Mr. Ratsafrats

by BlackJack

Mr. Ratsafrats was an old kitty who had been a teacher for what seemed like decades. Every kitty who entered his class did so with trepidation and fear. The word was out that Mr. Ratsafrats was very strict and also very very dull! His class on civics was a required one, so there was no getting out of it, and every kitty in the school had some horror story about Mr. Ratsafrats.

The new term was opening, and WideEyes was just about scared out of his fur. He was a very small kitty, and had been the runt of his litter, and had been terrorized many times by the larger young toms. He had just started at this new school, and was still trying to adjust to his new home too. He had heard about Mr. Ratsafrats and his tail shook with fear as he realized he was in the class.

Timidly he crept into the classroom very early, so he could find a good seat in the back, close to the door, in case he needed to beat a hasty retreat from the bullying larger toms. He sat slumped down in his seat, hoping to make himself invisible somehow. As he sat, a rather old and tired looking kitty entered the room. He wore thick spectacles and walked very slowly. He nearly fell as he tried to open the heavy drawer with the lessons and teaching props. WideEyes, scared though he was, had been brought up to help out his elders, and rushed over to help this old kitty. WideEyes helped the old cat get his lessons out and arranged, and a look of such gratitude filled the old cat'e misted eyes.

The old cat peered through his spectacles at WideEyes, and asked him if he were not afraid of him. WideEyes hadn't even thought to be afraid, he hadn't even realized that this old cat was Mr. Ratsafrats. As the realization dawned and the fear returned, Mr. Ratsafrats gently patted WideEyes and told him to please not be afraid. There was something in the old cats voice that was very calming, and WideEyes sat down and listened.

The two began to talk, Mr. Ratsafrats telling WideEyes how much it hurt his feelings that he was thought to be so strict and so dull. He told of his ideas on education, and how important it was for kitties to get all the learning they possibly could. He wanted them to grow up to be role models for the younger kitties, and tried his best to impart that. But, he mewed sadly, he had become the butt of many jokes, and he had decided this would be his last year to teach. No one seemed to want to learn anymore, and tears formed in his eyes as he spoke.

WideEyes was fascinated, and listened raptly, and a thought began to form. He would help Mr. Ratsafrats to impart his very important lessons in a way that perhaps the younger kitties would listen to. The two huddled together, and then left a note on the blackboard for all the students to join the class in the little park by the school.

As time for class drew near, kitties began arriving at the park, wondering what was going on. Was there a new teacher? Mr. Ratsafrats would surely not hold class in a park! To their complete surprise, there sat Mr. Ratsafrats, wearing a jaunty sun hat, and smiling! Never had they seen this before. A very small tom kitty was sitting beside him, and they both had the same infectious smiles!

Class began, and civics began to sound almost interesting. Kitties who had always been the class clowns sat listening quietly as the old cat and the young tom lectured. It was a combined lecture, with Mr. Ratsafrats teaching the basics and WideEyes putting it into more youthful terms. As the class ended, all the students stood up and cheered! They had finally realized that old Mr. Ratsafrats was trying to help them become better kitties, and that learning was really something special. WideEyes suddenly didn't feel so small and intimidated. He shook Mr. Ratsafrats's paw and the two realized that something very special had happened that day. Both of them had solved their problem, by helping each other, and trusting each other. From that day on, students hurried to Mr. Ratsafrats's class, and the gossip around the school centered on what a cool teacher he was, and how nice a kitty WideEyes was. WideEyes had found lots of new friends, and his size suddenly didn't matter, even as he grew and became a large and handsome cat.

A number of years later, WideEyes was the proudest cat in the world, as he was chosen to take over Mr. Ratsafrats's class. Mr. Ratsafrats had found a wonderful lady companion, also up in years, and they were retiring to relax and enjoy their older years. WideEyes and Mr. Ratsafrats would always be remembered as the teachers who had that special ability to inspire and were never afraid to try something new to solve a problem!