The Owl and the Pussy Cat

The Owl and the Pussy Cat
By Oliver Shimell

The owl and the pussy cat went to sea in a wholly inadequate boat. They took some honey and plenty of money all wrapped up in a five pound note. So as you can see from the outset the owl and the pussy cat were not natural sailors.

The pussy cat turned to the elegant fowl and asked if she had remembered the map. The owl replied that alas she had left it at home. The cat, not overly surprised by the owl’s forgetful nature, merely wrinkled its nose, flicked its tail and settled down on the warm boat’s deck. The rhythmic, swish and sway of the water, lapping against the boat’s sides soon sent the cat into a deep and pleasant slumber with the taste of the salt water fresh upon his lips. The cat closed its furry lids with the echoes of seagulls singing to one another upon high.

As time went swiftly by, as it does when you’re having a good time, the weather took a turn for the worse. The waves grew higher and higher, lapping over their small boat. The sound of the soaring seagulls playing in the summer’s sky were replaced by the hiss and the fizz and the boil of the now tumultuous sea were the sounds that awoke the cat from his pleasant dreams.

Evening had fallen, with night in close and malevolent pursuit. The pervasive darkness seemed to strangle all that was left of the day’s warmth and cheer and this combined with the monstrous waves left the cat feeling like she had all but lost her once perfect sight and most of all the cat was beginning to grow rather afraid of it all.

A small, perfect and pearl shaped tear fell from the cat’s eye and settled delicately on his whiskers. The owl, who had been carefully balancing on the edge of the boat all this time seemingly not interested in her surroundings or present dire situation on seeing the cat’s tear sparkle in the feint moon light moved to his side and gently placed a feathered wing on his paw.

The owl gently whispered within his companion’s furry but damp ear, when we were lost in the scorching desert with nothing to quench our thirst we found our way to safety. When we were almost overcome by the vast jungle we hiked through, we didn’t give up when exhausted. Those situations led us to where we are now and we look back at those times with a wry smile.

The owl leaned in closer and said “don’t be afraid, we have no map, we have no compass and we can no longer see where we are going my feline friend” And looking up, the owl after some contemplation asked what the cat wanted to do on their next holiday…..