this ...

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey "Wow," Brodie exclaimed, toast crumbs flying from his mouth. "But everything's gone, all burned." Gently, Ethel pointed out that he would be "all gone" and also his dad, had it not been for the cat. "We can buy new toys," said Jake, "but not new dads and boys." Sophie giggled at the thought of a boy shop. "Can't they all stay here, mum?" she asked Alice. "We have three bedrooms. Please," she added pleadingly. She turned to Ethel. "Will you be my Auntie Ethel too," asked the little girl, her dark eyes shining. Ethel gave her a warm hug. "Of course, lass. You know it was wrong, Brodie, to run away, but Shadow fought the ferals for you and kept you warm. Now he saved you and your dad." "And we helped Shadow too. We took off the hurty collar and fed him and loved him." Shadow was watching them. He seemed to wink, and they all laughed.

THE FERALS  By Tessa Harvey Just then a car pulled over and Alice and Sophie jumped out. After brief introductions, Alice insisted they come around to her place. Alice had heard so much from Jake and Brodie about Ethel. And, of course, they had mentioned Alice to her. "Well, said Alice, "food and drink first," and with Ethel's help a first class spread was soon laid out with warm hot wonderful tea for Ethel and coffee for Jake. Brodie piped up. "Auntie Ethel, were you joking? You can't sleep at our place and there is no tea or anything." He felt tears again pricking and looked down. "Eeh lad!" answered Ethel. "I know that, young 'un! You and your cat are famous even in all the newspapers. "Brave cat saves family!" From one of her bags, she plonked a newspaper down on the table. Sure enough, Shadow's picture was on the front page. "Feral Cat Saves Fire Family."

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey Desolate, Jake and Brodie surveyed what was left of their home the next morning. Brodie cried as wisps of steam and smoke rose from the ashes. It was devastating. He smudged the tears with a dirty hand. "Nothing left. Absolute nothing!" the boy wailed. "Not fair, daddy, no!" Jake felt much the same. He knelt on the footpath, adding ash and dirt to his already filthy clothes. What the fire had left, water had destroyed. He wrapped Brodie close. The boy stiffened at first, then relaxed, against his father, still upset, still angry and sobbing. "Hello there, lads," yelled a cheery older voice, "any chance of a decent cuppa! Me throat's parched. I could do with some nice hot tea - and a cake!!" Brodie whipped around. "Auntie Ethel! Auntie!" he yelled, sleeving away the last tears. He threw himself at the elderly lady who was bustling towards them, clutching various bags and bundles to her stout form.  "...

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey Then the cat heard it: a faint crackling noise. He saw tiny flares of ruby light burst into  life in the kitchen and smelled smoke, a terrible thing that led to disaster. The cat leapt onto Jake's bed and yowled, scratching at the thin summer bedding. Jake was one of those rare beings who could wake instantly and be alert. At once he could smell the smoke and hear the crackling. His first thought was to check Brodie, then see what was wrong and then get help. He saw the fire source was the kitchen, closed the doors, dialled Emergency to report the fire and give his address. Calmly he gathered up his son and found the cat's transport cage. "Sorry buddy, we have to go." His son stumbled along sleepily, holding onto his dad's shirt. Shadow did not object to being bundled in the carrier. Having raised the alarm, he was now trembling with fear, eyes wide. Jake felt like doing that, but prayed instead. He banged on the neighbour's door, ...

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey CHAPTER SEVEN Shadow stirred and moved uneasily. It was dark or at least so dark as it ever got in northern England in a midsummer night. Some part of the cat's mind still held memory traces of being shouted at and driven away, left to survive in a bleak winter. For now he was happy to be in a home where he was loved unconditionally. But something was wrong. The hair rose on his tail and it twitched slightly. He padded to the lounge doorway, jumping off the edge of Brodie's bed. The boy was sprawled, arms above his head, deep in slumber. The man the cat recognised as the leader was making sleep noises, tossing a little as though he sensed the strangeness.

THE FERALS  By Tessa Harvey "Aw, c'mon!" exclaimed Jake, laughing, "angels, maybe, but..." He saw her face. "You're serious!" Alice sighed. "Being a Christian is hard, much harder than just going with the flow. It's hard to be different, to swim upstream. Jake, read the Bible. Talk to Jesus. Listen. Every day." Jake looked into her blue eyes. "I was a fool to let you go so easily. Will you forgive me?" Alice looked down and said quietly, " I was a fool to let you go." At that moment there was a sharp cracking noise and a loud yell! The adults rushed over to Sophie lying on the ground. Brodie said "She's not dead. The tree didn't like her swinging. Look, her eyelids are twitching." Alice knelt down. "Sophie, are you okay?" The little girl opened her eyes. "Yes, I think so. I just fell hard."

THE FERALS   By Tessa Harvey Walking along the cloud-dappled hills, Alice and Jake watched the children play. They came to a sheltered hollow where a few small trees grew. One was just right for climbing and Sophie and Brodie were soon scrambling over the branches.  Alice listened as Jake told her of his new commitment to Jesus, then he rubbed his hand through his hair, trying to explain how difficult life had been for him lately. "We have an adversary," Alice said calmly, "the devil." Humour danced in Jake's grey eyes. "Sure, red suit, forked-tail, pitchfork, smoke!" His friend laughed. "No, not like that! He's real, though."