The Magnificent Cat by Nadia Ramadan (early reader chapter books .TXT) 📕

going to take what is mine!” James shouted as he turned and looked at Picklock 

Everyone in the hall turned to look at James and wondered what is going on.

“What are you saying?” Picklock said as he looked at James.

“I said I am going to get the Magnificent Cat!” James continued shouting as everyone in the room looked at him even harder, some of them even started to laugh.

“The Magnificent Cat is mine and I am going to get it!” James said as he continued shouting

“Is he crazy?” everyone one in the room start talking to each other.

“No one is going to stop me this time, because it is mine!” James shouted

Picklock walked closer to James and whispered lowly in his ear “I know”

“What!” James shouted even louder “what!”

“Calm down” Picklock said lowly as he looked at James 

James stood there silently and in shock, he cannot believe what is happening at that very moment.

“Perhaps we can talk outside” Picklock said nicely “why don’t we go outside”

James looked at him shockingly but eager to know what Picklock has to say.

Both Picklock and James walked out of the building quietly, everyone in the building stopped what they were doing and looked at them as they leave.

“What was all that about?” an employee asked curiously 

“Let’s get back to work” Joe shouted “it doesn’t matter”

 

James and Picklock walked together silently to the Central park of Bevin, it was one of the most beautiful places in Bevin, but a disturbing story will be told right in this very place.

“James…” Picklock said as he breaks the silent “in this world there are good and evil”

“Stop it!” James shouted “you said the Magnificent Cat was mine back there at the building, you said you knew it was mine…I want to know exactly what happened”

“Alright” Picklock said “if you insist, for I always wanted you to know the truth”

“Is the Magnificent Cat mine?” James repeated. 

Picklock looked at him straight in the eye and said “yes…yes it is yours”

This was the moment James knew he wasn’t hallucinating, but at the same time knew that reality is either going to be painful or enjoyable.   

“The Magnificent Cat belongs to your Grandfather” Picklock continued “and it was meant to be yours or perhaps I can say designed to be yours”  

James still in shock did not reply nor look at Picklock’s face; he just stared at the leafless stems of the garden.

“James…” Picklock called out “are you listening?”

James turned his head to Picklock and said “how on earth did Armand posses it!”

“I was reaching there” Picklock continued “from the beginning, I did not know where your grandfather brought it from, your grandfather just happened to have it, he wasn’t even willing to use this illegal device, until he met Bacilli”

“Bacilli..?” James repeated curiously.

“Yes” Picklock continued “he was very close with your grandfather; I always knew he was close because he wanted the Magnificent Cat very badly”

“That’s obvious” James said as he turned away.

“I myself was very close to your grandfather, he would always tell me about his problems or ask for my advice…but Armand will just ignore all of that”

“What?” James shouted “did you say Armand, did you guys know each other long time ago?”

“Yes” Picklock replied “I knew your grandfather way before he even had the Magnificent Cat, I was only a friend of his, but Armand was more close to Bacilli”

“I bet they were both trying to get the Magnificent Cat!” James said angrily

“I can’t be very sure about that” Picklock continued “for Armand was young at the time and didn’t care or know what your grandfather was about, Bacilli on the other hand knew exactly what the Magnificent Cat is capable of, and he was the one who told your grandfather to start a fatal business like that!”

“What was my grandfather planning to do with the Magnificent Cat?” 

“Nothing” Picklock replied “he just liked it and kept it as a décor, Bacilli was the one who persuaded your grandfather in using it for those immoral purposes, for that guy loved money!”

“I can tell” James said as he remembered everything 

“Well Bacilli later on asked me and Armand to join in for this business; you know he wanted me to convince your grandfather in running this business”

“And what did you say?” James asked curiously

“I said no…” Picklock answered sharply “I told Bacilli that it has to be your grandfather’s decision… no one else, but I think Armand disagreed and joined Bacilli”

“That’s very typical” James said angrily as he walked left and right.

“Well I wasn’t there when this whole business started” Picklock continued “I was far away having a great life, a normal job, when suddenly I heard about the death of your father”

James looked at Picklock sadly; he then walked and sat on the bench next to him.

“I was in shock” Picklock continued “I had to see your grandfather again; I have to see how he is coping with all of this!”

“Bacilli killed my father” James said as tears filled his eyes

“How did you know?” Picklock asked shockingly

“Bacilli told me” James said “it doesn’t really matter now, can you please go on”

“Alright” Picklock said as he looked at James “your grandfather was very sad indeed, he grew very sad and sick in a way, he never knew he can lose his son this way”

“I was the one who saw him that day!” James added “I remembered that”

“Exactly” Picklock continued “when I came there I didn’t even knew you, I never thought he had a grandson, it was very surprising, but anyways your grandfather was very sad and angry at the same time after your father’s death, especially when he knew that Bacilli was the one who killed him, for Bacilli was like a son to him and he was helping him the entire time, even though all what he wanted was the Magnificent Cat”

“How did my grandfather know Bacilli did it” James asked seriously

“Armand told him” Picklock replied “Armand grew very fund of the Magnificent Cat, he wanted it so badly”

James anger grew tensely as he stares at the sky.

“It seems that you are not the first one who saw your father dead that morning” Picklock said sadly

“Of course” James replied “the person who saw him first was the one who killed him, and that is Bacilli!”

“No” Picklock said sharply “the one who saw him first, well I mean after Bacilli was Armand”

“Armand..?” James said surprisingly

“Yes Armand” Picklock continued “Armand saw your father dead that morning and knew directly that it was Bacilli who did it. It was crystal clear to him, he had the motive”

“Why did bacilli kill my father?” James asked as he looked at Picklock 

"It's obvious!" Picklock said "your grandfather wanted to give the Magnificent Cat to your father! Even though Bacilli was the one who worked hard to make this business go successfully, your grandfather just decided that your father should have it, he wanted it to belong to the Scorpions, only the Scorpions"

James looked at Picklock seriously trying to analyze every bit of the story, for it was never imaginable.

"So when Bacilli found out about your grandfather's will, he was in shock, he believed the Magnificent Cat belongs to him. Your father on the other hand never touched, used or even saw the Magnificent Cat, but was killed the next morning because of it"

"That’s horrible" James said angrily 

"It is" Picklock continued sadly "when your grandfather found out about his son's death he was devastated , he grew even angrier and made sure never to trust anyone again! At first he wanted to give the Magnificent Cat to Armand instead of Bacilli but after your father's death, he knew he can only give it to one person"

"Who…?" James asked nervously 

"You …!" Picklock replied sharply "when your grandfather grew angry and mad, he made a choice, a curse, and a deal that should never be made!"

"I am not following this" James said as he looked at Picklock seriously

"Well I told you that your grandfather wanted the Magnificent Cat to belong to the Scorpions"

"Yes, he was reasonable" James said

"Your grandfather disappeared 2 weeks before his death" Picklock continued "no one knows where he went, my guess was that he was planning to give the Magnificent Cat to whom it really belongs to, but instead I think he just made a deal with the devil!"

"How..?" James asked "did he take the Magnificent Cat with him?"

"Yes he did" Picklock replied "so when he came back, Bacilli and Armand were so happy; they were in fact very thrilled to see him come back with the Magnificent Cat, but never knew what awaits them next"

"What awaits them?" 

"Well" Picklock continued "they knew the Magnificent Cat will somehow belong to you, but they weren’t threatened by a 7 year old"

"You mean my grandfather just gave up and gave the Magnificent Cat to Armand!"

"No he didn't" Picklock replied "he told them directly to their faces that the Magnificent Cat belongs to his grandson and no one else!"

"They must be shocked" James added

"Well Bacilli stood up and said how possible can a 7 year old run a business!"

Picklock stopped talking for a few second and looked around

"Go on" James insisted as he looked at Picklock seriously

"Your grandfather stood up from his seat and said {he can take care of the Magnificent Cat, because he is the Magnificent Cat!}"

"What’s that suppose to mean" James asked curiously 

"That was the same thing Bacilli asked when your grandfather said it" Picklock continued "your grandfather cast a spell on you James, he shouldn’t do it but it was for your own protection!"

"What do you mean?" James asked nervously

"James…." Picklock said as he looked at him seriously "the Magnificent Cat doesn’t only belong to you…You are the Magnificent Cat!" 

"I am the Magnificent Cat?" James shouted loudly as he woke up from the seat next to Picklock "what the hell!"

"Keep your voice down!" Picklock yelled "this is a top secret!"

"I am the Magnificent Cat!" James continued to shout "how on earth did this happen!"

"I can't explain it" Picklock said worryingly "I don’t really know how he did it! He put a curse on you that’s all…"

 "That’s all!?" James shouted "that doesn’t even make any sense!"

"That was the last thing he did before your grandfather killed himself, Well Bacilli knows exactly how it happens…" Picklock interrupted "let me get him to explain everything"

"Well he can't!" James said as he turned away "he is dead!"

"What?" Picklock shouted "What? When? How did this happen?"

James continued to stare the other way without saying anything.

Picklock stood from his seat and walked closer to James, he turned James around and asked him straight in the eye "What happened to Bacilli?"

"I killed him!" James shouted as he moved away from Picklock "he confessed to killing my father and I shot him!"

"What the hell!" Picklock shouted "what did you do! Oh my God"

"He was pissing the hell out of me!" James continued shouting "everywhere I go I will see his face! That guy just can't leave me the hell alone!"

"That was his Job!" Picklock shouted "that was his job! He is supposed to follow you around!"

"What?" James asked as he looked at Picklock seriously 

"Damn it James!" Picklock said as he looked away "this is crazy"

"What are you saying Picklock?" James asked again "are you saying that Bacilli used to baby sit me? Because that’s just silly…oh I think Armand send Bacilli to follow me around, just to make sure I don’t find out the Magnificent Cat is mine!" 

"Stop it James" Picklock said seriously "haven’t you been listening to me? Yes you are right about Armand…he did send Bacilli to follow you around, but only because you are the Magnificent Cat"

"What does that even mean?" James shouted "stop saying this, stop it!"

"It’s the truth" Picklock shouted back "you are the Magnificent Cat! And you need protection!"

"Screw this!" James shouted "what kind of protection do I need? And from Bacilli too…?"

"Because if anything happens to YOU the Magnificent