her plans to Penny.
Penny asks, "Why would you want to hunt here, when there are so many beautiful things to see? Besides, don't we have enough food to eat at home?"
Lucy replies, "It's just not about eating. It's what cats do. We are born to travel, to chase, and hunt, to prove that we are brave. This is what I have learned from listening to stories about Aunt Maude."
Penny says, "But you're not a big cat. Let's play hide and seek. There are lots of good places to hide."
"No, I am too big for such games, and I will show you that I'm not a scaredy-cat."
"Okay, if you're such a good hunter, see if you can catch a butterfly."
But when Lucy tries to leap toward the butterflies, they float away, and she falls on her face. "Not fair. They're too fast for me," says Lucy, licking her face to remove the grass from her fur.
Penny tries not to laugh. "Okay, why don't you try something smaller and slower? How about the bugs on the flowers?"
There are several green June bugs, their metallic coloured bodies shining in the sun. There are also some black and orange wooly caterpillars. "No, they're too beautiful. I would not want to hurt them," says Lucy.
Just then two dogs spy Lucy and Penny. "Look at the cat and the funny bird. Let's have some fun. We will make their day," says the Border Collie.
Lucy panics and says, "Penny, run for your life!" Poor Penny, with her short legs, cannot run and she starts to flap her wings. Before she knows it, she is flying. Lucy has a hard time keeping up with her. At last, the dogs get tired of the chase, leaving Lucy panting for breath.
Lucy looks surprised, and says, "I didn't know you could fly. Why didn't you tell me?"
Penny retorted, "Of course I can fly. I come from a long line of fearless fliers. My Uncle Percy could fly through any snowstorm.
Aunt Petunia and Uncle Pete would bring home fish even on the stormiest of nights.
In Newfoundland, the puffin is the official provincial bird, and my Uncle Pete is the poster bird for the island. It's his picture that appears on all the postcards.
You're not the only one with a family history. I'm tired of listening about Aunt Maude. Have you ever seen your Aunt Maude? Do you know if she even really exists?"
Lucy has never seen Penny in such a huff. She is hurt and surprised. Penny also surprises herself. There is silence. What can Lucy say? But there is no time for words because two large goslings approach them from behind.
"What are you doing on our turf?" asks the larger of the two goslings.
"We are hunting for big-game," Lucy says, trying to sound brave.
"Well, we are big, so what are you going to do about us? Do you think you can catch us?" The large gosling stares at Lucy.
"Yes, I can, with the help of two dogs." And Lucy lets out a mighty roar. The two dogs come bounding toward them. The goslings run in one direction, and Lucy and Penny run in the opposite direction. The dogs do not know which way to run. "Good thinking, Lucy. Now let's go home. I'm tired and hungry."
"I am, too, but we really need to find some food. I am hungry for some meat. Let's see if we can find someone who knows where we can get something to eat. I'm tired of hunting. It's too much work," Lucy says wearily.
They ask the mute swans, but they do not reply.
Then they find some ducks. "Oh, yes, there's plenty of food," replies the mallard duck. "There are bugs, and different kinds of grass, and for a special treat, we get bread and cracker crumbs from the tourists."
Penny does not find any these appealing. She asks, "Isn't there any place we can find fish? I am hungry for some herring."
The mallard duck replies, "If you want fish, you will have to go fishing. There may be some fish feeding under the bridge."
Lucy says to Penny, "It looks like if we want to eat, we will have to get it ourselves. Do you know how to fish?"
Penny replies, "No, I have never gone fishing, but it can't be too hard." They find the fish. They are large, and one is green, and the other one is red.
"Are these the kind of fish your aunt and uncle would bring home?" asks Lucy.
"No, the fish were small, grey, and plump. These fish are too big for my beak." The two fish swim up to Penny and Lucy.
The red fish says, "You are both new here. Why are you here?"
Penny replies, "We are looking for a way to go home. We are hungry and cannot find food that we can eat."
"Well, you are in luck," says the green fish.
"Is it because you have magical powers and can grant us a wish?" asks Lucy.
"No, it's because there is a park ranger coming close, and I think he is looking for both of you."
"Come here, you two. Time for you to come home. The cleaning staff reported that you two have been missing since this morning. Your mothers are quite worried about both of you," says the ranger.
"Oh, home, and my mother, and the other kittens. I can hardly wait until I tell them all my adventures," says Lucy.
The ranger says, "Not so fast. Penny can go home, but not you, Lucy. Your mother has asked me to take you first to see Mrs. Penguin. She wants you to enroll in Mrs. Penguin's dancing school. She has decided that it will be a safe place for you to burn your excess energy."
Lucy thinks, "Oh, no! Not, the dreaded dancing lessons. I would rather play hide and seek with the fish."
Mrs. Penguin is happy to see her new pupil. "How wonderful to have you in my class. It will be a real novelty for people to see a kitten dancing with all my penguins. Now, Lucy, stand in line, and I want to see plenty of smiling!"
Lucy, groans, thinking, If I ever have kittens, I hope there is a place where we can live like Aunt Maude.
The End.
The Adventures of Lucy the Lynx A Little Tale for Big People Page 2
