The Enchanted Forest: The King

One day after her friends had gone home Princess Marlee went to her father, the King, and said she wanted to talk to him. He said, "Of course, my dear. What's on your mind?"

Princess Marlee said, "Well, how come we have such a big beautiful castle and my friend, Charlie, has just a little house. She has to do chores and I don't. We have fancy food to eat and Charlie and her family eats plain food. My clothes are fancy and beautiful, but Charlie's aren't."

The King sat back in his throne and sighed and said, "I knew that someday you were going to ask these questions and I guess you are old enough to hear some of the answers. Charlie is your cousin. Her mother is my sister. I haven't seen her for years and years, but she is a very nice lady. A long time ago when we were children our mother, your grandmother, was tricked by a peddler. We had very little water or food, but she gave him a drink of our precious water for what she thought was a magic rock. He had laughed at her and told her after he got his drink that it was worthless. She again was tricked by another traveler for a drink and she also fell for his trick. He told her that if she would give him a drink he would give her a chicken that could do tricks and the chicken would make her rich. After he got his drink he too laughed at her and told her the chicken was old and couldn't even lay eggs to eat.

My oldest sister was very angry and left the farm. I've never seen her again. Charlie's mother married a nice man and they have a small farm with some animals just like we did when we were young."

"But how come we have a castle and jewels, and swans and everything we could wish for?"

"Well the day that your grandmother realized that she had been tricked into giving away our water for a worthless rock and an old chicken was the day that she realized how foolish she had been. She cried and cried and told our father how sorry she was. She was so sad that my sister had left. She felt so ashamed. It was very hard for me to watch so I went outside and happened to see the rock she had thrown on the ground. I thought it was kind of pretty. I turned it over and over in my hand. I thought I saw something glitter as I turned it. As young boys do I spit on it and rubbed away the dirt. Marlee, it was a gold nugget, it wasn't just a rock. I ran as fast as I could into the house and showed my parents that the rock really was valuable. So after that we went to the forest to look for my sister. We never did find her, but we built this huge castle and were able to have everything we wanted ever since. That has been many many years ago."

"Well, do you own the forest too?" asked Marlee. "No, not the forest. The forest belongs to everyone to enjoy. I'm sure there are people living here that I don't even know about. It is a beautiful and peaceful place for people and animals alike to enjoy. So that's the story, Marlee. Now you don't have to wonder any more."

The laughing tree in the forest had listened to every word that the King told his daughter, Princess Marlee. Oh how he laughed. "Oh she will find out the rest of the story, Your Royal Highness. Yes she will. The Forest will make sure of it! The Forest has many voices that reach a thousand ears."

The Enchanted Forest: The Wicked Witch

 The Wicked Witch had not always been wicked and naughty. Years ago she and her sister and brother grew up together on a wonderful little farm. She had loved the animals there. She had a cow with a baby calf and some ducks. She didn't even mind cleaning the barn. Her brother had a horse that he cared for and her sister took care of the dog and cat. They all lived happily together with their mother and father for forever or so she thought. 

One day a peddler came down the road. He stopped and asked for a drink of water. Water was very scarce in those days. The creeks was almost dry, so her mother had told him she didn't have any to spare. She was very sorry and told the peddler so."

The peddler became angry and thought, "I will show that old hag a thing or two. I am so much smarter than she is. I will tell her that I will trade her one of my rocks for a drink. I will tell her that it is magic and will make her rich, but in fact it will do nothing. She will have a worthless rock and I will have had a cool drink of water."

The witch's mother had thought and thought about trading away any of her precious water, but also knew that she and her family needed food to eat. The garden wasn't growing because they had no water, the cow wasn't giving milk because she had no grass to eat and the dogs and cats were becoming mean because they were hungry. "If I don't do something we will all be homeless, she thought. I will trade you a drink of my precious water if you promise that the rock will make me rich so I can feed my family." The peddler promised the woman and drank thirstily from the cup of water she had given him. He soon laughed and said, "I tricked you old woman. I am on my way and you have a worthless rock. What a silly woman!"

The lady was very angry. She had been tricked by a peddler. What would her husband say when she told him what she had done. She decided that she wouldn't tell him. She would try the same trick on someone else as soon as someone passed by.

It wasn't long before another traveler stopped by and asked the woman for a drink of water. She told the young man that she didn't have any to spare, but if he would give her something valuable she had a magic rock that she would trade with him. The woman didn't know that the peddler and this man were friends. The peddler had told his friend that she had given him water for a worthless rock so he should give it a try as well. They had a good laugh about the silly woman and then they each went on their way. This turn of events, however, made him think fast. He had to trick the woman out of water. What should he do? Finally he told the woman that he had a trained chicken that he would trade for a cup of cool water. He didn't want the rock. When the woman started to refuse he told the woman how smart the chicken was and that it would make her rich. Well the woman decided to once again part with her precious water for a chicken that could do tricks. She would be rich. As she shooed the chicken to the coop where the ducks were she heard the traveler laughing. "Aha! I tricked you just like the peddler did. Soon you will have no water only a worthless rock and a hen that is old and no longer lays eggs. Try feeding your family with a rock!"

The woman's daughter watched her mother trade away the little water that they had for a rock and an old stewing hen. She was very very angry at her. She said, "If I had my way I would leave this farm and live in the forest. I am tired of being tired. I am tired of being thirsty and hungry. I am tired of this old farm. She picked up her few belongings and walked deep into the forest and never looked back. She would start a new life and be so much happier. "Who needs them anyway?" she thought.

The daughter lived in the forest for years and years. She was getting old. Her dress was the same as she wore the day she moved to the forest. It had become black and dirty. Her hat had turned black as well. Her fingernails were long and dirty. She didn't care. She had no one to talk to. No one to laugh with. She had no one to love. She hadn't heard about her family. She didn't know if their farm animals survived, or if her brother and sister still lived. If they did she had no idea where. She no longer cared.

One day she heard two little girls talking as they walked through her forest. She didn't like people in her home. It belonged to her and the animals. But wait...What were they saying? A king? A princess? Farmer? Where? This must be little girl nonsense. No one lived in her forest but her. She would know if they did. King, princess. Silly notions of little girls.

Moss Needs Some Help

 Moss had lived in this forest for a thousand years. She loved it here. She had made friends with all of the animals in the forest. She loved the chipmunks, birds, and squirrels. She adored the big eyed deer that often made their way to the soft pine needles that surrounded the tree that Moss made her home. Lately she had been troubled. The Wicked Witch was at it again it seemed. She had watched her take Myla's invitation away from the messenger. She had heard her cackle happily when Lightfoot bit the farmer the day that he was born. What she was concerned about was the farmer's daughter, Charlie. Charlie was kind and beautiful. She was a good friend of the King's daughter, Princess Marlee and made frequent trips to the castle. She sighed thinking about the witch. "Hopefully she will let well enough alone and leave those little girls be. I'm a little tired today. I think I will take a short nap."

While Moss took a nap the Wicked Witch was busy. She was very unhappy that Princess Marlee had friends, especially Charlie. She knew just what she would do. She would devise a plan to take all of Charlie's chickens away. She knew just what she had to do. She got out her magic cauldron and heated a brew of magic herbs and leaves of stick tights and cactus leaves.  She threw in a bit of mustard and a bit of ketchup for color and some garlic for lasting smell.  Oh she loved it. Soon she started to dance around and around her big black pot and started chanting. She was getting old so her voice sounded more like a frog croaking and a cricket's legs rubbing together. Abra Cadabra chickens in the coop! Oh dear pot let them all be soup! Now a big rabbit will do, He will make a great tasty stew! Zap! All the birds and the animals stopped their chirping and visiting. They had been through the Witch's anger before. Something bad was going to happen.

**

Charlie had had such a wonderful day at the castle with her friend, Princess Marlee. The swan rides were so much fun. As she walked through the forest she hummed a little song. Soon she was back to the little farm where she lived. It was just about time to feed her chickens. It seemed strange she couldn't hear them clucking and fussing at each other. They were so funny. She didn't see them when she walked into the coop so she started calling them Henrietta! Pricilla! Veronica! Where are you? Chick! Chick! Here, Chick! Come get your food you silly chickens. She was met with silence. What she saw coming out of the chicken coop was a complete surprise. A rabbit! Oh no! Where were her chickens? She didn't want a rabbit. A rabbit couldn't lay eggs to sell or to eat. Oh she had to find her father right away! Where were her dear little friends?

Mother Nature shook the tree that Moss was resting against. "Moss! Wake up! There's trouble brewing. I think this time it's bad trouble. There are animals in danger. The Wicked Witch is at it again. Go with the wind and help the farmer and his daughter. Hurry!"

 "Moss! Please help us. Myla didn't get her invitation to the castle to ride the swans. It's the only thing that Myla wants for her birthday. Please come with us and help." Moss was waking up from a nap. She was being pushed and pulled in two different directions.. The first thing she did was smile at the two little girls and said, "You will have to wait your turn, but I promise I will see what I can do to get you that swan ride, Myla. Right now I have to hurry to the back of the forest to see a witch about a spell or for a spell, or something like that. Mother Nature? What's happening? I need some help please!"

The Enchanted Forest: Lightfoot

 The night that Lightfoot was born was a happy night for the wicked witch in the Enchanted Forest. She cackled with glee while she watched the little pony bite the farmer. "Oh little one, you will be my servant! You will bite and nip and buck your way through life and have a grand time. You will make the farmer angry and his sweet little daughter cry. Oh this is the best day of my life!"

The farmer yelled, "Ouch! You needn't bite me little one. I will be the one to continue to feed you when your mama is finished. I will provide shelter for you when Mother Nature makes the rain and the snow come. I will give you the loving care of my daughter, Charlie. She loves animals. She will be so happy to see you in the morning. I will call you Lightfoot because you are so tiny and have little feet and will someday be able to run really fast. I'm sure we will be good friends."

The Principal and the Student teacher of the Good Witch School watched Lightfoot as he grew. They had an idea. He had no friends in the forest. When anyone came near him to pet him or feed him, he continued his naughty ways of biting and bucking. He spent his life alone just because of his bad behavior. Lightfoot started to feel very lonely. His birthday was coming soon and no one even talked about it; not even his own mama.

 The Wicked Witch continued to watch him through her crystal ball. She would laugh in glee when he was naughty. "Soon, little Lightfoot you will be mine. You will help me take what should be mine. We will succeed, Lightfoot. You and I will rule the forest. Not the king, not the princess, but you and I. We will live in the castle. You will have the best of grains and fruit to eat, I will have everything that should have been mine for years. Yes, we just have to wait a little while longer."

The castle grounds were ringing with little girls' laughter! Oh what fun they were having. Charlie and Princess Marlee were getting swan rides. The swans were trained to circle the castle then land on the pond. The girls were having such fun. Everyone except Myla. Myla had whispered her wish to the first fish she caught three days ago. She was assured her wish would be granted because she was such a good little girl, but no one had invited her to the castle. She was very sad.

What Myla didn't know was that the Wicked Witch had snatched the invitation away from the special delivery person who was on his way to Myla's house. As Myla was walking through the forest she felt like someone was watching her. She looked behind her and there stood a little girl all dressed in sunflowers. "Hello! My name is Adalynn. I am a student at the Good Witch School. I am trying to pass some tests to get my complete good witch uniform. Are you sad? Is there something wrong? Maybe I could help you."

Myla said, "Well a few days ago I wished that I could go to the castle and have a swan ride with Princess Marlee. It's just something I've always wanted to do. I whispered my wish to my very first fish that I caught. It said that it would grant my wish because I always try to be good. But I haven't gotten an invitation. Can you help me get an invitation?"

Adalynn smiled and said, "I have an idea. Why don't you walk with me for a bit. I know a really nice lady. Her name is Moss.

The Enchanted Forest: Winston

 Anna had been perched up on a dead branch of a tree in the enchanted forest watching Adalynn pass the watermelon test. For four years she had watched this same test and saw the same frowning faces every year. She flew over to the principal and the student teacher of the Good Witch School. She flew around their heads and grinned when they batted at her and complained about her getting in their faces. Anna and the teachers were good friends, but she still didn't understand their silly tests. "Weren't you kind of hard on that little girl? Would you eat watermelon and pickle juice? I think not." Before she could continue they both smiled and said, "Oh yes we did. There are certain rules that you have to follow to become a good witch. One is being on time which Adalynn has great difficulty with. The second rule is the watermelon/pickle juice test. That shows us that if you want to do something badly enough you have the will to do it. My mother used to call it gumption. The third one is to conjure up a kindness spell, and the last, but not least is to help protect everyone that lives in the enchanted forest no matter what it takes. Come here and have a drink and behave yourself, Anna."

The wicked witch lived deep in the forest. She knew about the Good Witch School and the kindness they taught. Someday she would put a stop to all their foolishness. Life had not handed her an easy life, therefore she didn't think anyone else should have an easy way of it either. 

Even though Charlie was a farmer's daughter and Princess Marlee was royalty they were really good friends. Marlee's father would sometimes invite Charlie to the castle and they would have a grand time. Charlie loved animals and so did Princess Marlee. One day Princess Marlee was on her way to see Charlie on the farm. She met a little girl that was on her way to see Charlie too. So Princess Marlee thought it would be great fun to walk together.

 Winston, the little gnome, and Anna, the hummingbird watched from a distance. Winston was sure that something bad was going to happen. He had hidden behind the mean old witch's house and heard her say mean things about Princess Marlee.  Anna also knew that something bad was going to happen so she flew back to the Good Witch School and let the teachers know that once again the Bad Witch had a plan. They just didn't know what.

Sometimes Winston wished that he was bigger, but today he was really glad he was little. He could walk through the ferns and the flowers without being seen. He thought to himself, "All I ever wanted to do is a little traveling. I've been in a desk drawer for years. So I thought I would take the leap and do something for myself'; have a little adventure, well this is an adventure alright. Now what do I do?"

Winston needn't have worried because the beautiful Moss was also watching the young girls, the good witches and the bad witch. She had been on duty for thousands of years and wouldn't let anything bad happen. She and Anna were good friends and constantly patrolled the forest to make sure everyone was safe.

The Enchanted Forest: Adalynn

 The enchanted forest was  beautiful and dark and noisy. Adalyn loved her home. She had lived here for almost three hundred years. The colors and familiar noises made her feel warm and welcome. There were all shades of green. Some of the plants were such a dark green they were almost black. Some of the ferns were a light green that stood tall and made a beautiful backdrop for the trees that seemed to reach for the sun. Some of the birds were tiny little humming birds that drank the sweet juice from the flowers at the edge of the forest where the sun could reach. Those humming birds were tiny, but they flapped their wings so fast they sounded like a swarm of noisy crickets. She grinned. She had named one of her favorite humming birds Anna. Anna loved to zoom around and around Addison's head. She would giggle and run and sometimes sing. Her singing always scared Anna away. She couldn't figure out why that was. She loved to sing because she was so very happy.

Adalynn was in a special training program. She had been training for this big day ever since she was born. She was one of the very few chosen to be a good witch. If she passed only two more tests she would get her witch uniform instead of having to wear a t-shirt with W.I.T. on it. Oh how she wanted a broom so she could fly around the treetops. She giggled just thinking about it. 

She had lots of friends in the forest. Sometimes she got busy playing with them and forgot that she had to study hard to learn her lessons. She especially loved Charlie. Charlie lived on the edge of the meadow. The meadow was a beautiful place. The grass was green and the flowers were beautiful; there were red, yellow, pink, and purple ones. She especially loved the peaceful quiet. It was so different from her noisy part of the forest. She smiled to herself. Her little friends were quite noisy, even the squirrels seemed to chatter all day. The only noise she heard at her friend's place was the soft clucking of chickens. Charlie loved her chickens and spent lots of time with them making sure they had enough to eat and fresh water to drink.

Charlie always seemed to be smiling when Adalynn dropped by. She was a good friend  and encouraged her to study for her tests that were coming up soon. Today she told Adalynn to beware of going too deep into the forest. She had heard of a bad witch making her home in the forest. She had heard that the witch could make herself beautiful or even change into the shapes of animals. She was glad she lived far away from her.

 Adalynn assured her friend, Charlie, that she would not go deeper into the forest. She thought she heard someone calling her name with an angry voice. "Oh dear. I probably forgot something again. I have such trouble keeping track of time." "Coming! she yelled. I'll be there as fast as I can."

When she got to her instructors they were both smiling. It was time for the watermelon test. When they saw Adalynn running towards them they said, "You are late! Once again you are late. If you do not pass this test you will not receive the magic broom." Adalynn's eyes got big when she saw the  Head Witch Principal sprinkle pickle juice over the slice of watermelon.

"Oh no. I can't do it. I think I might be sick." Then she thought about being a good little witch to all the animals and folks that lived in the forest. She could do this. She could do this. Yes! She could do this. And she did.

There was a little lost Gnome that witnessed the watermelon test and thought, "Oh why oh why would they do that to that sweet little girl? I need to find my way out of here and find Marleewood. I just know Faun is there visiting Grandma Lu. I don't think this is a good place for someone as little as me. Yuk! Pickle juice?"

Felix And Myla Both Make A Wish!

 Felix had never been so embarrassed in his life. He had been thrown in the pound! Just because he had sneaked into Marleewood. Well, that wasn't the worst part. The person that he always thought would have his back in any situation was his lady human. They called her Tracey. Every time he made a fuss she would make sure he was given the best food, had the softest bed and the newest toys on the market. Life was a bowl full of cherries or so he thought. When Mr. Whiskers called her to tell her there was a fine she had told him she wasn't going to pay it. She figured he could stay there for at least two more nights! No! This was not possible. He had tried to explain that the pound was a terrible place. Sometime on the second day the man from home came to get him. The man said he was so very sorry he had to stay in the pound and that he had a special treat for him when they got home.

Sure enough he served Felix his food in his favorite bowl and held him on his lap while he rested from his nightmare experience at the pound. He was never going back to Marleewood. He had learned his lesson, but there was someone else that needed a lesson learned as far as he was concerned; the lady of the house! He would get even with her the first chance he got. He would have to wait awhile because she had taken the day off to go boating with her friends. She had called and said she was having a wonderful time and not to expect her until late afternoon.

Myla was at the very end of the lake that very same day. It was the first time she had ever gone fishing. She was so excited! If she was lucky enough to catch a fish she had made a promise to herself. She was going to ask her fish for a wish. A really big wish. She just knew it was going to be her lucky day...

When Tracey got home she soon found out that her husband had bailed Felix out of the pound. She was not a bit happy about that. She thought he needed a longer stay to teach him a lesson, but she grinned to herself. She knew what she was going to do. She quietly put out some dry cat food in a metal pet bowl and put his old toy mouse in the middle of the dish. She was off to bed with a smile on her face. "That'll teach that little stinker. We spoil him rotten with the crystal dishes and the fancy food and expensive toys."

Felix was not asleep. He quietly watched his lady switch out his bowls and food and almost meowed out loud when he saw her put his favorite toy in the bowl. "Okay game on my dear. Someday when you least expect it I will have a surprise for you too. I have heard that there is a witch in that forest at the end of town. I'm going to break out of here as soon as I can and see if I can't get her to grant me a wish. I'm easy to get along with. It shouldn't be a problem....

Grandma Lu's Computer Said 'No Signal'

 Grandma Lu was so happy. Marleewood was full of so many of her friends. And children! She looked all around the Sitting Room and knew every smiling face. The little ones were scrubbed clean. Some had teeth missing since the last time she saw them, some were brand new babies and some were old friends. Marleewood was home to Grandma Lu. It was comfortable for the most part. In the past there had been mysteries to solve, cats that had made her allergies to go through the roof, but mostly a place of friends, safety, but most of all laughter. Well and snacks of course. Oh she could remember so many holidays she had spent in this old place. Her mind started to wander a bit and she thought, "I wonder if they would like another story today. A story when I was about seven years old. It was going to be Mother's Day in two days. The teacher, Mrs. Hanson, had us make our mothers a gift; a homemade gift with a surprise inside. I can remember how excited I was. I could hardly wait until Sunday to give my mom her surprise."

The children and some of the grownups were still laughing about the baby mice crawling up inside Grandma Lu's little brother's overalls. When she asked them if they had time for another story they all said yes because it was still raining outside. They had been cooped up for some time and were ready to visit with each other and to listen to another one of Grandma Lu's stories.

"Okay, I have kept something for over seventy years in my old trunk. I will go into the Quiet Room to get it and be right back. When she walked in the Quiet Room she glanced at her computer. It said, No Signal. "Hmm, I wonder what's wrong with the computer. She didn't bother to look and got into her trunk. Wonder of wonder's it was pretty much on the top of a lot of photos she had saved. As she walked out the door the computer still said, No Signal. "I'm going to have to investigate that after the folks leave. I have to have internet in order to order things from Amazon and look things up on Google. She giggled to herself, "Not like the old days, Old Woman, that's for sure. In those days it was Penny's on special occasions and dictionaries and encyclopedias at the library or at school to look things up. We learned how to spell words and what they meant. My mother was a stickler about that. Oh the hours I spent writing down definitions of words. I wasn't a fan of that, but I sure learned how to spell words that I wouldn't have otherwise. Yes, she was a smart lady, that's for sure."

As Grandma Lu settled herself in her old rocking chair the children wanted to know what took her so long. She said, "Well, the computer isn't working. I will have to investigate after while to see what's wrong with it. Jaxson said, "What's investigate mean?"

Grandma Lu grinned at him and said, "Well, I just know because a long long time ago I learned that word in school. It means to study or examine something to find the answer. Sometimes I just say, 'figure it out'." Jaxson said, "Did the teacher teach you that word?" Grandma Lu said, "Just a minute, Jaxson. I will go get a dictionary and show you how I learned words; what they meant and how they were spelled and how to say them correctly when I was just a year older than you are."

When she came out carrying a five pound dictionary the children couldn't believe that that book was full of words. Even little Maddox looked surprised.

Nala had been hiding in the grass outside of Marleewood. She had seen all the action with Felix and the fire department and the two ladies that looked alike. Then she saw  Chief Marlee give the dog catcher the order to take him to the pound. She had watched Felix before and wondered how he kept getting away with his mischief. She knew better than to go into Marleewood because Grandma Lu always seemed to sneeze when cats were around. She was glad that her human didn't sneeze around her. She liked it there. She could be goofy and fun and nobody sent her to the pound! Well maybe it was because she had beautiful blue eyes that her human just couldn't resist. "Meow"

She did wonder if Felix was going to get bailed out though. "When will that cat ever learn?"

Felix Finds Himself In The Pound!

 Before Felix knew what was happening that fireman had set up a ladder and was climbing up the tree to rescue him. No! He didn't want rescued from the tree. He needed rescued from that lady that was grabbing at his tail! In merely seconds Felix's life flashed before his eyes. He knew life as he knew it would no longer exist if he didn't think fast. Clang! No! He was in a crate! His people were never in a crate! This was unheard of! He had been living the easy life for so long he couldn't think fast like his ancestors that lived on the street or farm. He was strong. He could figure it out. He just needed a minute! No! He was being put in a cell! He knew his rights. He needed to make a phone call. He was going to call Mr. Whiskers. The head man of the Historical Society of Felines.

Mr. Whisker's phone rang and rang. He wasn't answering his phone! This was the worst place ever! And the food! He wouldn't even consider eating it. It was dry! He was used to the top shelf canned food his lady human always served. He had a condition that deserved the best; the very best. Sometimes he even got tuna fish or a bit of sardines if he snuggled and purred.

 At times he had to remind her that it was dinner time, but he always got his way. Especially with the lady's husband. He was a soft touch. 

Finally the pound boss came to his crate and said, "Okay, Fussbudget, you have a phone call. I'm putting you on a leash and taking you to the office. Don't even try your luck at running away." Felix knew he'd better mind his p's and q's and do as he was told. He needed to talk to Mr. Whiskers in the worst way. He would bail him out of this situation. He just knew he would.

Finally he heard Mr. Whisker's voice. "I understand that once again you have gotten yourself into trouble. This time the cops and the firemen were involved, Felix. I'm afraid this is going to cost a pretty penny to get you out of there. Actually, I think it would be a good idea for you to stay overnight. I'll get in touch with your humans tomorrow and tell them what the fine is going to be if I have time. I have other responsibilities, you know."

 "Oh by the way, I found a leaf on your family tree. You have a several times great grandfather whose human was listed on the census book by the name of Marlee Ada over a hundred years ago. The book says that his occupation was Mouser. That's exactly what you will be if you don't change your ways. I've heard that Marlee Ada's stepmother was a mail order bride. The information I have received is that she was allergic to cats and wouldn't let your great grandfather in the house. She had a dog that slept with her to keep her warm, though. 

 Sounds like this tendency of bending the rules and having humans that are allergic to cats just might run in the family. Okay then I have to go take care of business. I'll see what I can do in the morning."

"What?! Wait! I can't stay here tonight. I have to go home to my cozy bed in my human's bedroom. Not in this cold and drafty place. There must by 50 dogs and at least that many cats in here. It's so noisy in here I can't even think. You have to help me!" Felix realized that he was talking to himself. Mr. Whiskers had hung up.

In the wee hours of the morning Felix woke up screaming like a human. He was dreaming about that mean old woman that Mr. Felix was telling about. She was staring at him in the mirror. That surely couldn't be related to his human. He was signing up for a D.N.A. test if he ever got out of here!

Felix Is In Double Trouble!

 "Aha, you little rascal. You know that Grandma Lu is allergic to cats! Why do you keep sneaking into Marleewood? I know you belong to a new fancy club for the history of cats or whatever it is, but you just stop making her life miserable. Now you get down from this beautiful tree right now and go home. Go on! Off with you!"

Well, Felix was not about to come down out of the Dogwood tree. He was scared to death that this crazy woman who looked just like another woman that had chased him down. She had this huge thing she kept putting up to her eyes and the other one was reaching up to snatch him by his tail! She was going to do something dastardly to him  any minute.  He wanted his human! It was raining for goodness sakes and he was soaking wet. Not one of his better days. In the distance he could hear sirens.....

Inside out of the weather, Grandma Lu was happily telling her stories to her friends, both young and old. She had been talking about mice, old houses, coffee and old people. The mouse part had been interesting to Felix, but that old person she was telling about was really kind of scary, even to a big strong guy like him. She sounded like the kind that would chase a mouse or a cat with a broom. Glad his human was nice. Hopefully this crazy person would go back inside and leave him alone so he could go back home. He realized the sirens were really loud when he peaked out from one of the blossoms and saw a fire truck. Then there was two. He knew he was doomed. That fireman had a ladder on the truck. Felix was a goner! That fireman was going to snatch him out of the tree then the woman was going to grab him. What to do! What to do!

Arieanna lived close by and yelled for her mom. "Mom! Felix is at it again. I bet he tried sneaking into Marleewood again. I think I see Landon behind the wheel. Oh man, the cops are even here. Hurry! This is going to be fun to watch!

Marlee had been watching the whole thing out the window. She quietly grabbed her police uniform and changed out of her prairie dress. Jackson might need help with this caper. She had just had it with that Felix. She had a good mind to have him put in the pound overnight just so he'd learn his lesson. No one messed around with Grandma Lu or anyone else for that matter. When they were in Marleewood she made sure that they were safe. She made the call. All would rest easy in her small home town tonight.

Well most of the humans might....