The Big Black Cat

Early in the morning when  everyone had left the house, the last one out was the BIG BLACK CAT. Slowly he made his way down into the meadow where he waited for the field mice to come out to play. Now, down in the meadow lived a happy little family of field mice. Freddie was the oldest, Harry his brother and little Harriet, the younger sister.

One morning when Freddie and Harry were still sleeping, little Harriet woke up, dressed herself and went out into the back yard to swing.  She was never allow to go outside alone without her brothers to protect her.  But, this morning she just wanted to do what she wanted to do. When the BIG BLACK CAT  saw her on the swing all alone,  s-l-o-w-l-y he moved through the tall meadow grass without her knowing it, he pounced on her and caught her in his teeth.  Little Harriet began to scream. "Help, help Help!  Her cry woke up the boys sleeping. " Harriet is in trouble'. explained Freddie.  ' It is THE BIG BLACK CAT.  He has captured our sister and carried her off to his cage."  The boys knew immediately what they had to do.  "We will make a trap,"said Freddie.  The two boys went to the garage, found two shovels and started digging a BIG, BIG hole.  When they finished, they covered the hole with branches for a disguise.  "I know' said Harry, ' we can dance around the hole and let the BIG BLACK CAT see us, make him hungry and he will want to eat us too!"  So the two brothers finished the trap and started to dance around the hole, singing songs.  "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, everything is going my way"

The BIG BLACK CAT saw the two little mice dancing and thought to himself, 'Can you believe this day?  Another delicious meal coming up!."  So, s-l-o-w-l-y THE BIG BLACK CAT moved through the tall meadow grass.  The mice kept singing, just waiting for their big catch.  Without warning the BIG BLACK CAT jumped out from the tall  grass and landed right on the branches. Down, down, down fell the BIG BLACK CAT into the big hole.  He was mad, really, really mad. The BIG BLACK CAT cried out "Meow,meow, let me out, let me out" The little brothers were so excited.  They danced even harder, singing "WE GOT BIG BLACK CAT, WE GOT THE BIG BLACK CAT."

While the BIG BLACK CAT was trying to get out of an impossible situation, the two little mice ran up the backyard to rescue their little sister Harriet from the cage. Harriet quickly jumped onto Freddie's back and together they ran as fast as he could back to their meadow home. Freddie was very upset with Harriet and told her to go to her bedroom and wait for her mother to talk with her.  Harriet obeyed .  She knew that she was in BIG trouble. Mommy made her stay in her room for the rest of the day until daddy came home from working at the cheese factory.  Then, they both agreed that Harriet would have to go to bed without any dinner or stories before bedtime that night.  How sad it was for Harriet, but she had to learn to obey.

Later that same afternoon, when Bobby came home from school, he was looking for the BIG BLACK CAT, but he couldn't found him anywhere. Then he heard him crying "Meow, meow, let we out, let me out!" At first Bobby didn't actually know where he was. He went out into the backyard and then he heard, "Meow, Meow, let me out, let me out." The BIG BLACK CAT was trapped in a deep hole.  Bobby lifted the BIG BLACK CAT out of the trap.  Holding him firmly in his arms, Bobby scolded the BIG BLACK CAT. "You got just what you deserved.  I have told you a hundred times not to bother the little field mice. You have your cat food. Now you go into the house and stay there."

But, do you think the BIG BLACK CAT ever learned his lesson?  Early the next morning after everyone had left the house, the last one out was the BIG BLACK CAT. Where do you think he headed?  You are right. He headed right down for the meadow where he sat, waiting for the field mice to come out and play.
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