Four years ago, a happy holiday ended in sadness when the Arbuthnott family’s pet Siamese cat Oscar disappeared on the ferry as they travelled from South Uist back to the mainland.
Oscar, who had been coming on holiday with the family since he was a kitten, is thought to have climbed out of the car window on to the car deck and been unable to get back into the car to join the Arbuthnotts’ two dogs for the remainder of the crossing.
Primary school teacher Molly Arbuthnott explains: “There were paw prints left on the bonnet showing that he must have tried.”
Determined to turn their devastating loss into something more positive, Molly wrote Oscar the Ferry Cat, in which Oscar finds himself alone on the ferry, searching for a new friend and somewhere to call home.
Born in Dundee and growing up in Perthshire, Molly graduated with a degree in history of art from St Andrews University, before becoming a teacher in England.
Always preferring writing proper letters and cards to family and friends, rather than sending a quick text or email, Molly soon discovered the joy of writing children’s stories but she admits that she can’t quite believe that the book has been published.
“It definitely hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” she says. “Writing is a pretty solitary occupation writing and so the appreciation it has received from family and friends has been all the more humbling. A stranger came up to me the other day and said they liked my book, which was rather nice.”
Molly’s book, charmingly illustrated by her close friend Agnes Treherne, also reflects her love of the Outer Hebrides. “It’s such a beautiful part of the world, the people are so friendly and there are always so many lovely things to do,” she smiles.
“I love teaching but I miss Scotland so much when I’m away. I miss being able to put my wellies on and climb a hill with the dogs, swim in the river and curl up by a fire at the end of the day,” she says.
Molly’s pupils loved Oscar the Ferry Cat although, naturally, they wanted Oscar to be reunited with his family at the end.
But there was a good reason why she decided on a different ending. “I told them that he can’t because the story is a metaphor for life – at some stage we all leave the stability and comfort of our family home, go to a few places, meet a few people and eventually meet someone somewhere you can make your own home with,” she explains.
Molly is now hoping to write a series of Oscar stories with each story based on a person who has been important to her at some part in my life and set in places she knows and loves.
“I hope this story brings joy to everyone who reads it and ignites the creative spirit in them,” she reflects. “Never be afraid to have a go – you never know what will happen unless you try.”
Oscar the Ferry Cat is published by Jelly Bean Books, priced £7.99.
