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CAT AND MOUSE CAPERS (revised)

by Joella 

Posted: 21 February 2010
Word Count: 492
Summary: THIS IS A REVISION OF CAT & MOUSE CAPERS. IT IS THE FOURTH INSTALMENT OF THE HAPPY BOTTOM SERIES. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU!


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CAT AND MOUSE CAPERS

Eggs and bacon sizzling in pan
the Major in comfy chair
with 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, stood on chair
the Major, he gave chase
round and round the kitchen
getting redder in the face.

T- towel flailed, crockery smashed
trophies fell off the shelf
the Major sternly cursed the cat
for not deploying stealth.

Fireside dodged an angry boot
and chased out of the house
‘Not keeping you,’ the Major cried
‘If you won’t catch a mouse.’

All in all, the deed was done
the mice escaped in fear
and later they both told their tale
to those who’d lend an ear.

Fireside skulked off to the barn,
but with no food their to find
he hoped, one day, there’d be a way
to change his master’s mind.

The next morning...

‘Twittawoo,’ said Olive owl
perched high upon a beam
whilst peering down on Fireside
who was looking rather lean.

‘So, what’s up with you ?’ she said
as Fireside licked a paw
and Panic and Scurry’s noses
were poked out through the straw.



Fireside said he was ravenous
and his life increasingly dire
for being a stray was not for him
and he wished he was home by the fire.
 
‘Hey,’ Scurry said, ‘You crazy mog
there just has to be a way
so I suggest we hatch a plan
and try to save the day.

The Major’s kicked you out,
'cos you don’t like killing 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 could do.  

They spent the morning planning
knew everything on cue
and soon the cast 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 two mice would be sacrificed
so moggy got his mat.

“Action!” ordered Fireside
nervous you could tell
till Olive managed to ram a twig
and ring the Major’s bell.

Fireside, with the mice on lawn
was full of apprehension
the Major though was at his door
and paying full attention.

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 Olive flew as decoy
and the Major looked her way
Panic and Scurry scampered off
but had they saved the day?

The Major grew suspicious -
when no bodies could be found
so, Fireside quickly licked his lips
to make the act look sound.

But, Major Payne was not impressed
and when Fireside sat on his mat
‘No fish for you,’ he firmly said
‘until you’ve killed a rat!’



 
































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Comments by other Members



Freebird at 13:02 on 22 February 2010  Report this post
As ever, I do like your humour and lightness of touch - Fireside is a brilliant character!

I missed the previous installment, but I presume the reader would already know that Panic and Scurry are mice? (great names, by the way).

Just a couple of comments:

I can see that you have missed out short words to make it scan properly

e.g 'the' and 'a'

There's nothing wrong with that, except that it's not consistent. Sometimes you put these articles in, and sometimes you leave them out - and it seems more conspicuous because of that. If you left them out all the way through, I don't think it would be so noticeable.

There are a few places where the words don't scan (i.e fit the line) so well:

e.g
"Fireside skulked off to the barn
But with no food their to find"

I can see that if you hurry to squish the words in, it can be done, but it seems a bit clumsy (and it needs to be 'there' rather than 'their'.

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

- if you read it aloud, this doesn't scan. How about something like "They put their heads together/to discuss what they could do"?


But these are little wrinkles that are easily ironed out with a couple of read-alouds.

It's a great story!

freebird

Joella at 13:37 on 22 February 2010  Report this post
Thank you, Freebird. You've made a couple of valuable points.

'They put their heads together
to discuss what they could do.' - great idea. Thanks!

I'm glad you've made me think about the short words 'a' and 'the' etc. I have quite a dilemma with these as I like to write in brief, but am often criticised for 'clipping' too much. Consequently, I've been trying to lengthen the lines and hence, not always checking that they scan correctly. Funny how it can scan when you say it in your head, but not when it's read aloud?

Many, many, thanks, once again, for your time and advice. Regards, Joella.

LizM at 21:15 on 24 February 2010  Report this post
Hi Joella

I'm not familiar with your previous postings having not been here that long so apologies if I'm not very clued up! What age range is this for just out of interest?

I found this funny, particularly the ending and agree that Fireside is a great character. I love the idea of them all plotting to help him out.

I have to say I found the absence of 'the' and 'a' distracting at times, I just kept wanting to add them in my head. I don't know whether, as Freebird says, that's a consistency thing. I have a feeling I'd still be adding them if you took them all out but that's probably just me!

and he wished he was home by the fire.


I wondered if, for example, 'and he yearned for home by the fire' might scan better with the rest of the verse? Just a thought.

But lovely and very visual, I can picture the scenes very clearly.

Joella at 20:33 on 26 February 2010  Report this post
Thank you, Liz. I appreciate your attention to my work. I've actually taken on board what you've said and made a few changes. I'll post it and if you've time maybe let me know if you think it's improved. I actually think you and Freebird are right about the small words missing. I've tried to address this and hope it's better for it. The age group I am aiming at is 7 - 8. However, it is deliberately written to appeal to adult humour too, in the hope they'll enjoy reading it to children.
Regards, Joella.


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