Sherlock Holmes, otherwise known as Mum, concluded that Radish was still up the chimney somewhere. ‘He took the bit of carrot I put out for him,’ she argued. ‘Who else do you think took it? Father Christmas?’
Kitty and Dad agreed that it was a good sign, though Kitty noticed Dad had gone a bit quiet when asked who else might be living up the chimney.
They were all together in the living room watching TV. Tomorrow was another school day, and they agreed that they shouldn’t go to bed too late. Still, there was the usual struggle – Dad telling Kitty to go to bed, and Kitty saying she would go but not yet – and eventually her agreeing to go upstairs to put on her pyjamas and clean her teeth.
Kitty’s mum and dad sat downstairs together.
‘We’ll give it a day or two more,’ said Mum. ‘Then we’ll have to give up poor little Radish for lost.’
‘We don’t have a very good record with hamsters,’ agreed Dad.
‘I think,’ said Mum, ‘that I’m just going to throw the cage away. That catch on the door was broken – which was how Chum escaped in the first place.’
Both of them sighed and drank some wine. But the peace didn’t last long.
‘Mum! Dad!’ Kitty was calling down the stairs.
‘Come quickly. You’ll never guess who’s in the hamster’s cage! It’s not just Radish – it’s Chum! And, Mum, she looks really well – it’s almost like she’s got fatter. Oh, Mum – do come!’
