"Mojo, The Magic Cat".

If you’ve ever been owned by a cat you will love the antics of Mojo. But Mojo is no ordinary cat, he has attitude, and his appearance at David’s bedroom window in the middle of the night is no accident He is a cat on a mission.

David tries to persuade Mum to allow the cat to stay, but Mum doesn’t like cats and it is only when Dad promises he will try and find the owner that she reluctantly agrees.

However, Mum soon regrets her decision. The cat cannot keep out of trouble. It looks as if Mojo’s days in the household are numbered. David begs him to behave so that he can stay.

When David discovers that cat’s mission, he is astounded. Clearly it is crucial that Mojo gets on the good side of Mum and quickly. Mojo needs David’s help to do this. But how can they achieve it? Mojo just can’t seem to please Mum. Time is running out.

This is a delightfully funny story that young and old will enjoy. It deals with themes of perseverance, friendship and earning respect.

Here's an Extract from "Mojo the Magic Cat".

I woke up suddenly. What was that noise? The moon shone through the window and moving shadows danced on the walls. Glancing at my clock I saw it was two in the morning. Then I heard the noise again. I sat up. I'm not scared. Well, not really scared. It was too loud to be a mouse. Perhaps it's a ghost.

I screwed up my eyes and ducked under the bed clothes. But the noise got louder and more persistent. Should I call Mum I was just getting ready to yell for her when I heard a loud "Meow meow". I shot up. A cat! A cat was scratching at the window.

I saw the dark shape of a cat's head and bright orange eyes glaring at me. Jumping out of bed I crept to the window. I didnt want to scare it away. It stared at me, watching every step I took.

"Hello cat," I whispered. "What do you want?" It continued to stare at me and as I got closer I could see its screwed up features, motionless, glowering at me. Gosh it was ugly in a beautiful sort of way.

Carefully I unlatched the window and opened it.

Whoosh! Meow! The cat sprung into the room, landed on my bed and began kneading. A loud purring filled the room.

Shush, I giggled. You'll wake up Mum and she definitely doesnt like cats.

I'd always wanted a cat of my own and had begged mum to let me have one but she said, "No way. I'm not having animals in the house, particularly a cat. They are nothing but trouble. You can't trust cats. They jump up on benches, steal food and leave cat hair everywhere."

Wide awake now, I wondered where the cat had come from and whether I could keep it. I snuggled under the covers. The cat moved closer and started to sniff around my face. It tickled and made me laugh. I gently stroked its sleek black coat. Low vibrations started again. I touched a soft black velvet paw. It pulled away and began pumping into my pillow before settling down. Two huge orange eyes glared from a flattened face. Long whiskers twitched and one ear jerked. The cat began purring again. This time it was soft, gentle purring. I closed my eyes. It was really nice listening to the vibrations. I dont know how long the cat stared at me because I fell asleep.

Groaning and only half awake, I tried to push off the heavy weight from my chest. Opening my eyes, I was surprised to see the squashed face of a cat staring at me. Then I remembered my night visitor.

Awake at last. The cat glowered at me. I rubbed my eyes. Am I dreaming? Did this cat really speak? 

"Don't look so dumbfounded. Of course it was me who spoke. Who else could it be?"

"Cat's cant talk", I said. I knew my eyes were nearly popping out of my head.

"Some can. Particularly super intelligent cats."

"Are you a magic cat?" I asked. I pinched my arm to see if I was really awake. Ouch! It hurt. It obviously wasnt a dream.

"I can't deny I have certain powers," said the cat and began kneading my pillow. "But they need developing."

I looked at him. This was too much for me. Satisfied with destroying my pillow, he sat down.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Zanziba. Ive come to stay with you. You're David, and you've always wanted a cat, haven't you?"

I nodded. How did the cat know that?

Climbing out of bed, I decided to get dressed quickly before Mum came in. If I wanted to keep the cat I knew I had to hide it. The cat watched every move I made.

When I was dressed I whispered, "You stay there. I'll bring you some milk." Two huge amber glass beads with black flecks stared at me. Quietly I opened my bedroom door. Swoosh, the cat knocked me aside and shot through before I could stop it. It raced straight to the kitchen. I tore after it, hoping I could catch it before Mum saw it. But the cat was too fast. Without pausing it jumped on the window bench and began arching its back. It purred loudly. There was a smug expression on its face.

Mum and Dad were sitting at the table having a cup of coffee. Just my luck. Dad looked up.

"Crikey. Is that a cat? It looks as if it's been hit by a Mack truck."

Mum screamed. Her hair stood on end. She looked first at the cat and then at me.

"David, what on earth are you doing with that cat?"

Now that was a stupid question because I wasn't doing anything with it. I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there. The cat had jumped down from the window ledge and, tail in the air, walked over to mum. It started to rub itself against her leg. I'd read that cats do that as a cat greeting.

"Get out, you horrible animal." She wiped her leg as if it had been contaminated.

I thought the cat was pretty dumb to greet mum in that way. If it wanted to stay it would have a better chance with Dad. He liked cats.

Dad rose from his chair and picked it up. The cat began to purr loudly.

"Put it out John," Mums voice was like a robot. She had that wide-nostril and screwed-up-lip look.

"No Dad," I piped up. "Let's keep it." I didn't think I had much chance of getting them to agree, especially when mum's eyebrows shot up and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Where did he come from?" asked Dad stroking the cat, who continued to purr loudly.

"I don't care where it came from," Mum answered coldly. The lips had screwed up again. "It's where it's going that interests me." The cat glowered at her, then looked up at Dad and began to purr again.

"It was scratching on my window in the night."

The cat's purring got louder as Dad stroked behind its ear. It was obvious Dad liked it.

"And you let it in. Well really, David." Mum sighed. Her lips screwed up tighter and the nostrils widened. She got up and began to pour herself another cup of coffee. I grabbed the box of weet bix and piled them in my dish.

"The boy was only being kind, wasn't he Kitty?" Dad began rubbing the cat's ear again. The cat purred even louder.

"It's an ugly looking thing," Mum said as she returned and sat down at the table with her coffee. The cat looked daggers.

Mum certainly knew how to get on the wrong side of it.

"Let's give it a drink of milk," Dad said. "Then I'll try to find its owner."

"Da...aad," I groaned. "Can't we keep it?" I wonder who the owner is.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Mum snapped as she reached for a saucer and filled it with milk. She put it down with a bit of a slam and spilt a drop on the floor.

"You see" she said grabbing a cloth and wiping the spill, "A mess. Cat's just make mess."

I felt like saying it wasn't the cat that made the mess but thought better of it. Dad took the cat over to the saucer. It put its face close to the milk. A pink tongue lapped rhythmically. We all watched, mesmerized.

When it had finished it sat back and began cleaning itself. It gave mum another dirty look. She glared back. Then the cat arched its back and stretched. Slowly and dignified, tail in the air, it strolled over to the window ledge. Springing with ease, it calmly sat on a cushion in the sun.

"Well of all the cheek," mum breathed. But I noticed she had lost the screwed-up-lip look.