Purring in the moment, a little yellow cat named Doggie basked in the glorious sunshine. He lay on a mat in his very own yard, of which also had a little house he lived in with his humans.
Today was sunny and warm and springlike. So having a nap seemed to be perfect for Doggie the little yellow cat. Birds nearby started singing their enjoyment. “Whistle-whistle-whee!” they sang.
Doggie awoke. This whistle sound from the birds reminded him of a human’s whistle for a canine. “Whistle-whistle-whee!” he heard again. “Perhaps that is not a bird at all,” thought Doggie.
“Whistle-whistle-whee!” yet another call came from another tree. “It must be a human walking around looking for his canine. I must go see.” So Doggie sat up, yawned, and stretched his arms out while lifting his hind end. He shook his head to settle his ears and whiskers, then set off on a walk.
Doggie jumped on the fence rail and into the neighbor’s yard. He looked about to the left, to the right, but did not see anyone in sight.
“Whistle-whistle-whee!” shrilled from the trees. Doggie looked up and saw the birds. “I guess I have been fooled as it was not a human whistling for his dog at all,” he said aloud. The birds then began a cackling laugh, “Haw-haw-haaaw!” they yelled. They laughed at Doggie the little yellow cat and told him, “You act like a canine looking for his master whistling. You are a foolish cat. No wonder your name is Doggie! Haw- haw- Haaaw!”
Doggie, the little yellow cat, looked around the yard. He saw a canine in the neighbor’s screen door grinning at him, pawing at the door, as if to say hi.
“Hello canine!” said Doggie. The neighbor, not noticing the cat, opened the door to let Bravo the canine outside. Bravo rushed over to Doggie. Startled, Doggie jumped up on the fence between the neighbor’s house and his own house.
“Bark! Bark! You did great Doggie!” woofed Bravo.
“What?” asked Doggie, still in defense mode, with his back fur stiffened and his tail fur wide.
“I saw you handle those birds. You really told them! They try every day to call me by their whistle to go down the alley. I learned the hard way, had to be kept on a leash for awhile till I regained my human’s trust. But you, you were onto them already. Good job! I’m Bravo, by the way.”
Doggie considered what Bravo just said. “Well thank you Bravo. It’s really nothing. I think the birdies just get a bit lazy and sit around thinking up stupid stuff to pick on others.”
Bravo replied, “Well listening to whistling is fun - it makes me happy. I like chasing balls too, and playing fetch. I don’t care what the birds think.”
“You like chasing balls and playing fetch too? So do I, “ Doggie declared delightfully.
“I’m not surprised,” said Bravo. “Why?” asked Doggie. “Well,” replied Bravo, “Don’t you see, you like whistling, you like chasing balls and playing fetch. Your humans know that. It’s probably why they named you Doggie, even though you are a little yellow cat! He-he!”
“Doggie? Oh, I see. Canines are also called dogs. I like the same things as dogs do. Why yes, that’s probably true. Kind of silly though. But those humans - well, maybe they’ve just got too much time on their hands and sit around thinking up stupid silly stuff. Ha-ha-ha!”
Bravo laughed along, “Yes they do, but it’s okay, as long as they take care of us.”
“Yes,” said Doggie, “as long as they take care of us indeed.”
Then Bravo the canine and Doggie the little yellow cat went about chasing balls and playing fetch, while listening for whistles. They became the best of friends.
Moral of the story: Be yourself despite what others think, say, or do. There will always be someone who understands and cares.
Theresa M
