67f695396320fe1a34a41489ddea0fac

‘I am so proud of you,’ Franceska added, grabbing both Tommy and Aleksy.

‘Get off, Mum,’ Tommy said, blushing and sneaking glances at Sienna, but she was smiling at him, so he didn’t need to be embarrassed.

As soon as we got a chance we snuck away to check the back door. The bolt was open but we needed to see if anyone closed it. They had all said they would make sure they checked it after the other night but I also knew how forgetful humans– especially Polly and Tomasz – could be. George was stationed by it, slightly hidden, so he could see if anyone locked it. I went to the front door, dodging legs, and found Salmon, Nellie, Elvis, Rocky, Snowball, and Oliver waiting for me.

‘She will have no chance against all of us,’ I said as confidently as I could muster.

‘No, not unless she throws something at us,’ Snowball replied.

‘Oh my, she won’t do that, will she?’ Nellie asked.

‘Of course not.’ I crossed my paws, I really wouldn’t put it past her.

I hid them away at the back of the hall and as I noticed people packing up, I went to find George.

‘No one checked the lock. You’d think after last time … but no. Tomasz and Polly are the worst when it comes to security,’ he said. He was right. Polly and Tomasz were busy laughing and joking rather than checking the doors. If only Franceska hadn’t left early to go and do some work, she would have made sure we were secure.

After a while the hall was in darkness and we cats were there alone. I felt adrenaline pumping through my body. Tonight was going to be it, I could feel it in my fur.

‘This is a bit spooky,’ Oliver said.

‘Ah, reminds me of the good old days,’ Elvis said.

‘What on earth do you mean?’ Nellie asked.

‘You know, when people went to the theatre regularly.’ That made absolutely no sense, but Elvis did sometimes come out with random things, so we just ignored it.

‘Right, so now we just wait, employ stealth, and be quiet,’ Salmon said.

‘What does that even mean?’ Rocky asked.

‘It means when we hear the door open, and I am pretty sure we will, we stay quiet. We have to catch her in the act,’ I commanded.

‘No repeat of the other night, lad,’ Salmon said to George.

‘Of course not, Pickles isn’t with us and I do know how to behave,’ George grumbled.

‘He isn’t, is he?’ I asked, paranoid.

‘No Alfie,’ Snowball reassured me.

‘Phew, I think my nerves are getting the best of me.’

‘Right, well, I think we all know what we need to do,’ Salmon said, trying to sound in control.

‘You mean nothing,’ Nellie said.

‘Well, nothing for now,’ he replied. Honestly what kind of army were we?

We all did our own thing. I fretted and Snowball tried to reassure me. Elvis explored and George showed him around, giving him a guided tour. Salmon sat upright and alert, as if ready for anything. Nellie and Oliver were climbing on some chairs and Rocky had closed his eyes. I repeat, what kind of army were we?

‘Um,’ I cleared my voice. ‘This is not a holiday camp, it’s serious business.’ They all looked at me and carried on with what they were doing.

It felt like we had been there for hours. I was about to ask Salmon if we should give up and leave out of the unlocked back door– we could push it with all of us and get out easily – but then we heard a noise.

‘Listen,’ I said, and everyone crowded round. We could hear footsteps and I saw a light from a torch appear. There was a dark figure, and though I couldn’t see clearly who it was, I assumed it was Barbara. She made her way towards the stage. As she got closer I saw that it was definitely her.She was wearing all black, carrying a torch in one hand and something else in the other, I couldn’t make out what.

‘Right, prepare for action,’ Salmon said. I had told him he could give the commands. We watched as she got onto the stage and muttered some words I couldn’t make out. Then she knocked over one of the Christmas trees. As it made a loud crash, I looked at Salmon and blinked. ‘We are a go, I repeat, we are a go,’ he said.

The new few minutes were pandemonium. George and I ran for the stage from the centre, Salmon, Snowball, and Oliver went left, and Rocky, Nellie, and Elvis right. It was a good strategy; though she tried to chase us, we were all running in different directions, which confused her. She then pulled out a can, and before I knew what she was doing she had pointed it at George.

‘George, watch out,’ I hissed, but it was too late as his tail and backside were sprayed bright red. She was obviously planning on doing the same to the trees. She was spraying at us but the paint was hitting the stage, making even more mess. Nellie tried to scratch at Barbara’s leg, but she managed to throw her off, however, she did drop the can. Thankfully, Nellie was quicker than her as she ran around in a circle, confusing Barbara, whose arms were flailing around. She spun around and around, making herself dizzy and increasingly unsteady as she tried, and failed, to chase us.