Judges' general comments can be found at the bottom of this entry
Case of the Kookie
Cat
By: Janine Yordy
Word
Count: 2946
Copyright 2004
My mama is fixin’ to move my cat Charlie out to our cousin Cooter’s cat farm. “Lyla,” she twangs, “that cat is nuttier than Aunt Edna’s pecan pie!”
“But mama! Charlie’s just confused. I loooove him.”
She forgets what a purrin’, sweet flufferkins Charlie used to be. Until Felix the feisty feline moved in next door.
Charlie’s an inside cat, but Mr. Show-offy Felix prances all around outside. He sniffs right up to our porch, slinkin’ around like a furry snake. Well, that’s enough to send ol’Charlie into a kitty cat craze. Every time he spies that fur ball Felix he takes off streakin’ around the house like a fluffy firecracker.
WHIZZ BANG BOOM ZOOM
CRASH!
We all hit the deck, divin’ under beds and tables to get out of his way. “LYLA!” shrieks mama, “That animal’s wilder than a sack of squirrels!”
“Don’t worry mama!” I shout. I traipse off with Charlie to a Doctor for confused cats.
Dr. Ruth Pestenheimpurr
Confused Cat Corrector
“Vell, vell, vell Charlie. What seems to be zee problem?”
“meow”
“I seeeee. Vell Miss Lyla, what you need to do is go home and march in a circle three times, do a backwards summersault, then stand on your head and say ‘oogledy, googledy, giggledy, fluff. No more wild kitten shtuff,’ ya?”
I fork over my allowance and lug Charlie home. “Now Charlie, this is reeeal important, so follow me.”
Off we go. We march three times. We summersault. We stand on our heads and say, “oogledy, googledy, giggledy, fluff. No more wild kitten shtuff!”
Well, Charlie’s sounds more like, “Meow, meow, meeeow, meow, meow, meooow!”
Then, from his head stand, Charlie spies Felix perchin’ and smirkin’ through the window at us.
WHIZZ BANG BOOM ZOOM
CRASH!
“LYLA!” mama shrieks, “that cat’s got me wound up like a cuckoo clock!”
“Don’t worry mama!” I shout. I grab Charlie up and tromp back to the Doctor.
“Vell, vell vell Charlie. Back so soon? What seems to be zee problem?”
“MEOW”
“I see… Vell Miss Lyla, what you need to do is fill zee bath tub with whipped cream and take a swim, wearing party hats and singing, ‘milk and tuna, furry mouse, we won’t zoom around zee house.’ Ya?”
I spray the tub full of whipped cream and plunk Charlie in with me. “Now Charlie, this is reeeal important.” We strap on our hats and sing, “milk and tuna, furry mouse, we won’t zoom around zee house.”
Well, Charlie’s sounds more like, “Meow, meow, meeeow, meow, meow, meooow!”
Until he spies Felix frolicking out the window.
WHIZZ BANG BOOM ZOOM
CRASH!
While mama and I soak a sticky-furred Charlie in the sink, she says “Lyla, I love Charlie too, but he gets as fruity as an apple orchard when he sees Felix. He’ll be happier on cousin Cooter’s farm.”
“Mama, pleeease, just one more chance!”
“All right, but just one more.”
I snatch Charlie and march outside to Felix. “Now, Ya’ll have to get along. It’s reeeeal important.”
I stand back and hold my breath.
They sniff and swirl. They stalk and strut. They ramble and roll. All of sudden they pounce and purr. They meow around like two ol’ pals. Or as my mama says, “Lyla, those cats stick together like white on rice!”
The next day, a new cat moves in across the street. I watch Felix and Charlie peer in to welcome her. Charlie spies an old friend.
“Vell little pookie, what does zee kitty think of zee new neighborhood?”
WHIZZ
BANG BOOM ZOOM
CRASH!
“what’s zee matter kitty? March with me now… oogldey, boogledy, giggledy fluff…”
Charlie and Felix meow. The Doctors are in.
Judges' general comments:
We awarded this entry Honorable Mention for the firm promise of publication it holds. It's a fun piece, full of possibilities for playful adults readers, for lessons on listening to what animals are really saying, and for its repetitive sounds which draw in young children to realms of spontaneous shouts and silliness.
We can envision marketable products with sound effects, pop-ups, and stuffed animals attaching themselves to this publication.
An excellent choice for youngsters.
We wish you luck, Janine!