Once upon a time, in the attic of a small house in the city, there lived a real cat family. Dad was a big, round tomcat with a pink nose. His fur was black as coal, not a single white spot. That's why the children in the yard called him Charcoal.
Mom was a beautiful long-haired white cat. Nobody 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 little funny kittens.
Nine babies with completely different colourings. One had black fur with only white paws, another had a white head and a completely black body. Some had spots, some even had patterns. But the residents loved Cupid the most.
"Why Cupid? Where did such a strange name come from?" you might ask. Well, the little one 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 kids in the yard loved petting the kitten. And someone even came up with the idea that if Cupid came up 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 in last. Not because he ran slowly, 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 delighted looks from the kids when they admired 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 kittens 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 warm in the house.
The little kittens didn't know about these difficulties yet, and for them, the arrival of autumn was 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 on the street. He often went out completely alone. He wasn't afraid at all, because he knew every dog in his yard. And the kids never hurt him. He knew where cars might come from, where he could find something to eat, and where it was better 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, but 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 another was still green. Cupid decided to chase the red leaf.
He rushed past parked cars and saw the leaf fall on the asphalt. 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, exciting the kitten even more.
Cupid didn't notice how he ran past the familiar playground, then a football field, shops, a clinic, and unfamiliar houses. He had run quite far and suddenly found himself completely exhausted in an unfamiliar yard surrounded by tall apartment buildings. There he finally caught his prey. The kitten was very upset when he realized he hadn't been hunting a butterfly at all, but just an ordinary leaf, albeit one of such an unusual colour.
The wind blew harder, and Cupid's first leaf fall began. The leaves danced mysteriously in the air currents, becoming more and more numerous. It was an incredible sight! Cupid was still such a small kitten that 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 somewhere 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 warlike: "Meow!"
It turned out that a small red 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? — the joker asked in surprise.
But no one answered him. Cupid quietly approached the car and looked underneath, but didn't hurry to get close.
Why did you hide there? I'm not a mean dog, I just wanted to joke. I thought it was one of my family, — the kitten said 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 carefully licking her paws.
You scared me. I'm Lora. I live nearby, — she said with a kind of amazing tenderness in her voice. It was as if the fear had never happened.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Well, actually I did, but not you. Anyway, I'm sorry. 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.
Please help me find the way home. And I'll introduce you to my family.
Okay, let's go.
Lora and Cupid headed home. Along the way, the kitten told how he mistook a maple leaf for a beautiful butterfly. Lora didn't laugh. Of course, she knew what autumn was, since she was a bit older than Cupid, but she also liked to chase "autumn butterflies."
When the kittens approached the house, they saw Cupid's worried mom and dad. It turned out that the whole cat family had been looking for him for a long time. Cupid apologized and introduced his parents and brothers and sisters to his new friend. Lora 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 that Lora spoke a little sadly.
Yes, and you don't? — Cupid had no idea that someone could live in a family that wasn't as huge as his.
No, my mom 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 cool! — the kitten said in amazement.
Cool 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 like Lora was about to cry.
Don't be sad! Do you want to come play with us every day? And we'll be like brothers and sisters to you! — Cupid offered happily.
Can I? — she asked shyly.
Of course you can! — Cupid was delighted and ran up to Lora and kissed her on the wet nose.
Oh... — she blushed.
Lora raised her soft fluffy paw and touched Cupid:
You're it! — she said and dove headfirst into the pile of leaves.
Oh, you're on! — 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. So one little red "autumn butterfly" helped a young shy kitten meet a new friend.
And who knows, maybe someday Cupid and Lora will become mom and dad to a dozen colourful fluffy kittens, and each one will have a heart-shaped spot on their back.
