We are three cats - and we all live in the same house - we are each going to tell our own story of "The Thing".

Mouse - "I am the oldest, so I go first. A few days ago, I awoke from a beautiful, luxurious sleep on my big bed, that I let my mummy and daddy sleep on sometimes. I stretched, the strolled into the kitchen to see what there was to eat, and that is when I saw it. The Thing! It was horrible! It was big, with three huge round feet, and it made a sort of purry/hissy noise at me. Daddy was standing with his hand on it.

What was it? An alien I think - coming to suck my brain out! Well, no alien is going to get this little black cat - no way! I ran at it, double my size, and I biffed hard on its front foot! Then I went and had my dinner! I showed it!

It's not very feisty - every time I go near it, I biff it, but it doesn't biff back! Chicken!!"

Buddy - "I first saw the thing when I came in from outside - it really scared me - and I am ashamed to say that I ran for cover - and I still do - it is big and makes a funny noise and has the biggest, strangest round feet I have ever seen."

Sue - "Wow! Look at that - it's fabulous - it's got a chair on it that I can sit in - and look! Mummy is sitting in it, and it is carrying her around on its back - she's outside in the garden, and I am her bodyguard - marching alongside her, so proud! I think I invented this thing - it's like the other thing with wheels, but doesn't seem to need daddy to push it, and it is a bit noisier."

Mouse - "I saw Mummy being carried by the alien thing with the funny round feet - and she was smiling, so it can't be too bad - then I realized that she didn't have Daddy pushing her, and she was saying to me 'What do you think of mummy's new scooter, Mouse?' I guess I won't have to biff it any more."

Buddy - "I still scares me, even if Mummy does ride around on its back!"

Sue - "Yes, I definitely invented it so Mummy can get around the garden with me."

Copyright © Ellen Kearney-Ladgrove
September 13, 2002

Read Ellen's other stories: Mouse & Buddy and Sue