Picture 1
by Maile Alani
Story 1 The Dream
by Spyder, MGD & BlackJack
Genie was a lovely tabby and white cat who loved to dream of far away places and magical happenings. She would spend hours cavorting with her imaginary friends, her paws twitching as she explored the world in her dreams. Her humans marveled at her ability to sleep, she slept more than a regular cat, and always awoke with a faraway look in her eyes and a grin that bespoke of adventures far beyond that of a normal cat.
One fine day, Genie was taking her usual afternoon nap, and as she slept, she knew this was going to be a very special dream. She found herself in a wondrous forest, filled with soft green ferns and the greenest grass she had ever seen. The air was totally still, and she could almost hear the ferns growing as she looked around in amazement. The sky was a deep azure, unlike anything she had seen before. Now what was this place, she wondered. She prowled around, sniffing the ferns and looking for any signs of life. As she looked, she spied some ladybugs, and then some butterflies flitted by. The creatures who lived here were coming out to see the stranger. Some birds flew by, and then she saw the most special creature she had ever seen!
Before her was a unicorn! It was pale pink in color, with a darker pink mane and tail, and that marvelous horn was also pink. Behind the unicorn was a carriage, in green to match the ferns, and the carriage was filled with lovely fresh flowers, and the flowers were growing right out of the carriage! Butterflies flitted by, stopping at each flower, and Genie sat in amazement at this mystical sight. The unicorn looked at Genie and Genie mewed softly. To her surprise, the unicorn replied in a voice Genie could understand. The unicorn said her name was Fiallo, and that she lived here. Genie asked what this wonderful place was. Fiallo replied it was the Land of Dreams, also called Utopia, and a place that few were allowed to visit. She said Genie must be a very special cat indeed, to have been chosen to visit here. The two creatures sat and talked and talked, about the lovely country called Utopia. Fiallo told Genie to look in the carriage for something that was blue. Genie peered into the carriage, and under the leaves she found a most unusual bonnet. It had ear holes for her ears, and a special blue fastener that kept the bonnet from flying off. Fiallo told Genie to put on the bonnet, that it was a special bonnet that would always allow her to visit here. Genie worked her ears into the bonnet, and as she pulled it on, a warm feeling pervaded her entire being! She felt like she could fly, and indeed, she was flying! Tail aloft, she sailed over the ferns, feeling the wind in her fur. What a place!
The day passed all too quickly, and Fiallo said it was time for them to part. Parting would be sad, but Fiallo told Genie to just put her bonnet on whenever she wanted to come visit. Fiallo reached her nose down to Genie and the cat and unicorn gave gentle nose rubs of goodbye. As quickly as she had appeared, Fiallo vanished into the ferns. Genie was waving a paw goodbye as she awoke in her special sleeping place. She looked around, but the ferns and azure sky were gone. Her eyes misted as she thought of her new friend Fiallo. What a dream that had been! It had been so real, she could still feel the wind in her fur, and still smell the sweet flowers. As she stretched and limbered up from her nap, she realized something was on her head. With a curious paw, she reached up to feel her ears, and there was the special blue bonnet. How could this be? She gently took off the bonnet, and it was just as she had worn in Utopia, the bonnet Fiallo had given her. Genie's green eyes became large as saucers as she pondered what had happened to her today. She had indeed crossed into the dream world, and had indeed met a unicorn! Placing the bonnet under her soft blanket, she walked out to greet her humans. Her eyes glowed and her whiskers twitched as she recalled her dream, which had turned out to be so much more! Genie would go back many times to visit Fiallo, and that special place that only a few are allowed to visit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story 2 Playtime?
by Polly
Alma looked at the costume she was wearing. Her little girl had started to play with her again. It wasn’t so bad when she lived with her meowmie and fafur. Her meowmie was furry old-fashioned and had given her a name to match. But then meowmie had a baby. Alma was not furry pleased with this development! Oh, she usually put up with it, but this time, four-year old Isabelle had gone too far. Why did Isabelle put her in a dress with a bonnet to match? Did she have occasional sadistic tendencies? Alma would not rule that out by now. To make matters worse, Alma was posed next to a stupid unicorn toy. She did not wish to do this either, but Isabelle ignored her mews. Then her little girl went out to pick flowers for the unicorn’s cart.
Alma found herself starting to pray. "Please Bast," she prayed. "Don’t make me endure much more of this. I can hardly stand it!" However, no one intervened for her benefit. She wished that her meowmie would come in and stop this nonsense. Meowmie didn’t come though, because she was busy. Alma knew that meowmie was pleased that her little one kept herself entertained. Despite the fact that it made her meowmie happy, Alma was furry unhappy. She remembered at whose expense this was happening. Alma found herself looking forward to the time when her young human was going to be sleeping. Then she would get to have some fun… hiding in a paper bag, chasing bugs, and all the other catly games.
Finally, a bit of needed relief! Meowmie was calling, "Isabelle, bath time! You need to put your toys away!" Thank goodness! Now Alma could get out of that dress and bonnet! As much as she always had loved meowmie, now Alma loved her meowmie a bit more. Now… to get to those bugs that needed chasing.
|