When Mr Elvic first comes to his workshop on Cinder Lane, he makes an unusual discovery - an old, dismantled Wishing Machine. He sets about repairing it and, to his astonishment, the machines works perfectly. With his first wish he gives his loveable ginger cat the power of speech. However, well-meaning as he is, Benson the cat is also very mischievous. It is not long before Mr Elvic and Benson find themselves in all sorts of scrapes as they set about using their secret Wishing Machine to help their friends and neighbours. Will other people find out about the Wishing Machine? How reliable is a talking cat when it comes to keeping secrets? In this enchanting tale, Susan has drawn on her childhood memories to create a gentle world of kindly townsfolk and a talking cat. Poignant and beautifully written, "Benson and the Wishing Machine" offers an engaging modern parable that will amaze and amuse young and old readers alike.