Once upon a time, in the attic of a small suburban house, there lived a real cat family. Dad was a big, round tomcat with a pink nose. His fur was black as coal, without a single white spot. That's why the children in the yard called him Charcoal.
Mum was a beautiful long-haired white cat. No one knew how she ended up on the street. There were rumours that she ran away from her owners when she saw Charcoal. It was love at first sight. Everyone called the mother cat Snow. And soon Charcoal and Snow had adorable little kittens.
Nine babies with completely different markings. One had black fur with only white paws, another had a white head and a completely black body. Some had spots, others even had patterns. But everyone in the house loved Cupid the most.
"Why Cupid? Where did such a strange name come from?" you might ask. Well, the little kitten was all black, but on his back was a large white spot in the shape of a heart. He had a pink nose and green eyes. So they named him after Cupid – Cupid.
The children in the yard loved to pet the kitten. And some even made up that if Cupid came over and rubbed against you, it meant Cupid had chosen you and you'd soon find your true love.
Cupid was curious but shy. He rarely played with anyone except his brothers and sisters. In the neighbourhood chasing games, he usually came last. Not because he was slow, but because he didn't want to win.
Every time someone won the game, all the yard cats would gather and congratulate the winner, meowing loudly. But Cupid didn't like such attention and didn't seek it. He was quite happy with the children's admiring looks when they gazed at his fur.
The kittens were born in late summer. For them, the world around was green grass and endless sunshine, splashing in puddles and hunting butterflies. The little cats had never seen any other season. August passed, and their first autumn was approaching.
Charcoal and Snow did their best to insulate the attic. They knew that autumn could be cold and harsh. That the sun wouldn't always shine brightly, and clouds would increasingly cover it. And the rain wasn't as joyful and welcome as it had been in summer. For cats, autumn was a difficult time of year when it was harder to find food and keep the house warm.
The little kittens didn't know about these difficulties yet, and for them, the arrival of autumn felt like a magical dream. Cupid was very surprised when one morning he found yellow, red and burgundy trees instead of the usual green ones. It was as if someone had painted the leaves with bright paint while everyone slept.
The kitten went for a walk down the street. He often went out completely alone. He wasn't afraid at all, because he knew every dog in his yard. And the children never hurt him. He knew where cars might come from, where he could find something to eat, and where it was best not to go.
Cupid was wandering along his usual route between the trees when suddenly his attention was caught by a flying maple leaf. Cupid thought it was an unusual autumn butterfly. He wanted to catch it to get a better look, when a breeze blew and the leaf flew away. Cupid was very upset – he was agile and could jump high.
Usually catching a butterfly was easy for him, but this time it didn't work. The breeze blew again, and several colourful leaves flew from behind Cupid's back. He perked up and chased after them. One leaf was red, and the other was still green. Cupid decided to chase the red leaf.
He rushed past parked cars and saw the leaf fall on the pavement. Just as the kitten was about to make his final jump, a new gust of wind caught the leaf and swirled it around. Cupid chased after it again. He ran after the leaf, noticing nothing around him. The leaf kept falling and flying away, making the kitten even more excited.
Cupid didn't notice how he ran past the familiar playground, then the football field, shops, a clinic, and unfamiliar houses. He had run quite far and suddenly found himself exhausted in an unfamiliar yard surrounded by very tall apartment buildings. There he finally caught his prey. The kitten was very upset when he realised he hadn't been hunting a butterfly at all, but just an ordinary leaf, albeit one of such an unusual colour.
The wind blew stronger, and Cupid's first leaf fall began. The leaves danced mysteriously in the currents of air, becoming more and more numerous. It was an incredible sight! Cupid was still such a small kitten that even this modest leaf fall was enough to bury him completely. He poked his pink nose out from under the pile of leaves, then one ear, and listened to what was happening around him.
He thought he heard little cat paws pattering very close by. Cupid thought it was one of his brothers or sisters and decided to jump out of his hiding place unexpectedly. When the sound of paws came very close, Cupid pushed off as hard as he could and jumped out with a loud and fierce: "Meow!"
It turned out that a small ginger fluffy cat was passing by. She didn't know Cupid, and when something appeared from the pile of leaves, she got very scared and hid under the nearest car.
Who are you? – asked the joker in surprise.
But no one answered him. Cupid quietly approached the car and looked underneath, but didn't rush to get closer.
Why did you hide there? I'm not a mean dog, I just wanted to play a joke. I thought it was one of my family, – said the kitten cheerfully.
One of whose family? – squeaked a thin voice from under the car.
My family. I'm not from this yard. To be honest, I don't even know how I got here.
The cat carefully crawled out from under the car and began to carefully lick her paws.
You scared me. I'm Lori. I live nearby, – she said with a kind of amazing tenderness in her voice. It was as if the fear had never happened.
Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Well, actually I did, but not you. Anyway, forgive me, please. Do you know how to get to the yard with the small houses?
Is that the little yard near the football field? Yes, I know how to get there.
Help me find the way home, please. And I'll introduce you to my family.
Okay, let's go.
Lori and Cupid headed home. On the way, the kitten told how he had mistaken a maple leaf for a beautiful butterfly. Lori didn't laugh. Of course, she knew what autumn was like, as she was a bit older than Cupid, but she also liked to chase "autumn butterflies".
When the kittens reached the house, they saw Cupid's worried mum and dad. It turned out that the whole cat family had been looking for him for a while. Cupid apologised and introduced his parents and brothers and sisters to his new friend. Lori was happy to see the other kittens. After meeting each one, she said to Cupid:
You have a big family – that's great, – it seemed Lori spoke a little sadly.
Yes, but don't you? – Cupid had no idea that someone could live in a family that wasn't as huge as his.
No, Mum and I live alone in a big apartment building. I have owners who take care of us, but I don't have enough friends.
So you're a house cat? – Cupid's eyes widened in surprise.
Yes, but I'm allowed to go for walks on my own. When I want to come back – I just have to meow under the window.
That's amazing! – said the kitten in amazement.
Amazing is having such a big family. But all my brothers and sisters were given to different homes. I don't even know where they are now, – it seemed Lori was about to cry.
Don't be sad! Do you want to come and play with us every day? And we'll be like brothers and sisters to you too! – Cupid offered happily.
Can I? – she asked shyly.
Of course you can! – Cupid was delighted and ran over to Lori and kissed her on her wet nose.
Oh... – she blushed.
Lori raised her soft fluffy paw and touched Cupid:
You're it! – she said and dived headfirst into the pile of leaves.
Oh, is that so! – Cupid called after her.
The wind picked up the fallen leaves and swirled them again. The kittens ran, chased each other and rolled in the autumn leaves. And so one little red "autumn butterfly" helped a young shy kitten meet a new friend.
And who knows, maybe one day Cupid and Lori will become mum and dad to a dozen colourful fluffy kittens, and each one will have a heart-shaped spot on their back.
