St. James C.E. Academy, Southam

I had been on boats many times before. I had even been on this boat a few times before, but it had never been this bad. Captain Brown called me Penny the boat cat. I was his favourite and he took me aboard The Quetta. Many times before I have crossed oceans but I will never again board a boat! This is why…

Lying happily on a large bed of straw in the livestock room, I was looking forward to a nice bit of lamb. At the back of the room, I could see some weak lambs and I thought I could eat one without anyone noticing. I found my chance, leapt off my ledge and ran to the door then stopped. Among the ship’s crew, who all knew never to pick me up, was a young child. This playful boy was skipping towards me, his arms spread out, ready to hug me. Then, something awful happened: he picked me up! I ran out onto the deck and hid behind a barrel of whisky at the stern of the boat.

Suddenly, a jolt flung me out of my hiding place! Digging my claws into the deck (so I wasn’t flung overboard), I wailed. Water flew up against my face as The Quetta lurched forward, the bow singing further and further into the ocean. Cries for help shot up all around me but I had no way of asking for help. Another huge jolt shook me out of position and I crashed against the side of the boat, falling into the frothing water. In a panic, I tried to swim away but I didn’t know how to swim. Water went everywhere as I struggled to stay afloat. Looking up, I realised that a large black boot was falling towards my head! Without even thinking, I grabbed hold!

Under water! This boot was pushing me further and further under water like the hull of The Quetta. I dug my claws into the leather (I was coming up). Finally, I could breathe clear from the water. I gasped for breath. The cold air flowing through me felt so good! Two huge hands grasped my sides. Feeling too weak to do anything about it, I let them curl me around a sweating neck.

Hours later, we were drifting through the water, the man beneath me becoming weak and tired. He was sinking: he was too tired to carry on. In a desperate urge to save me, he laid me in a box nearby, “You save yourself cat!”

To this day, I still feel guilty. He died trying to save me. If I hadn’t have grabbed him, he would have got onto the lifeboat and lived. Instead, I had to go and be selfish. I’m glad I’ve got it known though. I will never go on board a boat again. Not even for Captain Brown or lamb! Never again!