The Final Part of Alasdair and Arabella's story

PART SIX

The Pussycat and the Butterfly took their station. On a seat in a field of seats full of animals of all persuasions. Everyone was busy humming and murmuring their lines into themselves. No-one looked at anyone else. All locked in their own little world of acting in a film that no-one else could see.

Alasdair was so different from the frightened little Pussycat he was the last time he was here, he was unrecognisable. With Arabella as his ears, he felt so confident. So light, so free from his own inhibitions that he could have been walking on air. In fact, he felt he could almost fly like his winged friend. He was so excited about giving his line that he had to restrain himself from walking right up to the audition room and demanding that they see him immediately. Instead, he did his breathing techniques to calm himself down and forced himself not to talk to Arabella the whole time they were there so as not to blow his cover.

His name was called and his tummy did a little flip from the sheer drama of it all.

He walked over to the audition room. Proud and tall as he was in his dream. He had done his breathing exercises, he had his line rehearsed perfectly and he had Arabella. He was going to nail this.

“Ok, Alasdair” said the judge, not even looking up from his paperwork. “You are going to perform Luke Skywalker, is that right?”

Alasdair breathed in deeply from his nostrils. “That is correct” he replied.

“Ok,” sighed the judge, “You have one line to make an impression”.

Alasdair’s tummy gave a little jolt again. His brain decided it was time to start thinking irrational thoughts again. But this time was different. This time he would not allow these thoughts to take over. He would win this fight and instead make his brain think positive thoughts. What was it Arabella had said? “You can do this. You know you can. You are handsome enough….” 

He was ready. 

 The Pussycat stood tall and lifted his chest. He thought of Arabella displaying her magnificent wings atop of his head and he gave his line.

“Your Overconfidence is Your Weakness”

The judge nodded and his mouth almost smiled. 

“Thank you”, he said. “We’ll let you know”

That was it. No standing ovation. No applaud. Just, “We’ll let you know”.

“Very well” said Alasdair in response as he took himself outside of the audition room and the entire complex so he could discuss with Arabella the simplicity of it all.

“Well, can you believe that?” Alasdair said as he raised his paw to his head. “Arabella?” She didn’t reply and he couldn’t feel her anywhere. “Arabella??” He said again.

She wasn’t there. Alasdair was confused. Perhaps she had to go to toilet with all the excitement of it all, he thought. He knew he did. And off he went.

Alasdair was still waiting for Arabella outside of the audition complex when the judge came out for some fresh air. His eyes squinted from the sunlight as the Pussycat’s blue coat caught his eye.

“Hi”, said Alasdair. Much less nervous without a desk between the two of them.

The judge nodded. “Alasdair isn’t it? You did a Luke Skywalker” 

“I am he” Alasdair responded, unsure why he always spoke so formally in front of the judges.

“You were really good”, the judge said “Very confident. I shouldn’t really be doing this, but between you and me, I think you got the part”.

Alasdair’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “REALLY???!!” His tummy was doing proper summersaults now. 

“But don’t tell anyone! We’ll inform everyone properly tonight”

Alasdair was in such a frenzy between total joy and fear that he ran all the way home without stopping. Where was Arabella? He simply had to tell her. 

He went into the garden, but she wan’t to be seen. He went to his bedroom and looked out the window. She wasn’t there either. Why does she keep disappearing, he thought to himself. 

He ran downstairs to the kitchen where his mum and dad were cooking dinner. He was so hyped up that his words all spilled out of his mouth before he could stop them. 

His parents were so happy that they all coughed up a fur ball in rejoicing.

Alasdair was very content, he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He counted on his paw all the things he was happy about. His lovely family, his brilliant friend, his newfound confidence, his new part. Alasdair had an awful lot to be grateful for. But where was his brilliant friend, he thought. She was as much the part as he was. He went back to his bedroom and decided to draw.

There was a light tap at the window. Alasdair knew who it was.

“Arabella! You’re back”

“I am”, she smiled. “So, how did the audition go?” She asked him.

“Well, you know that it went well, don’t you”

“How do I know. I wasn’t there Alasdair”

“Yes you were. You were my ears. I felt you”

“I wasn’t there Alasdair. I took off as soon as you got to the audition office. You didn’t need me anymore”, she said

“But… I felt you on my head. I could only give the perfect performance because you were there with me”.

“I wasn’t there Alasdair. You did it all by yourself”

“I did?” He was very confused.

“You did. I said I’d be there as long as you needed me, but you don’t need me to be your confidence now Alasdair. You can do that all by yourself”.

Alasdair thought about this for some moments. “You mean. The judge saw me and my folds for ears? And he didn’t mind?”

“Why should he mind? He just wants a good actor to play the part. And you’re a good actor Alasdair. You know you are”.

“But, I’m only handsome with you as my ears”, he said.

“You are handsome all on your own” she said.

With that, Alasdair realised that he was handsome in his own unique way. That it didn’t matter what he did or didn’t have. All that mattered was that he was a good cat. A good friend and did his best.

THE END