How I Got to Be Christopher Columbus

By Yehuda Mostert and Bassie Pretorius

Christopher is a lovable young cat which like most cats is curious, and like most end up in trouble. Having jumped into a car to satisfy his curiosity he could not dream of where his journey would end or begin for that matter. Christopher had no idea what lay ahead of him. Having exited from the car in a way that only cats know how, he goes on a quest and quite daringly navigates his way back home. Along the way he meets all kinds of interesting characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781329839007

Book preview

How I Got to Be Christopher Columbus

How I Got to be Christopher Columbus

Christopher is a lovable young cat which like most cats is curious, and like most end up in trouble. Having jumped into a car to satisfy his curiosity he could not dream of where his journey would end or begin for that matter. Christopher had no idea what lay ahead of him. Having exited from the car in a way that only cats know how, he goes on a quest and quite daringly navigates his way back home. Along the way he meets all kinds of interesting characters.

Story by Yehuda Mostert

Illustrations by Bassie Pretorius

The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless. 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

This book is dedicated to my dear wife Tehilla, my two sons David and Yitzchak, Dr Estelle Kruger, Bassie Pretorius and Adina Feinstein, all who assisted Christopher in finding his way home.

How I Got to be Christopher Columbus

Chapter 1: How it all started

"Hi! Meet me, Christopher Columbus. I have four paws, a tail and two large pointy ears. I am tabby-like on top and at the bottom I'm soft, snowy white. Now you would think Christopher Columbus is a strange and peculiar name for a cat, and I suppose it is. Usually cats go by, and are quite happy with, names such as Snowy (who, by the way, is one of my friends), Gizmo, Simba, Kitty, Lucy, Shadow and so on, but not me. I had to get this crummy old name – no offense to the real Christopher Columbus."

No doubt, you'll be wondering how a cat comes by such a name?

Christopher Columbus was part of a litter of six. Like his siblings he was a happy cat and always had a big, cat's smile on his face.

The siblings and Christopher lived in a garden and did what all kittens do. They spent their days playing, stalking and wrestling each other. Sometimes they would try and catch insects, birds and mice. If and when they were not occupied with these activities, they would sleep.

C:\Users\Yehuda\Desktop\Columbus9.jpg

One thing that must be understood is that cats sleep a lot. People who study all kinds of things about animals (e.g. how long cats sleep, how long an elephant's trunks is, how big a crocodile is) are called zoologists. Zoologists say that cats sleep quite a lot, between 12-16 hours a day and some even sleep up to 20 hours a day.

Now if you asked Christopher whether that was true, he probably would have said that he didn't sleep that much. Rather it felt as if he were awake for 20 hours and slept for 4! It always puzzled him that he could wake up again so soon after going to sleep.

Chapter 2: Curiosity killed the cat

One bright, sunny day, Christopher's owner-slave walked to his car.

Before