The Return of Daisy
Daisy, a fluffy ginger tabby with a penchant for sunbeams and snoozes, was not an adventurous cat. Or so her human, Emily, thought. Daisy preferred the soft cushions of the living room, the warm radiator in winter, and the gentle rhythm of Emily's typing as she worked from home. But one blustery afternoon, a delivery truck rattled the windows, and Daisy, startled, slipped through a slightly ajar back door.
Emily searched, calling Daisy's name, her voice growing hoarse. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, anxious shadows. Daisy, usually so confident indoors, was now a tiny, scared creature in a vast, unfamiliar world. The wind whipped through the tall grasses of the park behind Emily’s house, rustling like whispers. Daisy, eyes wide, huddled beneath a large rhododendron bush.
The next day, Emily plastered the neighbourhood with posters, each one a vibrant splash of orange against the gray backdrop. "Lost Cat: Daisy," the posters declared, with a picture of Daisy looking particularly regal. Children stopped to admire the photo, and elderly neighbours promised to keep a sharp lookout.
Days turned into a week, and Emily’s heart ached with worry. She tried to maintain hope, but the silence in her apartment was deafening. One afternoon, while Emily was staring sadly out of her kitchen window, her phone rang. It was Mrs. Wong, the kindly old lady who lived three streets away.
"Emily, dear," Mrs. Wong's voice crackled through the phone, "I think I've found your Daisy. There's a ginger cat, very fluffy, curled up on my porch. She's been purring up a storm."
Emily’s heart leaped. She raced to Mrs. Wong’s house, her breath catching in her throat. There, curled up on the porch swing, was Daisy, her ginger fur slightly ruffled, but her eyes bright. She looked up at Emily, a soft meow escaping her lips.
Emily scooped Daisy into her arms, burying her face in the soft fur. Daisy purred, a rumbling symphony of contentment. It was a sound Emily had missed more than she realized.
Back home, Daisy settled into her favourite cushion, as if she had never left. Emily watched her, a warm feeling spreading through her. Daisy had found her way back, not because of her adventurous spirit, but because of the kindness of a neighbourhood, and the unwavering love of her human. And perhaps, a little bit of a cat’s undeniable homing instinct.
TESSA
1 May 2025
