In this narrated excerpt from Anne Fine’s children’s novel The Killer Cat Runs Away, Lois Letchford reads Chapter 20, which follows the cat Tuffy’s dramatic return home after a narrow escape. The reading captures Tuffy’s playful re‑entry into the household, his affectionate reunion with the child Ellie, and the supportive camaraderie of the neighborhood cats—Tiger, Snowball, and Bella. Ellie, still emotional from recent events, lovingly places Tuffy’s damp collar on him, while the other cats tease, play, and help dry the collar. The passage weaves together themes of safety, belonging, and the bond between a child and her pet, all delivered in a warm, conversational storytelling tone.
Chapters
Hello, I'm Lois Letchford, author of the book Reversed: A Memoir and Literacy Problem Solver, reading from Anne Fiennes' The Killer Cat Runs Away, chapter 20. My precious, wonderful, amazing Tuffy! The moment we got near to our front door, I wriggled out of Ellie's arms. No point in letting the child get into bad habits. Then, acting super cool, I strolled back into the house. As I passed underneath the brand new spray of gloss waving leaves, I nodded companionably. Good looking pot. Looking good, pot plant. I waved at the frying pan and the piano. Hiya, fellas, I'm back! And went upstairs, planning to say hello to Alarm Clock and Bedroom Slippers. Ellie was chasing after me, carrying my old collar. Oh, Tuffy, I'm so glad you're back! She slid it over my head. It was still damp from all the weeping, but I thought I could be gracious about it. After all, the child had saved me from worse. I let her give me the most gentle squeeze. She buried her face in my fur. Oh, Tuffy, she said. My precious, wonderful, amazing Tuffy. The Tuffy I love so much and always have and always will and forever and ever and ever. Thank heavens you're home and safe. I let her squeeze me one more time before I shook her off and went downstairs to check on After all, Ellie and her mother were both outside when that rude vet was going on about how fat I was. And I was peckish. Tiger and Snowball and Bella were having a laugh playing seesaw on the wobbly drain cover a few houses down. Hi! I said, stepping onto Bella's side to even the game up a bit. It's me! I'm back! Who's this? asked Tiger. Do we know him? Bella asked. No one I know, said Snowball. Oh, come on, guys, I told them. You promised you'd never forget me. So they knocked off the teasing and we mucked about. I told them all about my great adventures and my narrow escape. They helped me get the collar off. Look at the state of it! said Tiger. Sodden! Mind you, I'm not surprised. Ellie has spent an awful lot of time these last few days Howling her head off! That's right! said Snowball. Her mother kept on trying to cheer her up by offering to buy her a fluffball kitten just like Tinkerbell. Tiger finished the story, and all she did was howl louder. Good stuff to hear. We played quoits with the collar for half an hour or so while it was drying. Then the gang helped me put it on again. I think I'm safer wearing it. Just for a while. Until the hue and cry has died down and Mrs. Whippy found herself another mouser flown off to Spain. Yes. Safer here till then. And nicer too. My real home. With Ellie.
