05/29/2026
“The Dream”
~ “The Miners’ Cat” by Lizzie Jayne. ©️
Soot gazed out over the deep emerald waters of the canal from the quaint little café where he was sunning himself. Framed by terracotta walls and golden ochre drapes, he marvelled at the view before him. The labyrinth of narrow bends and winding water streets, stretching into the distance, left him delighted and a little dizzy.
“It’s like a dream,” he thought. “I could never have imagined it to be so beautiful.”
Until now, Soot had only ever seen Venice on a faded print hanging on the school library wall. He had been completely mesmerised by it, staring at the magical colours instead of poring over his reading books.
“Stop daydreaming, Soot,” Mrs McCredie shrieked. “What are you staring at anyway?” Soot pointed to the poster on the wall, and Mrs McCredie’s sharp expression suddenly softened as her eyes drifted into a distant memory.
“Ah, Venice. Yes,” she whispered with a sudden warmth in her tone. “Ahem. Right. Yes,” said the teacher, snapping back out of her own daydream. “I think this will be a good topic to study next term. Well done, Soot. Good idea.”
Soot watched the glorious sun seep through the cracks of the ancient buildings, and the colours unexpectedly filled him with a deep, aching nostalgia for home. The rich, deep red brickwork and chipped green shutters were not too dissimilar from the terraced rows of his own mining village. He closed his eyes for a moment, almost expecting to smell the familiar scent of coal smoke.
“Pop a pit wheel over yonder, and I could be right back home,” Soot thought with a bittersweet smile. He pictured a towering iron colliery frame dominating his village skyline, contrasting beautifully with the elegant marble domes around him. He decided, however, that wading to school through knee-deep waters wasn’t such a good idea, and he was thankful for the school bus that trundled along the dry cobbled stones of Gladstone Street.
As a gentle breeze drifted from beneath the stone bridge, Soot wondered how the whole place managed not to sink. He knew from his brief studying that the grand houses were built on millions of sturdy wooden stilts driven deep into the mud and sand, but he still couldn't help but marvel at the colossal effort it must have taken to create such a wonderful place. His eyes wandered to the peculiar, brightly coloured poles sticking straight out of the water next to him, and he wondered what they were for.
“They look like big sticks of peppermint rock from the seaside,” thought Soot, amused.
Just then, a sleek black gondola slowly glided by, leaving soft ripples and swirls in the jade water. A man stood at the back, steering with a single long oar. He was dressed in the funniest clothes Soot had ever seen—a shirt covered in bold red and white stripes, topped with a flat straw hat tied and matching ribbon. He looked completely joyous, calling out a cheerful greeting in a musical language Soot couldn't understand.
“I wonder if Ron would like one of those hats,” thought Soot, giggling to himself.
Just then, a waitress laid a basket of fresh, warm bread on the table and gently adjusted the sweet red roses in a glass vase, and with every soft breeze, lapping wave, and soothing ray of sunshine stroking his jet-black fur, Soot sank deeper in love with the city. He pinched himself for the tenth time, still unable to quite believe he was here. As much as he loved his cosy fireplace at home, he decided this had to be the most beautiful place in the world.
“Soot, wake up. SOOT!” said Mabel, gently tweaking the little black cat’s ear. “You were completely dead to the world. Come on now, it’s time to get up for school. Grab your scarf, it’s a bit chilly out there this morning!”
Soot was startled to find himself in his basket by the kitchen fire, and realised it had all been just a dream—yet so life like, and so wonderful. But he decided there, and then, when he was all grown up, he would pack a little duffel bag and jet off to see that beautiful place for real.
Original Art & Short Story “The Miners’Cat” ~ Lizzie Jayne, 2026.©️
Art by Lizzie Jayne 🐾
All Artwork, characters and stories for “The Miners’ Cat” are original creations and intellectual property of Lizzie Jayne and cannot be used, recreated. Copyrighted. All rights reserved.©️
