Dandelions day out.

DANDELIONS DAY OUT by H.E. Carroll Dandelion was a large ginger farm
cat who was very like his name. When he sat down his head and body
seemed to join and he resembled a large round dandelion flower head,
and his long white whiskers looked like the dandelion clocks the seeds
attach themselves too. Dandelion enjoyed farm life, encouraging the
hens into the hen house with a little tap and tickle of his paw as they
pass. Wandering in and out of the cows legs, careful of their hooves of
course, to lick any escaped drips of milk left after milking was over.
Fighting the cart horse?s tail as it flicked back and forth, wafting
the flies from it?s hind quarters on hot summers days. In return for
these pussy pleasures, Dandelion chief priority was that of Rat catcher
extraordinaire, number one mouser in the farmyard - duties not to be
taken lightly. The rodent population could soon explode if the days of
summer were hot and humid, and the hay bales in the cool shady barn
appeared more tempting than chasing a nimble little mouse under the hen
house. But come the cold crisp days of autumn when the spiders webs
were covered in dew, making them look like spectacular beaded curtains
and the grass tumbling over on itself with a weighty wet mist, rodent
catching could build up a warm glow in the paws and ears especially
after spending the night in a corn stook or cat-a-wailing on the farm
house roof to attract the attention of any lady friends who may have
forgotten him during the lazy summer months. It could also attract less
desirable attention such as half a house brick from some unappreciative
individual encouraging Dandelion to shut up rather quicker than he had
started. Alongside the livestock lived the farmer, his wife and their
little daughter Katie. Much excitement was being felt in the house for
Saturday was the village fete and thanksgiving for a successful
harvest. Pots of jam, lemon curd, pickles and chutney had been lovingly
prepared for judgment by the village dignitary?s. Cakes, scones and
savouries all prepared for sale to raise funds for something or other
needed in the village. A coconut shy, catch the duck and a beer tent,
always popular if the weather turned warm, were amongst the attractions
erected in the large field next to Katie's farm home. One of the
children's events was the pet competition and this year Katie was to
enter Dandelion. Katie washed, brushed and powdered Dandelion, much to
his annoyance, as part of this task he could certainly do for himself -
shown at an early age by a very particular mother. Still, even with his
most ferocious meows, energetic tail flicking and ear and whisker
flattening (known to deter even the most fool hardy tomcat) Katie
persisted and then to add insult to injury, placed an enormous red
ribbon complete with bow around his neck and shoved him headlong into a
cat carrying box used for trips to the vets. What a journey! Katie
holding her mother?s hand, insisted on carrying the cat box herself and
although she tried to carry it carefully, the pavement often jumped up
to meet Dandelions bottom as he sat minding his own business pondering
his now precarious position in the feline pecking order of things.
After the short but bruising journey, Dandelion was moved out of the
sunshine into a bustling, shady area full of noises he had never heard
before, This alarmed Dandelion, making his tail fill out becoming thick
and bushy, his eyes wide like saucers - Katie was finding it difficult
removing him from his box, as he became rigid and clung with all his
might to the sides of the cage. Although he pulled one way and Katie
pulled the other he was soon out in the open and then into a larger
cage for judging. Dandelions entry was for ?The cat with the longest
whiskers?. Dandelion was very proud of his whiskers, being extra
sensitive and used to maximum effect when chasing mice in and out of
hay bails and hen houses. So Dandelion was never in any doubt that he
would win first prize, but he could have done without Katie?s vice like
cuddle on receipt of the rosette. It had been a long day and Katie was
very tired on the walk home, so her daddy had the job of carrying not
only a sleepy little daughter, but a prize winning cat as well.
Dandelion was sure that most of his unwanted lodgers had taken refuge
under his ribbon - which was now decidedly frayed due to his vigorous
itching, he could not wait for it to be removed so he could have a good
old scratch. At last he was home, back in the farmyard, an extra
special supper of milk and fish put down for him as a reward for
winning. After making short work of his meal he strutted across the
farmyard, dirtying his paws and rubbing his face on the barn door to
leave his own personal smell, just to say he was back, not only rat
catcher extraordinaire, number one mouser, but also Dandelion the cat
with the longest whiskers in the Dales. THE END Written for Cathryn,
the light of my life and Dedicated to my Dad who taught me that the
best things in life are free, if we only open our eyes to see.