Kitty Kat Kitty Goes to the Circus: Wild at Heart

By Jay Reeves and Lorene Anderson-Caldwell

ANIMALS & ADVENTURE AWAITS WHEN KITTY KAT KITTY GOES TO THE CIRCUS

When Kitty Kat Kitty Goes to the Circus the limits of her friendship are tested when she must step in to help her new friend or they will be forced to cancel the tightrope act, and Diamond and the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kitty Kat Kitty Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Jan 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781732213029

Jay Reeves

Jay Reeves has worked as a nurse and DJ in Des Moines. He earned a BA from the University of Iowa and an RN diploma. Known as the Medicine Man, he performs roadside first-aid for 30,000 bike riders on Ragbrai for a week each summer and he has volunteered with the local Boy Scouts for most of his adult life. Jay has spent many weeks each year building a Children's Haunted Forest and acting like a pirate, because he believes Halloween should be memorable and fun for kids. He enjoys camping, fishing and gardening and he is nagged by his lovely family. Jay has a daily battle of wits with the cat and he likes acting childish with the kids at DQ.

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Copyright Notice

Copyright © 2018 by Jay Reeves

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

without the express written permission of the publisher

except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing: 2019

Second Edition

Cover Images and Logo by David Sykes

Editing by Erica Garvin and Jessica Gang

Proof and Copy Edit by Jennifer Burgess

Published by Kitty Kat Kitty Publishing, LLC

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-7322130-6-7

Softcover ISBN: 978-1-7322130-7-4

EPUB ISBN: 978-1-7322130-2-9

MOBI ISBN: 978-1-7322130-3-6

PDF ISBN: 978-1-7322130-4-3

Audio Book ISBN: 978-1-7322130-5-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018904905

Kitty Kat Kitty Publishing, LLC

Des Moines, IA

www.kittykatkitty.com

Contents

Introduction

1 Wild at Heart

2 Performing Stars

3 Diamond

4 I Accept That Dare

5 Being Bad

6 Trouble

7 I Smell Powder

8 The Bargain

9 First Taste

10 The Promise

11 For the Circus

12 Feathers

13 Pepper’s in Trouble

14 Cheese-on-a-stick

15 Greatest in History

16 Stage Fright

17 Monkey Helps

18 A Mouse Did This

19 A Cheeseburger

20 Remember Your Promise

Introduction

This story and these characters were inspired by my daughters, Ashley and Hannah, as well as other people and animals I love. This is dedicated to my family. The time spent with family is precious.

One night after we had gone through all of my daughter’s books multiple times, we decided to make up our own story. At age four Ashley wanted to watch The Aristocats movie every day, so I knew the main character had to be a cat and she would have kittens. She would go on adventures and sometimes the kittens would come along. I thought she needed a side kick, so I created Mr. Squeaks to add a male presence and more comedy. I thought of him like a fun uncle. When we played Barbie’s, Ken was always causing trouble and needing rescued, and he was my Ken.

When I asked her to give the main character a name, Ashley said, Kitty. I pushed for a better name, and she said, Kitty Kitty. I still wanted more and she suggested Kitty Kat Kitty. I still didn’t like the name, but it wasn’t a story to please myself.

In the first story, Kitty Kat Kitty took the kittens camping and they ran into a giant owl. In the second story, we decided to send Kitty Kat Kitty to the moon. That took some creative thinking to get her on a rocket. Ashley suggested we have Kitty Kat Kitty deliver muffins to the astronauts just before takeoff. She reasoned that no one could say no to muffins.

The third story we made up was Kitty Kat Kitty Goes to the Circus. This story seemed to catch my daughter’s imagination as well as mine. I created Diamond to be a mirror image of the main character with a different personality and the possibilities began to flood our heads as we sent Kitty Kat Kitty on an adventure with all of the fun and mischief that can be found at the circus. When we added the food crazy Mr. Squeaks and the kittens, I knew we could have an entertaining story. This was confirmed the next night when Ashley wanted to send Kitty Kat Kitty back to the circus again. We spent three more nights telling various versions of Kitty Kat Kitty Goes to the Circus before she was satisfied.

Over the next few years we sent Kitty Kat Kitty on more adventures before she slowly faded from interest and Ashley moved on to bigger books. To preserve the memory, I penned out some of them and I’ve been working on them ever since. I hope you enjoy and share Kitty Kat Kitty Goes to the Circus: Wild at Heart, a book with a positive message about friendship and overcoming self-doubt.

–Jay Reeves

Seventeen years and more than twenty rewrites later…

1: Wild at Heart

T he sunshine was just coming through her favorite upstairs window as Kitty Kat Kitty laid on the sill, looking out into the world. From there she could see over the nearby trees and beyond the long street to the park. She stared blankly past the rows of houses at nothing in particular. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, enjoying the early sun’s warmth as if she were stealing it.

Maybe I can make a break for it—, she said softly to herself as she opened her eyes. Kitty Kat Kitty stared out the window at the road that beckoned her. I could run away. Be gone before anyone knows it, she kidded herself.

She longed for something more in her life—being certain that today would be the same as yesterday, and the day before. Committed to a routine that had become a lifetime obligation, she principally gave all of herself and her time to others. The sunbath was one of the few cherished moments she managed to take for herself from her daily schedule. While others depended on her to lead and nurture them, she still had a wild heart, and she felt a strong urge to follow it.

No sense in running away—I’d just come back anyway, she whispered to herself. A little smile crossed her lips because she knew she was right.

Even the busy street at the far end of the block and the park beyond it was quiet that day. She heard a stirring in the room. She stared at the ball of light coming over the horizon.

Somewhere out there, the sun is shining on cats that are living lives filled with adventure—traveling the world. I wish I could trade places with one of them, she said. Then she felt the guilt start to creep in.

Just for a day or two—or longer, if the weather is nice and the food is good. She smiled at her own joke.

She thought about it, and looked down, embarrassed by the thought.

Just kidding, she said quietly. She knew she wasn’t kidding. She tensely breathed as the thought lingered. There was a heaviness in her chest that made her feel powerless. It was the inextinguishable fire that burns deep within that was weighing on her. The thirst for adventure she knew was waiting out there, if she only dared to pursue it.

She hopped down from the window and plopped onto the floor. She was a little disgusted with herself for being stuck in a rut. Kitty Kat Kitty knew she had a great life, but she was taking some of the gifts in her life for granted that day. She lay there for a while, and then rolled over and looked in a mirror up close.

You’re boring me, she said to her image.

You’re the one who’s boring, her reflection spoke back.

She sighed and examined her appearance as she slowly stood up.

I dare you to try something new today, her reflection taunted again.

She stared with dislike at her mirror image. I accept that dare, she replied. I can hold my breath longer than you, she bragged to the mirror.

You know you can’t, her reflection replied with disrespect.

She took a deep breath and held it. She could feel her heart beat as she stared intently in the mirror. She closed her eyes and could feel the pulsating blood in her head and chest as her heart beat quickened. She tried to relax, as she concentrated on it and she soon felt her heart slow again. She opened her eyes and studied her image in the mirror.

She stared at the cat in the mirror. I want to be you. Her body started to shake, and she finally gasped for air.

Your trouble— she said to the mirror after taking a few eager breaths.

You’re still boring, her reflection said.

I can’t help it if nothing new ever happens around here.

Something caught her eye in the reflection of the window. She turned and saw the shadow of a very large bird pass the window. She quickly jumped back up to the ledge to see it, but the bird was gone.

She soon focused her gaze down beyond the far end of her street to the park. She saw a very large truck that had stopped on the busy street in front of the park. The big truck drove into the park over the grass. Kitty Kat Kitty thought it was odd that such a large truck would drive so far into the park over the grass.

Soon big camping trailers and many more trucks lined up on the busy street at the end of her block and entered the park. Kitty Kat Kitty had never seen so many trucks and campers at once.

As they arrived, they parked in rows by vehicle type. The campers drove to the far end of the park. There were many semi-trucks with covers lined up end to end next to the big field. The last of several trucks to arrive carried very large pieces for amusement rides. They drove to the center of the park and stopped.

Soon, many people spilled out of the trucks and campers. They began to empty everything from the trucks using forklifts, hoists and handcarts. A man with a megaphone was standing on the roof of one of the trucks. He was shouting directions to all the people as they quickly got to work. Kitty Kat Kitty was astonished, never having seen so many people and trucks at the park before.

She watched curiously as many men uncovered a gigantic ball of colored material on the back of a big truck. They rolled the giant ball down a ramp and off the truck onto the edge of the big field; the truck rising when the weight came off it.

Kitty Kat Kitty was surprised when she saw two very large creatures come from one of the trucks. Elephants, she said with wonder. The elephants pushed the giant orange and green colored ball with their heads, while groups of men helped guide where it rolled using long levers. The elephants struggled along with many men to slowly move it. Together they rolled the giant orange and green ball to the middle of the park in the big open field. When they got to the big field, the elephants and the men started to untie the ropes holding the giant ball together.

Next, the elephants helped the men pull the ball of material apart, making it bigger and bigger as they spread it out. The gigantic ball of material was canvas made of bright orange and green colored stripes. The men were working fast and the elephants began unfolding large sections at a time. Soon the orange and green striped canvas covered a very large area of the big field at the park.

A fork lift dropped off some long heavy poles nearby. The elephants carried the poles with their trunks into position as men moved to tie thick ropes to one end of the pole held by the elephant. They tied the other end of one of the large ropes to harnesses worn by the elephants. The elephants moved the bottom of the pole into place against a stake and the men held it there. Using ropes attached to their harnesses the elephants slowly raised the long pole until it stood straight up. Many men pulled the long, thick ropes tight in all directions at once to hold the pole upright. Three or four men hammered on each of the large metal stakes to drive them deep in the ground, quickly tightening the ropes. This held the long heavy pole firmly straight up.

Kitty Kat Kitty was impressed by the elephants. They seemed to know just what to do. She could see how hard the elephants and men had to work to raise the poles. The men then tied both elephant’s harnesses to ropes attached to the orange and green canvas. The elephants pulled together, raising a section of the heavy orange and green canvas until it reached the very top of one of the longest poles. Groups of men pulled the ropes tight and tied them off to more stakes, leaving the bright canvas hanging from the top of the pole. The elephants did this for every section, using their strength to pull it to the top of each of the long poles.

The canvas was slowly forming the shape of a gigantic orange and green striped circus tent. As they erected the colossal circus tent, she could see that it was a much bigger than her house. It was much taller than her house, too. In fact, it covered most of the big field in the park.

Kitty Kat Kitty noticed if she listened she could hear them working. She cracked the window. The wind was helping to carry all the sounds toward her house that day, allowing her to hear it, even from very far away.

The trucks and the workers, and the man with the megaphone, were all making lots of racket. People were shouting to each other. There were lots of bangs and clanks. Air compressors and large air powered tools used to assemble the rides and stands buzzed through the air. As everyone worked, the noise they created soon became a constant roar of shouting mixed with the many different sounds.

Then she heard the familiar sound of stirring in the room again. She closed the window.

Mama, a kitten called to her.

We’re hungry, Mama, another kitten said.

I know. She heaved a sigh. It’s time for your breakfast. Kitty Kat Kitty looked out the window at the park for just a few more moments.

Mama, she heard a kitten call again. She turned away from the window and jumped down.

I’m coming. Kitty Kat Kitty walked over and looked into the box where her two kittens, one girl and one boy, slept and played. They smiled up at her and she couldn’t help but smile back. She drew a deep breath and stepped carefully into the box with them.

As soon as she got into the box, the kittens began to climb on her legs and meow as they tried to pull her down. She found a good spot to lie down and then she allowed them to pull her to the floor of the box to feed.

Hey, take it easy. I’m not going anywhere. She looked at the window and sighed.

Her friend Mr. Squeaks came strolling out of a hole in the wall. He walked confidently past the box and climbed up to a chair. He then crawled up the back of the chair to the window where she had been sitting. The mouse stared out the window toward the park without looking at Kitty Kat Kitty.

What’s all the noise about? What are all those people doing at the park? he asked.

I think a circus has come to town, she explained.

I’ll bet I know what that giant tent is for. Do you? the mouse asked.

It’s where the stars of the circus perform their acts for everyone to see.

Performing stars— the mouse said softly as he continued to stare out the window. I wonder what a star looks like? he asked as he looked down at Kitty Kat Kitty.

Maybe the performers look normal, just like you and I, Kitty Kat Kitty said with a shrug.

That would be disappointing, Mr. Squeaks said with certainty.

She laughed. I’m offended just a little, Mr. Squeaks, Kitty Kat Kitty said with a smile.

Mr. Squeaks bowed to her. He spoke like a master training a ninja warrior. When someone speaks the truth, you must decide what to do with the truth. You can do nothing and be offended—or you can take action. He bowed again and stood back up with a smile.

She nodded back at Mr. Squeaks and he turned to look back out the window. She appreciated his friendship.

Kitty Kat Kitty began grooming her kittens as they continued to drink her milk. One of the kittens stopped for a moment and looked up at her.

Mama, what is a circus? Pepper, the girl kitten, asked.

Kitty Kat Kitty breathed deeply and smiled as she thought about it. It is a traveling show—for people to see. People go to a circus to have fun, she explained.

We like fun. Can we go to the circus, Mama? Jack, the boy kitten, asked.

I’m not sure, Kitty Kat Kitty said laughing and smiling just a little. I don’t think a circus would be the kind of place where house cats like us would normally go, she admitted, secretly wishing she could go too.

Wasn’t it just the other day you were saying we should get out of the house and do something? Pepper reminded her.

Do you remember every dim-witted thing that I say? Kitty Kat Kitty asked with a fake sneer as she looked down at her daughter.

It’s my job, Pepper replied confidently.

She does it to me too, Jack complained. Pepper winked at him, and Jack made a goofy face back at her.

Pepper rolled her eyes. Juvenile, she said.

Jack made a goofy face again that made Pepper scream and then laugh.

Ha! Made you laugh— Jack bragged.

Pepper shot him a mean look. Jack’s smiling face turned to stone when he saw it. Then Jack realized she was playing with him, and his smile returned. I made you la-augh, he teased again.

There will be consequences, Pepper assured him.

There always is, Jack replied. He turned back to feed some more.

Are we going to a circus? Pepper asked.

Before I could ever take you someplace like that, I would need to go to see if it is a safe place for my kittens, Kitty Kat Kitty said. She could not hold back a smile at the thought of going to check it out.

So, what do you do at a circus? Jack asked with milk on his face. Pepper glanced over at him and shrugged.

Mr. Squeaks turned away from the window and ran to the bookshelf. He pulled down a picture book and carried it up to the seat of the chair. He opened the picture book about the circus and leaned it against the back of the chair. He put his tail over his shoulder and spoke to them as he slowly marched back and forth.

Kittens, I’ve learned many good things about a circus. He was doing his best to sound like he knew what he was talking about. He cleared his throat and waited. The kittens both stopped feeding and looked up at him.

Mr. Squeaks began his speech. There will be rides, and shows, and animals to see. But, the best thing about the circus is all the wonderful circus food! He turned the page of the book to show some circus food and began to slobber just a little as he resumed marching, back and forth. There’s cheese flavored popcorn, mmm—and cheese pizza, and nachos with cheese sauce—yummy. And cheeseburgers! Oh, the cheeseburgers! he said as he collapsed and rolled over. He jumped back to his feet and ran to look out the window again. The drool came gushing out of his mouth. It is a magnificent feast of delicious, discarded cheesy food... All, all just waiting for us, he said. His chest was heaving as he slobbered on the window.

What are nachos? Jack asked.

What’s a cheeseburger? Pepper asked as they looked at each other. They both shrugged and started feeding again.

What’s a cheeseburger—? Mr. Squeaks asked in disbelief as he turned around. A cheeseburger— He cleared his throat and composed himself. A cheeseburger falls into one of the five main cheesy food groups. But well beyond that, it is truly the most outstandingly delicious combination of cheese and—

Before he could continue his long answer, Kitty Kat Kitty interrupted him. Mr. Squeaks, she said respectfully.

Stunned by the interruption, he turned to Kitty Kat Kitty to inquire as to why she was cutting him off mid-sentence.

Do you have a question about cheeseburgers? he asked politely as he wiped his mouth.

You’re forgetting about the best circus food of all, Kitty Kat Kitty informed him.

I am—? a stunned Mr. Squeaks asked with disbelief.

I can’t believe you haven’t mentioned the delectable, deep fried, melting hot cheese—on a stick, Kitty Kat Kitty said, teasing him.

Mr. Squeaks stared at the cats. His mouth hung open, shocked by this information. His eyes popped out and he had a crazy look in them. A fire had been lit inside of him and he began to quiver. He opened his mouth and tried to shout, Cheese—on a stick! to the world, but no sound would come out. Mr. Squeaks was grinning and shivering uncontrollably. He held his legs out straight and leaned against the window causing it to rattle.

Suddenly, Mr. Squeaks drew in a deep breath and found he could speak. They have deep fried cheese—on a stick!? Mr. Squeaks shouted at her. Losing all control, he fell off the window ledge and tumbled down into a clothes basket where he landed on his bottom with a tiny thump. He bounced up high into the air, sending some clothes and a fabric softener sheet flying with him. Mr. Squeaks landed on the seat of the chair on his hind feet with his hands ready for a karate strike like a ninja. He froze in that position, panting with slobber dripping from his open mouth as the clothes fell around him. He karate kicked a sock just before it landed on him and snatched the fabric softener sheet out of the air and bounded back to the window. Mr. Squeaks used the sheet to wipe the moisture off the window so he could see.

The kittens both laughed with milk still on their faces. Pepper turned to Jack and began licking the milk from his face.

Jumping back with disgust Jack asked, What are you doing?

You have milk on your face, Jack. We shouldn’t waste it, Pepper said as she licked him again.

I don’t like it! Jack grumbled. Pepper licked him again. It’s—too much like, kissing! Jack complained. He gagged at the thought.

Pepper licked him again.

Stop it! Jack yelled.

Pepper licked her lips. Now you clean the milk off my face. Jack looked at his sister with horror.

Come on, Jack. We don’t want to waste this milk. See. Pepper smiled and droplets of milk appeared on her cheeks.

Jack let out a gut-wrenching breath. He leaned closer and touched only the droplet of milk with the tip of his tongue.

There, I did it, he said as he quickly licked his lips.

There’s more, Pepper told him as she turned and showed him her other cheek.

Jack tried to do it again, but he stopped just a breath away.

You’re the one who’s making this weird. Come on Jack— Pepper complained.

Jack winced then with irritation he quickly licked off Pepper’s face on both sides.

There—done, he stated as he wiped off his mouth. Pepper smiled.

Kitty Kat Kitty bent down and began licking Jack’s face. He looked over at Pepper with frustration as his mother cleaned his face again.

Aw, come on, he complained as he turned away. You—you— he said with bitterness as he looked at Pepper.

Pepper smiled back as she happily stepped up to have her face cleaned.

Pepper happily stepped up to have her face cleaned.

Mr. Squeaks climbed back to the window and stared with longing down the street to the park. He trembled as he quietly, but intensely said, Cheese—on a stick— to himself. He pressed his nose against the window and fogged the glass again with his hot breath, trying to somehow move closer to it. Hot cheese—on a stick! he proclaimed the miracle again. Mr. Squeaks was amazed at the genius of it. Why have I not heard of this before now? he accused Kitty Kat Kitty as if she had been withholding this crucial information.

We like Mr. Squeaks, Jack said.

He makes us laugh, Pepper added with a giggle.

Kitty Kat Kitty smiled. Yes, he makes me laugh too sometimes. He just cannot help himself. He knows what he likes, and he definitely likes cheese, Kitty Kat Kitty said with coolness.

I think he loves cheese, Pepper said.

I do love cheese, Mr. Squeaks assured them as he turned back to stare out the window toward the park again.

Stop talking about love. It makes me feel sick to my stomach, Jack said as he made a nauseated face.

Kitty Kat Kitty smiled. Pepper rolled her eyes at him.

There is nothing I love more in this whole world, Mr. Squeaks declared as he started to dream of cheese-on-a-stick.

Love—ugh, Jack complained as he shuddered. Can we change the subject please?

You are the one who keeps talking about it, Pepper said.

Mr. Squeaks was no longer listening to them. He had focused all his attention on his daydream about cheese-on-a-stick.

Kitty Kat Kitty looked at the kittens and then back at Mr. Squeaks. She could tell Mr. Squeaks was lost in a cheese trance, so she waited.

Ahem—nothing—Mr. Squeaks?

Mr. Squeaks partially emerged from his cheese daydream. Nothing, he said firmly as he turned with an assured smile and looked at Kitty Kat Kitty and the kittens.

Kitty Kat Kitty was giving Mr. Squeaks ‘the look.’ The kittens saw the face that Kitty Kat Kitty was making and Pepper mimicked it, then she elbowed Jack and he tried to copy it as well.

Mr. Squeaks recognized the look and realized he may have offended them.

Nothing—ahem—that is to say, except for you guys.

Kitty Kat Kitty’s expression didn’t change. The kittens followed her lead. Mr. Squeaks started getting nervous as they all stared at him.

Kitty Kat Kitty finally smiled. The kittens soon did the same with Jack lagging behind.

That’s what we thought, Kitty Kat Kitty said lightly with a smile and a nod.

That’s what we thought, Pepper repeated.

Yeah, Jack added, knowing he’d come in a little late again. Pepper rolled her eyes at Jack for not keeping up. Jack just shrugged.

Seeing he was nearly in the clear, Mr. Squeaks relaxed. Can you tell me more about—cheese-on-a-stick? he begged.

Kitty Kat Kitty looked at her kittens. She smiled and then winked at them. She knew talking about cheese was Mr. Squeaks’ favorite topic. She raised her head up and spoke in a dramatic fashion to tease Mr. Squeaks a little more.

Hot cheese—on a stick—is a very rare and special treat, she said. The kittens giggled and turned to watch Mr. Squeaks squirm. If you’re lucky, you can find it at special events like a fair, or a circus. It’s a large piece of fresh cut cheese that can come in many flavors, but mozzarella, cheddar and pepper jack are some of the more popular flavors. Kitty Kat Kitty smiled at her kittens.

Yeah—? Mr. Squeaks said softly, taking it all in.

It is served melting hot, so they push a stick into the piece of cheese to hold on to, she continued.

Mr. Squeaks was very still, and his eyes grew wide as he listened intently to every word.

They dip the cheese in a light cake batter and then roll it in a tasty breading, coating it all over, she explained.

His mouth dropped open.

Next, they carefully use the stick to hold the cheese down in a fryer of hot oil, quickly cooking it until it’s hot and gooey, she continued. Mr. Squeaks’ eyes grew even wider and he began to look at her in disbelief. The cooked batter helps the melted cheese keep its shape; otherwise, the warm melted cheese would be too soft to stay on the stick, she said.

Kitty Kat Kitty motioned to the kittens with her head to look at Mr. Squeaks again. He was now standing very still with his soft tail drooping in his hands as he swayed back and forth. He slowly turned his stare back out the window, a pool of saliva beneath him.

Kitty Kat Kitty continued, When the cheese comes out of the fryer, they lay it on a paper towel to cool just a little. They keep it under heat lamps after it’s cooked to serve it hot so the cheese is very soft and stretchy when you eat it.

The kittens smiled up