The Journey Of The Winter Kittens

Transcription

1 The Journey Of The Winter Kittens By Jim Peterson 2013 James Peterson Page 1

2 The Journey of The Winter Kittens By Jim Peterson It was December and it was cold and cloudy when mommy cat, daddy cat and their kittens started their journey with their friend farm dog. Farm dog was a big friendly collie and he and mommy cat and daddy cat were very good friends. He would even baby sit for the kittens sometimes. They liked to play with his long hair and his long fluffy tail. Daddy cat was a big orange colored tabby cat. Mommy cat was black and white. Their cute little kittens were a mixture of these colors. The kittens were only twelve weeks old. There were six of them. There were three boy kittens and three girl kittens. One of the boy kittens looked just like his daddy. Two of the girl kittens were black and white like their mommy but had different patterns of black fur and white fur. The other two kittens were a beautiful mixture of black, white and orange and each had a different color pattern. They were all good little kittens and usually did what mommy or daddy cat asked them to do. They had been very happy little kittens in their nice warm barn. They were learning to play kitten games like pounce and jump and tail chase. They didn t understand why they had to leave their barn and move to another one. But their farmer had been sick and could no longer take care of the farm. He needed a lot of rest so he and his wife were moving into a small apartment in a nearby town. There was no room for farm dog, the cats and the kittens in the apartment so he had taken them to a neighbor s farm. But the neighbor had a very mean dog who did not like farm dog or mommy and daddy cat or the kittens. He would not let any of them into the barn to eat or sleep. The next morning after their farmer had left them with the neighbor they decided the must leave this new farm right away before they starved. They had spent the night in one of the machine sheds instead of the nice warm barn and they hadn t had any supper or breakfast so they were cold and hungry. Farm dog told mommy and daddy cat that he remembered going to a nice farm with their farmer before he was sick. The farm had a big red barn and red sheds and a nice white farmhouse. He remembered that the farmer and his wife were very nice and their old farm dog was very friendly. I remember that after we made the turn at the big bend in the road the sun was shinning through the front window of the truck on the morning we visited the farmer, said farm dog. So if we walk toward the sun in the morning and away from the sun in the afternoon we should be able to find the farm with the nice farmer and his wife. But first we should go back to our old farm to see if we can find some food, said farm dog. So he led the way as they all walked beside the road to their old farm. They only had a twenty-minute walk beside the road to get to their old farm but the sound of the cars and small trucks going by frightened the kittens and when a large truck went past they would just stop and shake with fear. The closeness of the traffic was too much for the kittens. Daddy cat decided it would be better for the kittens if they all walked on the other side of the drainage ditch that ran beside the road. They crossed the ditch and walked in the grass beside the ditch. The kittens were happier there in the grass and farther from the road so they traveled a little faster. Page 2

3 When they arrived at their old farm they left the kittens by the open barn door and then farm dog, daddy cat and mommy cat went in different directions to look for food. Soon farm dog found a half-full bag of cat food behind a box in a corner of the barn. He didn t know how it got there but he didn t care. He picked up the bag in his strong teeth and carried it to the open barn door where the kittens were. He set the bag down near the kittens and tipped it over so some of the cat food spilled out and the kittens started to eat. Then he barked a few times to let mommy and daddy cat know he had found some food. After they had eaten all they could hold they decided they had better get started on their trip. They knew they couldn t stay at their farm because the food would soon run out and there was nobody there to buy any more food for them. They had to leave right away while the sun was still showing them which way to go. To start their journey they had to cross the road and go through the pasture. Mommy cat was very worried about crossing the road with the kittens. They were still frightened of the cars and trucks and didn t want to go near the road. But the road had to be crossed if they were to get started on their way to the new farm. Mommy cat turned to daddy cat and said, Maybe we should go back to the farm with the mean dog. He may start to like us after a while. Or we could go the other way. We could go over the hill. Maybe there is a farm there where we can live. I don t want to try to cross the road. I am afraid one or more of my kittens will get hurt by the cars and trucks. Please daddy cat, can t we find another way to go? I am very afraid of the road and the kittens are too. Farm dog was sitting beside daddy cat and heard what mommy cat said. He understood how mommy cat felt about the road and the way the cars and trucks went so fast. He knew the kittens would have a hard time getting across the dangerous road. But he also knew how to get them across safely. I can show you how to get to the other side of the road without crossing it, said farm dog. The pasture was on the other side of the road and he and the farmer often had to go get the cows and bring them to the barn for milking so he knew a lot about crossing the road. Farm dog led the cats and kittens across the barnyard and down to the road. As they approached the road the cats saw a large metal tube that went under the road. Through the metal tube they could see the pasture on the other side of the road. What is that? asked mommy cat. It is called a cattle pass, replied farm dog. That is how our farmer and I got the cows from the pasture to the barn and back to the pasture again. I have been through it lots of time and it is very safe but we will have to wait until there are no cars coming because when a car goes over the cattle pass it makes a little noise inside and it might scare the kittens. Farm dog waited until no cars were in sight and then he led the cats and kittens quickly through the large metal tube. That was easy, said daddy cat when they reached the pasture. Mommy cat agreed. She was very happy all of her kittens were safely across the road. Which way do we go now? asked daddy cat. Page 3

4 I m sure it is this way, said farm dog as he started off across the pasture. But I don t know how far it is. We will have to keep walking until we find the right farm. It was cold but there was no snow yet so the walking was easy for farm dog and mommy and daddy cat but the kittens were still very young and they tired quickly and had to rest often. Mommy and daddy cat would curl up around the kittens to keep them warm while they took short naps and then they would walk some more. When the kittens took a rest period farm dog would run ahead to see if he could find the way to the farm he remembered. After a few hours of walking they came to a stream. It wasn t frozen because the water was running very fast. They couldn t swim across because the water was moving too fast. They couldn t jump across because the stream was too wide. They looked upstream and they looked downstream. They couldn t see any way to get across this stream. What should we do? asked daddy cat. We have to get across this stream to get to the new farm. Wait here, said farm dog. I ll try to find a way to cross this stream. He ran downstream to try to find a way to cross without getting wet. They didn t want to get wet on such a cold day. The kittens were ready for another rest. They curled up together and were soon asleep. After a short while farm dog returned with a smile on his face. Follow me, he said. I found a place where we can cross the stream on a log so we won t get wet. Farm dog led them a short way down the stream until he found the log across the stream where he wanted to cross. Oh my, said momma cat. Is the log slippery? I don t know, said farm dog. But we have to try to cross here. It is a long way back to the road where the bridge is. I will cross the log first. Farm dog stepped onto the log and carefully went across the stream then he turned around and came back. The log isn t very slippery but you should still use your claws to hang onto it, said farm dog to mommy and daddy cat. We will each take a kitten across to the other side and then come back for the rest of them. Farm dog gently took a kitten in his mouth and stepped onto the log. In a few steps he was across the stream. He put the kitten down and said to daddy cat It is your turn now. Remember to use your claws and you will be fine. Daddy cat picked up a kitten by the loose skin on the back of its neck and stepped onto the log. It was just as farm dog had said, a little slippery but not bad. Still he used his claws to hang onto the log as he crossed to the grass on the other side of the stream. Then mommy cat picked up a kitten and crossed the stream as daddy cat and farm dog had done. Just as mommy cat was putting her kitten down she heard a splash and a loud, frightened meow. SPLASH! Page 4

5 MEEOOWWW! She looked back at the stream and saw one of her black, white and orange kittens in the icy cold water. The water was moving so fast the scared little kitten was already at the bend in the stream and would soon be out of sight and gone forever. My kitten, my kitten! screamed mommy cat. Please go get my kitten. Please save my kitten. I ll get him, barked farm dog as he raced along beside the stream. Get the rest of the kittens across the stream and I will be back as soon as I can. Farm dog then disappeared around the bend of the stream. Farm dog was running as fast as he could when he rounded the bend in the stream. He looked downstream. He couldn t see the little kitten that had fallen into the water. He knew he hadn t passed the kitten in the water and he could now see far enough down the stream to see the kitten wasn t ahead of him either. He stopped running and looked back. He couldn t see the kitten. He looked downstream again. He still couldn t see the kitten. Where was the kitten? He just had to find the kitten. Farm dog knew the kitten couldn t last very long in the icy cold water. He had to find the kitten right away but where was the kitten? Where could that kitten be? Farm dog barked. Kitten where are you? He stopped barking and listened. He heard nothing but the sound of the fast-moving stream. Once again he barked, louder this time. Kitten, kitten where are you? Meow. He heard a faint meow come from some branches at the edge of the water. Farm dog quickly ran to the branches and there was the kitten. He had managed to climb out of the icy water but he was stuck in the branches. Farm dog grabbed some of the branches in his teeth and pulled them out of the kitten s way. The shivering little kitten climbed out of the branches and onto the grass. Farm dog licked him until he was almost dry and then gently picked up the cold and still very scared little kitten and carried him back to mommy and daddy cat and the rest of the kittens. Mommy and daddy cat were very happy to have their little kitten back safe and sound. The other kittens were very happy to have their brother back. Mommy and daddy cat finished licking him dry and then they both snuggled with all of the kittens for a short while to get them warm. They thanked farm dog over and over for saving their little kitten. How did you fall into the stream? Mommy cat asked the kitten. I was trying to cross the stream by myself, said the kitten. But I fell off the log. Are you angry with me mommy? asked the kitten. Yes, said mommy cat. I am very angry with you for not staying where I told you to stay but I am very happy to have you back and I am very grateful to farm dog for saving your life. I hope you have all learned a lesson, Page 5

6 said mommy cat. We have, said the kittens. From now on we will do what you and daddy cat and farm dog tell us to do. We will all be good little kittens. At the end of the first day mommy cat told daddy cat and farm dog that the kittens were doing well but they were very tired and hungry. She told them the kittens could travel another day or two if it didn t snow. They had to reach the new farm before it snowed. The kittens were too small to travel in snow. Their little legs were too short and the pads on the bottom of their paws were not thick enough yet to handle cold, wet snow. Farm dog and daddy cat agreed they had to get to the new farm before it snowed. They traveled a little faster the next day, which meant the kittens had less time to rest and they were very, very hungry. But their luck ran out. Late that afternoon it started to snow. I will go ahead and try to find some place where the kittens can sleep tonight out of the snow, said farm dog. He ran ahead to look for a place where the kittens would be safe and dry. Just over the hill farm dog saw some trees. He ran to the trees and was looking for some brush to make a warm place for the night when he met a friendly rabbit. Hello Mr. Rabbit, said farm dog, Do you know where my friends and I can sleep tonight out of the cold and snow? Hello farm dog, said Mr. Rabbit. I know of a badger den under an old oak tree. Mr. Badger has a new den and doesn t use his old one anymore. He won t care if you sleep there tonight. Thank you Mr. Rabbit, said farm dog, Will you show me where it is, please. As Mr. Rabbit led farm dog to the den he asked him where he and his friends were going. Farm dog explained everything to Mr. Rabbit and asked him if he knew of the farm that they were trying to find. Mr. Rabbit said he didn t know where the farm was but maybe his friend Mr. Squirrel would know. Mr. Squirrel might be able to see the farm from his tree, said Mr. Rabbit. He told farm dog where to find Mr. Squirrel s tree then he said goodbye and hopped home to supper. Farm dog ran back to mommy and daddy cat and the kittens. He led them to the old badger den and told them what the rabbit had said about the squirrel. That night the cats all slept in the warm, dry den while farm dog slept at the entrance to protect them from hungry foxes. He had long, warm fur so the cold and snow didn t bother him at all. He curled up in a ball and tucked his nose under his tail. He left his eyes and ears uncovered so he could see or hear a fox if one came near the den. The next morning when they all woke up they were surprised to see so much snow. It had snowed all night and the new snow was very soft and deep. Even daddy cat was having a hard time walking in the deep snow. The kittens could never walk in snow this deep. It was far over their heads and so soft that when they tried to walk on top of the snow they fell into it and had to be dug out and carried back into the den. Oh dear me, said mommy cat. What are we going to do now? We are all very hungry and the kittens can t travel in the snow. We can t wait until the snow thaws because we will starve soon. What will we do? I will go find the squirrel and ask him if he knows where the farm is. Maybe he can see it from up in his tree like Mr. Rabbit said, meowed daddy cat. I will go with you to break a trail in the snow for you, said farm dog. They both went to find Mr. Squirrel. Page 6

7 They found the squirrel s tree and daddy cat climbed up to talk to him. I am sorry, said Mr. squirrel but I don t know where the farm is that you are looking for. But my friend Mr. Owl is very smart and he knows where all the farms are around here. Owls sleep during the day so I will have to wake him up. Please wait here. I will be right back. The squirrel jumped to another tree, then another and another until daddy cat couldn t see him anymore. Daddy cat waited in the tree and soon the squirrel came back. Mr. Owl will be here soon, said Mr. Squirrel. A few minutes later a large owl landed on the branch above daddy cat and startled him so bad he almost fell out of the tree. I am sorry, said Mr. Owl. I didn t mean to scare you. How can I help you? he asked. Daddy cat explained everything to Mr. Owl and described the farm they were trying to find. Daddy cat also told Mr. Owl that he and his family and farm dog were all very hungry. He even told Mr. Owl about the bag of cat food they had to leave at their old farm. Yes, said Mr. Owl, I know where your old farm is and I know where this new farm is but you are a whole day s walk away from it. It will be very hard for you to walk there in the snow and how are you going to get the kittens there? I don t know, said daddy cat. Mr. Squirrel said you were very wise. Do you have an idea how we can get the kittens there? I will have to think about it, said Mr. Owl. Go back to your den and I will meet you there later. Maybe I can also find some food for you. Daddy cat climbed down the tree and told farm dog what the owl had said. Then they both went back to the den through the deep snow. When they got back to the den mommy cat was very upset and the kittens were crying. What is the matter? asked daddy cat. One of the kittens is missing, cried mommy cat. I can t find her anywhere. She was playing near the door of the den and now I can t find her. Daddy cat went outside to look for his little lost kitten. He told farm dog about the missing kitten and they looked together. They followed the kitten s footprints part way around the tree. But where the kitten s footprints ended they saw some much larger footprints in the snow. These footprints were definitely not the kitten s. They didn t belong to farm dog or daddy cat either. I think these are the footprints of a fox, said farm dog. A fox must have come to the den while we were talking to Mr. Squirrel. Now daddy cat was very upset too. I hope the fox didn t take my little kitten, said daddy cat. I hate to say this daddy cat but this looks very bad. The kitten s footprints stop right where the fox s footprints are. Then the fox s footprints go away from the tree. I will follow the fox tracks and try to find the fox and the kitten, said farm dog. You stay here with mommy cat and keep the rest of the kittens in the den. Page 7

8 He ran down the hill following the tracks the fox had left in the snow. The tracks went down the hill, across a field and into a pasture with many cows in it. Farm dog was able to follow the tracks all the way down the hill and across the field to the pasture. But when farm dog went into the pasture to follow the tracks he found the cows had walked all over the fox tracks and he couldn t find them anymore. Farm dog walked all around the edge of the pasture trying to find if the fox had left the pasture but he couldn t find any fox tracks leaving the pasture. The fox s home must be somewhere in the pasture thought farm dog. But where? It was a big pasture with many trees. The fox could live under any one of them or in a hole covered with branches. Farm dog searched and searched in the snow. But he could not find the fox s home anywhere. He was very sad. He didn t want to lose a kitten. He loved all of the kittens. After a long search of the pasture and all around the edge of the pasture farm dog knew he wasn t going to find the fox and the missing kitten. He would have to go back to the den and tell mommy cat and daddy cat he didn t find the fox or their little kitten. He was very sad. As he headed back to the den Farm dog took one long, last look at the pasture hoping to see the fox or his home but all he saw was snow and cows and trees. He was so sad. Farm dogs head was hanging low and there were tears in his eyes as he slowly walked back to the badger den to tell mommy and daddy cat he didn t find the fox or the kitten. He missed the cute little kitten already. Farm dog was very sad when he arrived back at the den without the kitten. He told mommy and daddy cat the fox had gotten away. He couldn t find the fox and he couldn t find the little lost kitten. Once more Mommy cat started to cry over her little lost kitten. The kittens started to cry again too. They loved their sister and they wanted her back. Meow Wait a minute, said farm dog. Please be very quiet, I think I heard something. Meow There it is again, said farm dog. It sounded like a meow but I m not sure. Daddy cat came out of the den and meowed very loudly. MEEOOWW, he said. Meow I heard it too, said daddy cat. I think it came from up in the tree. Daddy cat looked up and sure enough there was his little missing kitten high up in the tree. Daddy cat quickly climbed up to the branch she was sitting on. Are you all right? he asked the shaking kitten. Yes daddy, said the kitten, but I am very scared. I am afraid of the fox. The fox is gone, said daddy cat. That s good, said the kitten, but I don t know how to climb down from way up here in this tree and it is too far for me to jump. How will I get down daddy? That s not a problem, said daddy cat. That s what daddies are for. When their babies have troubles daddies and mommies are there to help. Daddy cat looked further out on the limb they were on. He saw what he was looking for. He told the kitten to stay where she was and he would be right back. Daddy cat walked a little way out on the limb until he came to a Page 8

9 dead branch. He reached out and bit into the branch and then he backed up pulling on the branch. The branch snapped easily and daddy cat carried it back to where the kitten was waiting. Still holding the branch in his teeth he said to his kitten, Climb on my back and put your front paws around my neck. Dig your claws into the branch I have in my mouth. You will have to hold on very tight as I climb down the tree but everything will be all right. Daddy cat carefully climbed backwards down the tree with the kitten holding on as tightly as she could. She was very happy to be going back to the warm den with her mommy and her brothers and sisters. When they reached the ground mommy cat and the other kittens all gathered around the kitten. Mommy cat, the other kittens and farm dog were all very happy to see the little lost kitten again. They asked her what happened and she told them she had been playing in the snow part way around the tree when she saw the fox. She said she couldn t run to the door of the den because of the deep snow so she climbed the tree as quickly as she could. She didn t stop climbing until she came to the high branch where they found her and then she couldn t get back down. You did the right thing, said mommy cat. And we are all very glad you are safe. But I hope you learned not to stray from the family until you get much bigger. I have learned mommy, said the kitten. I will be a good little kitten from now on. Then she started to purr because she was so happy to be with her mommy and daddy and her brothers and sisters. A little later Mr. Owl landed near the door of the den. He had a bag in his claws. Hello farm dog, said Mr. Owl as he landed. Daddy cat said you were all hungry so I brought the bag of cat food that was in front of the barn at your old farm. Can you eat cat food too? Yes I can, said farm dog. And thank you very much. We were getting very hungry. As daddy cat came out of the den to thank Mr. Owl for the cat food Mr. Owl told them to eat a good lunch because they would have a lot of work to do that afternoon. After they finished eating Mr. Owl told farm dog and daddy cat to follow him. I will fly slowly so you can keep up, said Mr. Owl. He led them to a field at the edge of the woods. He walked around in the snow near a tree for a few minutes then he scratched in the snow. He called farm dog over and told him to dig in that spot. Farm dog dug for a minute and found something hard. He kept digging and soon uncovered the top of a large pumpkin. He looked at Mr. Owl and said Mr. Owl, why am I digging for pumpkins? Actually, said Mr. Owl, You are only digging for one pumpkin and I think you found it. Please keep digging and uncover the whole pumpkin. We will soon know if this is the right one. Farm dog kept digging and soon had the whole pumpkin uncovered. Mr. Owl jumped into the hole in the snow around the pumpkin and started to walk around it. Yes, he said, this is the right one. Farm dog you now need to uncover the pumpkin s vine to see how long and how strong it is. Farm dog uncovered the vine and it was long and strong. Mr. Owl, said daddy cat what are we going to do with this pumpkin? Well daddy cat, said Mr. Owl if you will push the pumpkin while farm dog takes the vine in his teeth and pulls we will take the pumpkin back to the den and I will explain why you need this pumpkin. Page 9

10 When they got back to the den it was almost dark but there was still time for Mr. Owl to explain to mommy and daddy cat and farm dog why they needed the pumpkin. Mr. Owl also explained that the pumpkin belonged to the farmer who owned the farm they were going to. He will be surprised to see his pumpkin brought to him by a dog and two cats. Wow, said daddy cat when the owl had finished telling them what to do. You are as smart as Mr. Squirrel said you were. Thank you very, very much. The next day was sunny and a little warmer so the snow was slipperier than when it was fresh. Farm dog and the cats and kittens had a big breakfast on the last of the cat food. After breakfast farm dog and mommy and daddy cat followed all of Mr. Owl s instructions. Then farm dog grabbed the vine and pulled. Mommy and daddy cat pushed and the pumpkin slid easily on the slippery snow. They slid the pumpkin in the direction Mr. Owl had told them to go to reach the new farm. They stopped to rest often because even though the snow was slippery the pumpkin was hard to move for one dog and two cats. In the late afternoon they stopped to rest near the top of a hill. After a short rest farm dog walked to the top of the hill. He quickly ran back to the others. We are almost there, he barked, The farm is just over the hill and it is just like I remembered it. It has a big red barn and red sheds and a nice white farmhouse. We will be there soon. Sure enough, it did not take long to get the pumpkin over the hill and started down the other side toward the farmhouse. Mrs. Farmer was baking cookies in the kitchen of the white farmhouse when she looked out the window and saw a pumpkin coming down the hill. She couldn t believe her eyes. She called Mr. Farmer and he came to the window. He saw the pumpkin too. Farm dog and mommy and daddy cat were covered in snow so Mr. and Mrs. Farmer couldn t see them at first. All they saw was the big orange pumpkin coming down the hill and across the field. They were very confused. Why is that pumpkin coming to visit us? Mrs. Farmer asked. Pumpkins don t usually do that do they? I don t think so dear, said Mr. Farmer. If they did I wouldn t need my tractor and wagon. All I would have to do is stand on the porch and call Here pumpkins! and they would come by themselves. That sometimes works for cows but I don t think it works for pumpkins very well. We need to go find out why this pumpkin is coming to visit us. They put on their boots and their coats and their hats and went out to see why the pumpkin was coming to their farm. As they got closer to the pumpkin they saw farm dog and mommy and daddy cat. When farm dog and the cats saw Mr. and Mrs. Farmer coming toward them they stopped pulling and pushing. Farm dog sat down and wagged his tail. Mr. Farmer petted farm dog while Mrs. Farmer petted mommy and daddy cat. Farm dog and mommy and daddy cat were very tired from their hard day of pulling and pushing the pumpkin and they hoped Mr. and Mrs. Farmer would let them stay on their farm. Mr. Farmer looked at Mrs. Farmer and said, This is wonderful. I m glad this dog and these two cats are here. Our farm dog is very old and we have only one old cat. We need a new farm dog and more farm cats but I don t understand why they worked so hard to bring this pumpkin with them. Meow Page 10

11 What was that noise? asked Mrs. Farmer. It sounded like a meow and I think it came from the pumpkin, said Mr. Farmer. But pumpkins don t usually talk and they almost never meow. Meow It did come from the pumpkin, said Mrs. Farmer. She walked around to the other side of the pumpkin and saw a hole in the side of it. She got down on her knees and peered into the hole. Oh my goodness, she said. This pumpkin is full of kittens. Mr. Farmer walked around the pumpkin and looked through the hole in the pumpkin. Yes the pumpkin was full of kittens. There were six wiggling, giggling kittens on a bed of dry leaves inside the pumpkin. Mr. Farmer walked around the pumpkin again. He looked at it very closely. You know dear, he said, I think this is the pumpkin the possums, the raccoons and the mice got into. They chewed a hole into the side of a pumpkin at the edge of our pumpkin patch. The pumpkin was near the woods where they could get to it easily. Because the critters ate everything inside I didn t bother to pick it. A hollow pumpkin is no good to me but this dog and these cats sure found a good way to use it. Farm dog and mommy and daddy cat must have found the pumpkin and put the kittens in the pumpkin because they couldn t walk in the deep snow, said Mr. Farmer. Then they brought the pumpkin full of kittens here to our farm. I think you re right, said Mrs. Farmer I also think we have just adopted some very smart animals. They had a problem but they didn t give up. They kept going until they solved the problem. They and the kittens will be welcome here for as long as they live. Mr. Farmer grabbed the vine and pulled the pumpkin to the barn. Mrs. Farmer walked with farm dog and mommy and daddy cat as they followed him. When they got to the barn Mrs. Farmer scooped the kittens out of the pumpkin and put them inside her big warm coat. The kittens were very happy to be in the warm coat and they purred and purred and purred. Farm dog and mommy and daddy cat followed as Mr. and Mrs. Farmer took the kittens into the big red barn, which was full of cows and was very warm inside. Mrs. Farmer put a big box in a corner of the barn and put some dry straw in it. Mr. Farmer put some dog food in one dish and water in another dish for farm dog while Mrs. Farmer put some cat food in one dish and some milk in another dish for the cats and kittens. When mommy and daddy cat and the kittens had eaten all they could hold they all jumped into the nice warm straw-filled box Mrs. Farmer had fixed for them. Mommy and daddy cat were so happy to finally be at their new home without losing any of the kittens they showed the kittens how to do the happy kitten dance. They stood on their back paws and put their front paws by their tummies. They started to meow and twirled around twice while they meowed. The kittens tried to copy their mommy and daddy. They danced and meowed and sometimes lost their balance and fell down but they were having a good time. They giggled and giggled like kittens always do. They were already having fun in their new home. Page 11

12 Mr. and Mrs. Farmer laughed and laughed. They hadn t seen the happy kitten dance in a long time. They were happy too. They had a new farm dog, two new cats and six very cute kittens. End Hello, Little Bit and I hope you liked this story and will share it with others. Thank you, Jim & Little Bit Page 12