CAT AND MOUSE CAPERS

Eggs and bacon sizzling in pan
the Major in comfy chair
Moggy, Fireside, by the hearth
curled up without a care.

Suddenly, all hell broke loose
as Panic and Scurry scampered
Fireside didn’t turn a hair
their escape route wasn’t hampered.

Housekeeper squealed, climbed on chair
the Major he gave chase
Round and round the kitchen
getting redder in the face.

T- towel flailed, crockery smashed
old trophy fell from shelf
Major Payne cursed the cat
for not deploying stealth.

But all in all, the deed was done
mice got clean away
Later they would tell their tale
and return another day.

Of Fireside, Major not impressed
boot him out the door
“If lazy brut won’t catch mice
don’t need him any more!”

Poor Fireside went off to the the barn,
feeling all forlorn
Bedding down in the straw,
his future now to mourn.

Then one day...

‘Twittawoo’ said Olive owl
fluffing feathers, on a beam
Peering down on Fireside
who was looking somewhat  lean. 

He hadn’t returned to the cottage
since out on a boot he flew
For to go home he must kill
and that he could not do. 

“What’s on the agenda today?”
said Olive, now on stall
As Scurry and Panic's noses
poked through hole in wall.

But Fireside was ravenous
and with life  increasingly dire
Just dreamed of going home
to purr in front  the fire.
 
“Hey, you mangy mog,”
said Scurry, in a friendly way
“Let’s see if we can hatch a plan
and try and save the day.

The Major kicked you out,
'cus you don’t like killin’ mice
So you’ll just have to show him
that you've taken his advice.”

Fireside looked at Scurry,
Olive and Panic  too
Who then gathered round
to discuss what they might do.  

They spent the morning planning
practiced everything on cue
Till everyone was ready
having carefully thought it through.

The drama was quite simple:
'Murder On The Lawn’
But hopefully, without the  blood
or bodies being torn.

Fireside played protagonist - 
a ‘ruthless killer cat’...
The mice were to be sacrificed
so moggy got his mat.

“Action!” ordered Fireside
as Olive feared she’d fail
But successfully managed to ram a twig
and activate the bell.

Fireside, with mice on lawn
had the Major’s full attention
Panic though in fatal role
did something can not mention!

The two mice scuttled round and round
Fireside giving chase
He picked them up, the deed was done
and two lives went to waste. 

When decoy Olive sat on fence
and the Major looked her way
Panic and Scurry scampered off
but had they saved the day?

The Major grew suspicious -
no corpse lay on the ground
So Fireside started licking lips
to make the act look sound.

But back indoors, in the warm
if  vermin were in cat 
“No fish for you,” the Major said,
“until you’ve killed a rat.”