Story Nore presents Katie and the Catnappers, dedicated to Leone with thanks for a great idea.

Hello, this is Emma and I'm here with a story about Katie, who's a witch.

But that's a secret, and only a few people know about it, like her entire class at school.

And of course, her best friend, Isis.

This story is a tale of two cats, one handsome and expensive, the other scruffy and not

expensive looking, but definitely unique.

Mark Anthony is a British blue cat with a blue grey coat and pointy ears above his owl-shaped face.

He wears a lordly expression of serene satisfaction with himself and the world, and when

he moves, which is not over often, it is with dignity and grace. Mark Anthony's owner is somebody

we know well. Her name is Isis, Katie's best friend, who prides herself on doing things not just well, but perfectly.

Before she chose a cat, Isis spent long evenings on the internet scrutinising every breed for looks, temperament and health.

Not long after, Mark Antony arrived. Katie came round to see him. He liked her instantly.

She scratched his chin while he purred and squeezed his eyes into tightly closed slits of sheer contentment.

Isis asked, do you think you could make him talk?

And Katie said,

Well, I don't know.

Witches talking cats are special.

Oh, go on, do try.

I would love to know what he thinks about.

So Katie tried the cat talk spell on him.

But as she expected, the most he said was...

Mark Anthony was the sort of cat who liked to keep his opinions, to himself. Not at all like Katie's own cat, Solomon, who can be pretty mouthy.

...