The cats have a plan

YVONNE GILLISSEN

For Gerda

Xpath Design multimedia productions￼Afbeelding

Copyright

All characters and events in this story are fictional.

Any resemblance to actual persons is purely coincidental.

© 2022 Yvonne Gillissen/Xpath Design multimedia productions

Amsterdam

Translation: Lizzie Kean

Publisher: Xpath Design multimedia productions

Cover: Niek van Wijngaarden

Layout: Xpath Design - www.xpathdesign.nl

Yvonne Gillissen - www.yvonnegillissen.nl

ISBN: 9789493016279

Nur: 283

No part of this publication may be reproduced and or distributed by any means, including printing, photocopying, recording, electronically or any other way whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the publisher. www.xpathdesign.nl

THE MARCH OF THE CATS (ebook part 1, ISBN:9789493016262)

Amsterdam's headstrong cats are discontented and cross. They're not being treated well enough, at least they don't think so. During a meeting, they decide to leave the inhabitants of the capital city and go off into the wide world. In just one night, they form a procession and disappear quietly to look for adventure at the North Pole. In the meantime, the people and children are left behind, sad and desolate.

THE CATS HAVE A PLAN (ebook part 2, ISBN:9789493016279)

Those cheeky Amsterdam cats are back. After years of peace and quiet, they've had enough. A few of the more enterprising animals decide to take matters into their own paws and forge a fantastic plan. It will take courage, and also a lot of money. But how do they get that?

THE KITTYCAT CITY (ebook part 3, ISBN:9789493016293)

Belle is imprisoned at the police station and Amsterdam is angry! The headstrong and cheeky cats have to show that they actually deserve to live in the capital city, otherwise they are to be banished. The animals themselves have their own ideas on the subject and want to get Belle out of prison. But will they manage?

Other translated work by this author:

NOW WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS..?..?! (ebook ISBN: 9789493016101)

Is a story about the secret of love. Zaven and his girlfriend Camilla like playing outside in the snow together. They want to make snowmen. But then something strange happens….For children (7+) and grownups who want to know more about that.
Also available as an audiobook: ISBN: 9789493016088

THE CATS HAVE A PLAN

There's trouble brewing again in Amsterdam. A new discontent has raised its ugly head and rumours are flying. Oscar, a distinguished black tomcat, is trotting hurriedly in between the cars and trams with his perky pal, Louis, along the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal to the Palace on Dam Square. They are meeting other cats there, the ones they met years ago during the Big Protest March to the North Pole.

"Ah, those were the days," Oscar hisses.

"Tell me about it," Louis agrees, "the whole city was in an uproar. Everyone was talking about it."

"We achieved a lot back then," Oscar muses out loud, "the Internet was full of it. You only had to walk across a computer keyboard and the news items were coming at you from all sides:

'Mysterious return home of cats'

'Animal shelters can't explain it'

'Amsterdam residents deliriously happy again'."

"Yes, but people forget quickly. Very quickly. And they remain ungrateful," Louis shivers with displeasure. He tidies up his red fur suit before crossing the road to Dam Square with Oscar.

They greet the cats waiting outside the entrance to the Palace.

"Gentlemen, and of course ladies too, it gives me great pleasure to meet you all again," Oscar begins straight away. "I'm so happy to see so many of you have turned up."

"What do you mean, 'so many'?" breezes Rambler, a stray cat that has a new home these days. "This is a pathetic turnout! Compared to the last time, it's positively pathetic. Back then, all of Amsterdam got together..."

"True, true, you're quite right," Oscar agrees, in a friendly, patient voice, "but this meeting is only for a very select few. We're here in a very select company - invited by Louis and myself."

He nods to Louis, who solemnly takes over: "Esteemed friends of the Amsterdam cat community: the Big Protest March to the North Pole is naturally still etched in our memories..."

"... Well, in our memories, yes, but not in those of most people," sniffs Rambler contemptuously.

"Listen now, and let Louis finish what he was saying," Sheba, a cute little red and white cat reproaches him firmly. She pats him hard with her paw. She loves Rambler to bits but sometimes his behaviour really annoys her. Since he moved into her house, she's been trying to teach him some manners.

"Rambler's not wrong," Louis says, nodding. "He's hit the nail right on the head, as it were. Most people have now forgotten about our protest march. They're too busy with other things. But that doesn't mean that taking that long journey was a waste of time. It did actually have an effect: a lot of people have started appreciating us more. They've learned that life without cats is no fun."

"In fact, that it's not at all pleasant," Oscar backs his friend up.

"Okay, they've started appreciating us more," says Belle, a stunningly beautiful and spoilt pussycat, "but that could be much, much more."

"Exactly," Louis agrees, nodding. "That's why we're back together now, to discuss matters. We're all hearing complaining and miaowing in our cat community. There are all kinds of gossip and rumours. So let's listen to each other talk about what's going on and which things we're not happy about anymore."

There's a silence.