Whisker

By M L S Baisch

Whisker was a kitten who was a bit different from other kittens, including his siblings. There would never have been a problem if it hadn't been for that mean Mr. Huxley--but there was that mean Mr. Huxley. And he owned the house. Mama cat did what she had to do to keep Whisker safe from Mr. Huxley, but it proved to be the wrong thing. And everything might have turned out all wrong if it hadn't been for a little girl named Betsy—but there was that little girl named Betsy. Because of Betsy, Mama cat had one more chance to set things right.

This is the story about that. And also a story about how even bad circumstances can have surprisingly good endings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M L S Baisch
• Release date: Jan 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9780986245855

M L S Baisch

M L S BAISCH writes for children because kids deserve a world with good stories. Her tales are fantastical, but also have messages for those of us who live in the real world. They may, and often do, highlight the importance of making good choices. Generally it's someone's bad choice that makes a good story. The story is in the difficulties that result and the circuitous route taken to undo what's been done. If there's a bit of fun along the way, so much the better! M L S BAISCH lives in rural Idaho with her husband, a Sphynx cat named Bugs, and a Doberman Pinscher named Harry.

Book preview

WHISKER

by

M L S BAISCH

Text Copyright © 2017 M L S Baisch

Illustrations Copyright © 2017 M L S Baisch

All rights reserved

ISBN-13: 978-0-9862458-5-5

ISBN-10: 0-9862458-5-2

Sometimes a GREAT name

simply deserves a story.

Whisker is a great name,

and it deserves a story.

1

YESTERDAY WAS A BETTER DAY

At the end of a long narrow alley, boxed in on both sides by very tall brick buildings towering so high above that when you finally saw the sky it was only as big as an envelope you might find in your mailbox, behind a garbage can sitting close by a green door, there was a kitten. It was huddled close to the ground trying to stay dry, as it was pouring rain. The wind raced down the alley in a hurry until it hit the brick wall, ricocheted off it, and was redirected back again—but not before it found its way behind the garbage can where the kitten crouched. It was a very small, and very gray kitten. And it was shivering, probably because it was frightened as well as because it was cold. The day was very gray and the cold was very harsh, and the shivering kitten was in a very bad place. This was no neighborhood for a small kitten, even on a good day, and so far this hadn’t been a good day at all.

Yesterday, was a better day. In fact it was a delightful day full of good things like a warm bed with the warm bodies of his brothers and sisters snuggled close, and warm milk, and sunshine coming in through the window, and his mother’s warm tongue washing his ears. Then, this morning, while the brothers and sisters still slept, his mother hissed quietly that he was to follow her. One thing led to another until here he was abandoned in this terrible circumstance.

I’m sorry, Mama had said, but you are an embarrassment. You don’t fit in to the family. I’ve waited, hoping that you would change. But you are two months old now and still just as strange as the day you were born.

Hearing that didn’t make the kitten feel very good. In fact, he hung his head feeling terrible. His mother was ashamed of him. He didn’t really understand why, and so he asked her, But, what have I done? What’s wrong with me? Why don’t I fit in?

Done? she repeated. I don’t imagine you’ve done anything at all, son. It’s just what you are. I don’t suppose you can help it.

If I can’t help it, how can it be so terrible?

It just is, that’s all, Mama said. And I can’t have it. When you’re older and can’t be kept out of sight, people will laugh at you, and they will make fun of you, and it will be very hard for your brothers and sisters.

I can see that it will be hard for me, the kitten said, "but why