Of Cats and Angels
by Mr d'Arcy - a very special Birman Cat
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Chapter Five - The Big Adventure
The next few days were very busy. Suitcases appeared, and whenever they appeared it was always a worrying sign that life was going to change in some way. One evening when Susie and Andrew had taken us for our walks and we were sitting on the bench by the river, Susie said ‘I am going to miss Andrews Reach so much.’ Andrew replied that it wouldn’t be forever and they would be back to stay here again. Susie said ‘Yes, but Mr d’Arcy and Panda won’t be coming back here again.’ Panda looked at me and we were both shocked. Whatever was going to happen to us?
The very next day our lives certainly changed and the big adventure that Susie and Andrew had spoken about started. After breakfast we noticed that the suitcases were by the front door, and Andrew appeared from outside with two large carriers. He put Pandora into one, and me into the other one. There was a lot of room inside my carrier and one of my toys was in there too. Andrew carried the suitcases outside and then came back for us. Susie locked the front door, and we all went down the path to the car park. We were put into the back of a small red car. It wasn’t Andrew’s big Jaguar because apparently he had sold it the day before and rented this little car.
We set off and drove for a long time. Susie and Andrew talked to us during the journey and tried to reassure us that everything was all right, but I could tell from Susie’s voice that she was anxious. After some time Andrew stopped the car and turned off the engine. They both got out of the car and Andrew lifted the suitcases out and then our carriers. Susie had wheeled a trolley to the car and everything was put on to it, including us in our carriers. Andrew hurriedly wheeled the trolley into a building and told Susie to wait there while he returned the rental car.
He rushed off and Susie knelt down and opened the door of my carrier and put a bowl of dry food into it and also a bowl of water. She did the same for Panda. She was talking to us all the time in a soothing voice, but I knew she was pretending to be calm. I looked out of the door of my carrier and saw that this was a very large busy place with lots of people walking in different directions. There was a lot of noise too and it was very worrying. Several people, mostly ladies, stopped to admire us and talk to us. Andrew came hurrying back and the trolley started to move again as he pushed it.
We arrived at a desk and a lady asked several questions. She told Andrew to push the trolley over to another row of desks and we waited for a while and then a man arrived to talk to Susie and Andrew. He said that he had come for the kitties. Susie said ‘They will be all right, won’t they?’ He replied ‘Don’t you worry ma’am – I shall look after them.’ Andrew said ‘Bye bye Panda – be good – see you in
The man wheeled us away on the trolley down some long corridors and into a large room. There were some other carriers in there but we couldn’t see the occupants, although we could hear some strange noises. The man lifted our carriers on to a shelf and said ‘Won’t be long kitties.’ Then he shouted to another man ‘These cats are for the Delta flight to
After ages and ages the second man lifted our carriers on to another trolley and wheeled us down more corridors and through a door to the outside. We could see an enormous shape ahead of us and it was making a very loud noise. The man lifted our carriers on to a moving platform and shouted to another man ‘Here are the cats mate.’ We went up a steep slope and I slipped down to the bottom of my carrier. I called out to Panda and she had too. The platform levelled off and my carrier was yanked to one side and then carried a few feet before being lifted up on to a shelf. A man tied straps round the carrier and secured it on both sides.
I could see Panda’s carrier arriving next to mine. The man secured hers too and then he shouted that everything was on board and a big door was slammed shut. It was quite gloomy in this big room and difficult to see very much of anything. I was hungry and ate some of my food, and very thirsty and I had a big drink. I shouted to Panda to eat something and drink some water. She shouted back that she had lost her appetite but that she had had some water.
We sat there in the gloom for quite a while wondering about the strange loud noises, and I worried that I wouldn’t see Susie ever again. Then we felt as if we were moving and we were.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Of Cats and Angels tells the story of an English couple and their three beautiful Birman cats. The narrator is Mr d'Arcy, the male Birman cat, who tells the story in his own words. He describes his feelings at the changes in the family's life when they move house in England and then relocate to America, and the wildlife that they encounter in both countries.
The book is a love story because Mr d'Arcy simply adores his owner, Susie. It is also a spiritual story because of certain experiences related in the book.
It is a charming book and will be a joy to cat lovers everywhere.
About the Author
Susie Jackson Batty lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her husband Andrew.
They lived in Beaconsfield, England, for nearly twenty years until they moved to an apartment on the River Thames, and then relocated to Florida with their beautiful Birman cats.
Susie had the privilege of working with the late Lord Burnham as his private secretary from 1983 for ten years, and continued with the Burnham Family after his death. She enjoyed her time at Hall Barn, the private stately home in Beaconsfield, where she remained for sixteen years. In 1999 she became ill and her life underwent several changes.
Susie's first book The Diary of the Lady from Devizes was published in 2004. It is an uplifting story of dealing with breast cancer, and the decision to move to Florida.