Sheba heard the door open too, and thought she would take her chance to escape. For some reason she felt she had to be outside, just one of those big twinges that made her whiskers quiver and her fur shiver. Coming here, and meeting her new friend Edna had been wonderful and saved her really; her Owner had been taken away in one of those noisy vans with flashing blue lights, and after that a frightening lonely time had followed. Despite the kindness of neighbours, Sheba could not settle and instead took herself off on her own journey. Who knows, her Owner could be right around the next corner. So when she found the shelter of the back doorway to the Palace Theatre, she took a chance and fell asleep in a warm spot on the stone step.
‘Hallo! And who might you be then…..’Edna had flung open the back door on this sunny morning in September, to shake a cloth and throw some bread for the birds. It would the seagulls that jumped on the bread first she thought, and then she saw Sheba. Returning with two saucers of scraps from the kitchen, that was the start of their friendship, and Edna thought she had a theatrical cat at last. ‘I shall call you Sheba, ‘ she proclaimed, not knowing that this was the cat’s real name. And so it was that Sheba found a new home whilst pining for her old one, and it was this keen yearning that unsettled her now.
From outside, albeit muffled due to the closed window, was the sound of a dog making that whining noise, together with another voice. It sounded familiar to Sheba, as if she had heard it in a dream and was now awake. Could it be? Could it be what she had been waiting for, here in the safety of the Theatre?
‘Here we are! ‘Edna spoke loudly and rattled the royal Daulton teacup on the saucer; it had a gold rim and lettering that said: happiness happiness the greatest gift that I possess, all around the cup. The saucer had the famous Blackpool Tower, and more about the legendary comedian on the cup itself. ‘Best open that window, if I’m going to wake Mr Dodd,’ Edna spoke loudly too and then nearly tripped over the tickling stick and Sheba. Throwing open the window, Edna was surprised to see a dog practically looking into her eyes, with both paws up on the ledge and standing in the tiny garden outside. Hang on, and being given commands from thin air!!.
‘Steady Sam!’ advised Duffel, still nicely invisible in his coat and searching in the pockets for…..’Ah! Just what we need Sam!’ and pulled out a cat lead. Sam’s lead was in the other pocket but he could be relied on (mostly) to travel as commanded. With that, Sheba leapt up on the sill and out of the window, landing close by to Sam and Duffel. In a flash, Duffel swooped down and popped the collar on.
Edna stood at the window with her mouth open and if she had not already put the cup and saucer down, would have dropped it. Ken Dodd, now awake, was equally struck dumb. His first thought was, ‘am I still asleep’ and his second, being a comedian, was how to incorporate flying cats and invisible persons into his act.
‘Edna, did I just see….?’
‘I do believe we did Mr Dodd,’ and whatever or whoever it is has put a collar on Sheba!’
And this was the scene that met CPO as he finally arrived at the back of the Theatre. He had radioed for back up but owing to the fact it was April 1st, coinciding with Easter that year, his story of breaking and entering by an unknown entity had met with a lot of giggling and mocking really. Half way through his description, which had been tricky, as he couldn’t actually see who it was, the mobile went dead at the other end. It was followed by a text that read: LOL.
Duffle took stock and gave Sam the command to ‘Follow!’ The three of them were off, Sam at Duffel’s side and Sheba being carried. This was alright as she had smelt her Owner as soon as she was picked up. This was provided by a special scent on the duffel coat, ‘Masterstroke!’ thought Duffel, lurching round the back alleyway and turning back up right outside the Theatre now.
He checked his watch, with minutes to spare they must all head for the ice cream parlour on the edge of the South Bay beach. This was the departure point and pick up would follow, taking them all back up a level. And reunite Sheba with her Owner.
‘Can I help you Officer?’ Edna had by now arrived at the back door, to let CPO Piper in. He babbled about a break in, and invisible forces before rushing past her to the front of the Theatre. There was already a queue formed, mostly of the older generation, big fans of course, and some even older people in wheelchairs. This made it difficult for the CPO to squeeze past, and looking over the parade to the sea front he could just make out the dog and a cat in mid-air. Unfortunately, and really he should have been looking where he was going, he tripped over a tickling stick, owned by one of those fans and sticking out of their chair. His last sighting therefore, from lying flat on his back and through the feet of the crowd, was of the dog, who was there on the pavement next to the ice Cream parlour one minute, and gone the next.
Edna and Mr Dodd were also watching from a window at the front of the Theatre. It was high up and gave them a clear view of what happened; this however, did not make it any easier to digest.
‘Blow me down!’ went Ken Dodd. ‘I’ve seen some acts, but that one beats all. I might give my agent a ring, he might be keen to sign them up. A dog a cat and an invisible performer….’
Edna was quiet. She would miss Sheba that was certain, but she had one of her feelings, like she had for her sister, long gone from her now, that this was some sort of homecoming. ‘Good Luck Sheba!’ she sent the words up and smiled to herself.
‘More tea Mr Dodd?’
The End‘
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