Miss Spark went to the white van parked outside. She came back in carrying a strange, shiny machine. Written on the side, in bright blue letters, was Wizard.
“It looks like a robot!” Jodie said, staring at the large silver box with arms attached.
Felix jumped down from Jodie’s arms and approached the machine. What a strange-looking creature! He saw himself in the shiny surface. “Miiaoww!” What a fine-looking kitten!
“This,” said Mr Tomkins proudly, “is my latest invention. It’s not just a vacuum cleaner . . .”
Felix backed away from the silver creature. “Is that a vacuum cleaner?” he miaowed.
“. . . It’s the vacuum cleaner!” Mr Tomkins continued. “Better than any other!” He beamed at Jodie and her mum. “I’ve called it the Wizard because it can clean any house like magic!”
“Really?” Mrs Taylor looked at it wistfully. “Well, it looks very good, but—”
Mr Tomkins held up his hand. “Please allow us to demonstrate . . .” He turned to his assistant. “Miss Spark, would you plug in the Wizard, please?”
“Certainly, Mr Tomkins,” his assistant replied. By now, Miss Spark’s red curls seemed to fizz with excitement.
Felix wondered if he should make a dash for it. He’d heard the dreaded words “vacuum cleaner”, and that usually meant trouble.
But while he was deciding, Miss Spark switched the machine on. The silver creature began to hum.
Felix sat with his head on one side and stared, puzzled. Why wasn’t it making a nasty loud roaring sound like Mrs Taylor’s vacuum cleaner?
Miss Spark began to put the machine through its paces, moving one of its long rubbery arms over the sofa.
“Look at that!” Mrs Taylor cried, delighted. The sofa cushions looked brand new!
Then Miss Spark pushed the machine across the carpet. “With one gentle push, the Wizard slides easily along the floor, picking up every single hair as it passes,” she said.
“It picks up fluff you didn’t know you had!” Mr Tomkins joked.
Felix watched the humming silver creature gliding smoothly along the carpet. It didn’t seem fierce, like the other vacuum cleaner. And he did like being able to see himself in the creature’s shiny body. Perhaps he should make friends with it.
Felix ran towards the machine, jumped on it and pawed at his reflection.
“Felix looks as if he’s driving it!” Jodie laughed.
Everyone smiled, watching Felix as he sat on the Wizard like a figurehead. His purring was almost as loud as the Wizard’s hum.
As Miss Spark steered the Wizard past Jodie, Felix looked up. “Hey, Jodie!” he miaowed. “This is fun!”
Mrs Taylor shook her head in awe, looking at the spotless sofa and carpet. “I’ve never seen the place looking so clean,” she said. “At least, not since Felix has been here.”
Jodie had to agree.
“And finally,” said Miss Spark as she switched the vacuum cleaner off, “the Wizard also sucks fluff and dust from the air – before it has a chance to settle.”
“That’s fantastic!” Jodie said.
As the machine stopped moving, Felix stepped off and sat next to his new friend, his head on one side.
Mr Pearce began clapping. “It looks as though Felix thinks he’s done the cleaning himself,” he said.
“He’s an absolute darling!” Miss Spark cried.
Felix was really enjoying himself. Everyone seemed to think he was great! And now that his silver friend had cleaned up all his fluff, perhaps Mrs Taylor would forget about banishing him to the garage.
But Jodie’s mum was looking worried again. “It’s a marvellous machine,” she said. “I’d love one – but I’m afraid we simply can’t afford a new vacuum cleaner. Especially such an expensive-looking one . . .”
“Oh, I don’t want you to buy one!” Mr Tomkins said.
Chapter Six
“What?” Mrs Taylor said in surprise.
“Let me explain,” said Mr Tomkins. “We want Felix to star in our advertisements,” he said.
Jodie gasped.
“He’s a natural,” Mr Tomkins went on. “With Felix showing off the Wizard, we’ll sell thousands!”
“Oh, wow!” Jodie cried. She picked up Felix and hugged him. “You’re going to be famous!” she whispered.
Felix rubbed his head against Jodie’s neck. “Great!” he purred. “I’ve always wanted to be a superkitten.”
“I can see the posters now,” Mr Tomkins said, rubbing his hands together happily. “They’ll say: Buy a Wizard – the ultimate fluffbuster!”
“Or how about: So quiet it won’t even frighten a kitten!” Miss Spark added.
“Very good, Miss Spark!” Mr Tomkins boomed.
“And: So light even a kitten can push it!” Mr Pearce offered. “If you don’t mind me joining in,” he added, going a bit red.
“Thank you, Mr Pearce! Another excellent suggestion!” cried Mr Tomkins. Then he turned to Jodie’s mum. “We’ll pay a fee, of course. And the ‘Wizard Kitten’ must have a Wizard for his own home. We’ll leave this one for you, shall we?”
Jodie and her mum stood there, too astounded to speak. Felix gave a short miaow. “Say yes!” He wanted to be a superkitten. He wanted to be famous – and he wanted it now!
One evening, a few weeks later, Jodie and her mum and dad were all sitting in front of the television. Felix was sitting on Jodie’s lap. He was quite a bit bigger, but still very fluffy.
“Mr Tomkins said it would be on at five-thirty,” Jodie said. She looked at her watch. “It’s nearly that now.”
“I only make it twenty-five past,” Mr Taylor said.
Felix looked up at Jodie, his bright blue eyes puzzled. Why was everyone so excited? Even Jodie’s dad had come home from work early
“Have we got the video set?” Mrs Taylor asked.
Just then there was a noise outside in the hall and a cheerful woman put her head around the door. It was Mrs Bell.
Felix turned round and miaowed. “Hello, Mrs Bell.” He liked Mrs Bell. Ever since Mr Tomkins had paid a lot of money for Felix’s kitten modelling, Mrs Bell had been coming here to do all the cleaning.
“I’ve finished cleaning upstairs,” Mrs Bell said. “Do you want me to do in here now?”
“Oh, Mrs Bell,” said Jodie’s mum, smiling. “Come and watch the advertisement first! It should be on any min—”
She was interrupted by a scream from Jodie. “Here he is! Oh, look, Felix, there you are!”
Jodie held Felix up in front of the television and he saw himself sitting proudly on a Wizard as it was put through its paces.
“Solve even the fluffiest problem with the aid of your Wizard!” said a voice on the TV. “Cleans your home like magic!”
“Don’t you look gorgeous!” Jodie cried.
“Purreow!” said Felix. He jumped down and sat as close to the TV as he could, staring up at himself. “Yes, I do look pretty good . . .”
As the advertisement ended, everyone sighed with pride. Then Felix gave a tiny sneeze and shook himself, sending a shower of fluffy grey fur into the air.
Jodie laughed. “You can do that as much as you like, Felix,” she said. “Because now you’re getting paid for it!”
Snuggles
the Sleepy Kitten
Special thanks to Narinder Dhami
To Vicky’s Tigger