Smart cat – top of the class
NIMI KURIAN
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Cat never did doubt his abilities. Why should he? After all, he was the best student the school ever had!
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Cat smiled and stretched himself. He thought of yesterday. “Oh, you wonderful, wonderful Cat!” he said to himself. He remembered the kudos he received, the handshakes, the good wishes and above all the envy of his classmates. “Yes, he was Top Cat! The best in his class.” He got out of bed.
After a good breakfast, he wore his best suit and decided it was time to put theory to practice. “Clever Cat! Can you suggest the ideal place for a cat — a clever cat, to catch mice?” he asked himself.
“Well, for any ordinary cat I would suggest, oh well! just about any place. But for a Clever Cat, the place must be good. He cannot be lurking around some seedy corner or garbage dump. No Sir, not for him the ordinary places.” He continued his conversation with himself as he made his way downtown.
On his way, still patting himself on his back and praising his brilliance, Cat saw a church. He paused. “Now that’s a good place to catch mice. The building is good and not many people around. And the ambience fits my brilliance. Yes, surely that’s the place for me to begin my career,” he said as he began to walk up to the church.
On a mission
The door was open so he strolled in. It was rather dark and cold. He shivered. Just then he heard some scurrying sounds and he remembered why he had stepped in here.
Cautiously, he followed the sound of scurrying feet and was in time to see a tail disappear into a little hole in the skirting. He tiptoed forward (he remembered his teacher telling him that the mouse should not know you were approaching) and put his face against the opening. He heard loud, raucous sounds coming from inside.
His whiskers twitched contemptuously to think of the squalor these little mice lived in. Just then he heard a scream. “Ma, ma. There’s a strange creature at the door. Come and see.”
“Please David, don’t waste my time. Can’t you see I am busy making dinner? Your father will be home soon.”
“Oh ma, ma, you have to come,” cried a unison of voices as David’s brothers and sisters joined in.
Mother Mouse was forced to come to the doorway. She was surprised to find Cat’s face there. “Now what?” she thought to herself.
“Cat, you better have an explanation for this. You cannot come peering into someone else’s house you know? It is considered bad manners,” said Mother Mouse.
“Well, Mrs. Mouse, I am not going to waste your time or mine. I have come to practice my skills — my mouse catching skills.”
“Oh is that all? Then go ahead. But finish quickly for I have to cook dinner and clean up this lot before father comes home,” she replied.
Cat was stuck. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do. This was not what his teachers had taught him. This behaviour had not been described in the book. He scratched his head.
“Can you begin? It is getting late,” prompted Mother Mouse. But Cat could not move.
“I er…er..” he stammered. “I don’t know what to do. There was nothing like this in my lessons. I haven’t learnt to handle such a situation. I do not know what to do!” said Cat in a rather sad and puzzled voice. “I was Top Cat you know. Top of the class — and just yesterday everyone praised me and said I was the cleverest. But today…”
Mother Mouse and her kids burst out laughing.
“You can be Top Cat no doubt. But you have to know how to use the skills you learn. Go back to school Cat, may be there’s hope for you yet!”
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