Alice’s Orphan

While ice skating on a winter day, Julius notices a basket placed on the edge of the frozen lake by an unnamed cat. He approaches and, after a moment of listening to a faint noise, opens the basket to find a lost kitten inside. Realizing the kitten has no home, Julius decides to take it in.

Julius brings the tiny cat home, where Alice is waiting in the living room and marvels at the unexpected visitor. With no one else willing to adopt, Julius resolves to take in the kitten and give it a warm home.

Alice is amazed by the surprise arrival and chats with Julius about the new pet. She considers what to name the kitten and discusses possible options. Her curiosity about naming reflects the start of Oscar’s new identity.

Julius quickly discovers the kitten is a male. He decides to give the cat the name Oscar, setting the stage for the feline’s future identity in the house. The moment marks a cheerful turning point in their evening.

Julius gives Oscar a bath to clean the little visitor. The kitten endures the wash, and Julius ensures he’s properly taken care of before settling in for the next activity. The bath establishes a routine introduction to domestic life.

During supper, Oscar eats with unexpected aggression, grabbing food with bold, impatient claws. Julius views this behavior as improper table manners and frowns at the scene. The dining room becomes the first setting of their small domestic battles.

Julius tries to teach Oscar to eat politely, but the kitten shows little interest in following lessons. The tension escalates as a bowl of soup leaps up and spills onto Julius. The moment blends humor with a hint of frustration.

In a mischief-filled flash, Oscar hurls a roast chicken at Julius, knocking the big cat off his chair. The kitchen-table chaos amuses the kitten as Julius reels from the sudden attack. The playful assault cements their quirky dynamic.

As night falls, Julius outfits Oscar with small pajamas and tucks the kitten into bed. He prepares a cozy routine to help Oscar drift off, signaling the end of the day’s chaos. The bedside ritual mirrors a caregiving bond beginning to form.

To help Oscar sleep, Julius sings a lullaby and rocks the bed back and forth. The kitten seems to relax, drifting toward sleep as the soothing routine continues. The intimate moment reinforces the caregiver bond.

Just as it seems Oscar is dozing off, he wakes and cries when Julius tries to tiptoe out of the room. Julius repeats the same quiet exit attempt, but Oscar’s cry disrupts the moment each time. The bedtime routine devolves into a small comic stalemate.

Desperate for quiet, Julius grabs a wooden mallet and taps Oscar on the head—enough to cause a lump but not harm him. The kitten remains unharmed and curious, and eventually calms down. The scene captures the quirky, comic tone of their relationship.

With Oscar finally asleep, Julius quietly exits the room, leaving the kitten to dream. The night settles as the household returns to calm, signaling the end of their first challenging, endearing day together. The story hints at a growing, unconventional friendship.