Stow-Away

CARRY ON TUESDAY

http://carryontuesday.blogspot.com/2009/08/carry-on-tuesday-14.html

The words in blue are the opening phrases of

'The Floating Island'

by

Jules Verne.

STOW-AWAY

(A true story.)

When a journey begins badly it rarely ends too well.

Too many unwise  travelers have a sorry tale to tell.

Take my friends, Alf and Noela, in their nifty caravan.

They should have guessed their trip would fail from how badly it began!

Alf is not too fond of cats! Well, there are folk like that!

He gets all sort of twitchy when confronted by a cat.

But he bore up very bravely when they called in on old friends,

And, when the cat came up to him he tried to make amends.

While they were sitting chatting and drinking cups of tea,

He let the cat get friendly and purr around his knee.

Next morning, thinking all was well, they set of home once more,

Cheerily saying their goodbyes at their old friends' cottage door.

But their journey started badly as you will soon find out;

Although it was a good four hours before things went up the spout.

They stopped at a wayside picnic spot to have a little snack

And Noela went to get things from the caravan at the back.

With a piercing shriek she called 'The cat! The cat is here inside!'

And, sure enough, the moggy had hitched a little ride!

Alf stamped and stomped and carried-on, as do all angry men,

But they both agreed that they must take the cat back home again!

So four hours back they drove at speed, so the cat could be returned,

And then they started off again! You can guess how rubber burned!

*

There's a sequel to this little tale! You may find it amusing.

But animal-lovers may, I fear, find it pet-abusing.

Two weeks after their return a phone-call was received.

And Alf and Noela found the message hard to be believed.

The little cat had met its end going underneath a car!

As Alf said 'What a waste of time driving back so far!'

*

'With cat-like tread' here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/09/136-caught-in-act-919.html