The Life and Times of Thaddeus Whiskers

By Marcia Franke

The Life and Times of Thaddeus Whiskers is a fantasy, which takes place on a farm and in a protected area of woods at the edge of a national forest in central Kentucky, USA. It is the story where one discovers that humans and animals share closely related worlds. The characters portray strengths, frailties, delights, and challenges common to human beings. As they face and deal with moral and emotional dilemmas, they reveal truths about human traits without being overly pointed. Each has a distinctive persona, which recognizes the importance of the Creator, friends, and family in their lives. The reader may find that it is easier to see the essential qualities of the human soul, to believe in beauty, goodness, and virtue through the experiences of these whimsical personalities. The world of the farm and Old Coffey Woods is a safe place to be and to learn about the realities of life and death. The characters in this story are sincere and true to life, with the goodness and tenderness that is alive somewhere in every one of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781635688146

Book preview

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The Life and Times

of

Thaddeus Whiskers

Marcia Franke

Copyright © 2017 Marcia Franke

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2017

ISBN 978-1-63568-813-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63568-814-6 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Dedication

Thanks go to the one who created everything and who gave us the imagination to recognize and experience the beauty that surrounds us. I dedicate this book to the children in the world who have kept the wonder of life and the joy of childhood alive no matter what their age.

Part I–Life on the Evans’ Farm: Chapters 1–6

Part II–Life in the Old Coffey Woods: Chapters 7–13

Part 1

Life on the Evans’ Farm

Chapter 1

Thaddeus Whiskers awoke to a brand-new world. Bright sunlight streaked across his face. It felt warm and reassuring. He explored his new home. It had a water bowl, a pile of alfalfa pellets and…

Oh, my dear … my very, very dear. Thaddeus stood transfixed. Before him were buttery lettuce and young cabbage leaves. But best of all, there were his very most favorite—tiny golden carrots with leafy green tops. Thaddeus quivered from the top of his tasseled ears to the bottom of his shaggy brown-and-white feet.

As he ate, Thaddeus remembered other cages with water bowls and pellets. One memory seemed vague and long ago when his mama’s warm body lay next to his. The other was more recent, at the pet store, and he recalled clearly the redheaded boy and small girl with pudgy fingers who pressed their faces against his cage. A man with big gentle hands lifted him up, and a sweet-voiced woman stroked his long silky hair. He remembered the bumpy ride in a dark box and then quiet.

He heard a sound and looked up. High above him, from a mound of brightly colored patches, the redheaded boy’s eager face smiled down through the top of the wire cage.

Good morning, Thaddeus Whiskers. I hope you like your name and your new home.

Thaddeus sat with a sweet carrot in his mouth. He was trying to bite off a piece that he could chew.

Good morning, young human, he thought but didn’t speak.

A woman appeared in the doorway.

Time for breakfast, Jeremy, she said with the voice that Thaddeus recognized.

Suddenly, Jeremy bounced off the bed.

Okay, Mom, he said as he crossed the wooden floor and was gone. Thaddeus went back to his carrot. Soon Jeremy returned, gave Thaddeus a couple of hardy scratches behind the ear, and flew back out the door.

I’ll be back … chores.

While Thaddeus was trying to figure out what chores were, he became aware of a hairy face hanging over his cage. A long tongue and hot panting breath sprayed him with drops of sticky fluid. A black face stared at him with huge, limpid eyes; then the snakelike tongue scraped across the wire.

Thaddeus could see a skinny, ropelike thing swaying back and forth rhythmically in the air behind the giant body. He crept nearer to the side of the cage and sniffed, his nose high in the air. The creature smelled like nothing he had ever smelled before. A bulbous nose, wet and cold met his at the wire. He shivered and jumped back.

Awww, don’t get scared, little feller, it said with a gravelly voice. I won’t hurt ya’ none. I’m Spunky, I am. Ya’ act like ya never seen a dog before.

Thaddeus sat perfectly still. The dog went on.

I was raised with rabbits, don’t ya’ know … when I was just a pup myself … and I always felt like we was sort of kin. Fact is, I kind of miss having the little hoppers around, don’t ya know. Spunky laughed. It was a yodeling sound.

I bet ya’ don’t know nothin’ about a farm. Spunky walked around the cage for a better look at Thaddeus.

Thaddeus took a deep breath. The ropelike thing didn’t follow Spunky. Instead it hung swaying in the air above a different creature altogether. It was orange-and-tan striped with large golden, slanted eyes; and next to it was another creature, who was chocolate colored and very bushy. Both of them stood staring intently at Thaddeus from the edge of the braided rug. The bushy one’s huge tail switched back and forth behind him.

Spunky seemed oblivious to the drama going on. I’m sort of the unofficial greeter here, don’t ya’ know, he said. Bill and Connie Evans are veterinarians, so there’s all kinds of animals around.

"Meeeeoow. Aren’t ya going to introduce us, Spunk?"

Spunky spun around. Hauuumph … well, boys … Aww … meet the newest member of the family … Thaddeus Whiskers. That’s the name Jeremy gave him. Thad, meet the cats, Buster, the striped and Angus, the chocolate.

At the mention of their names, the cats padded softly toward Thaddeus. Their yellow eyes glittered, and their tails swished. Spunky leaned close to the wire and whispered into Thaddeus’s ear.

They look a little scary, but they’re okay once ya get used to ’em. Spunky winked. I’ll keep an eye on them until you get bigger. Cats are … different from the rest of us … a little strange, don’t ya’ know, but harmless if ya’ know how to handle them. Spunky turned around and smiled at the cats.

Helllooo, purred Buster through his teeth.

Hi, squeaked Angus in his high raspy voice.

Angus isn’t much of a talker, grinned Buster. Unless he wants something. Fact is, we’re brothers, though we don’t look alike. He giggled.

Spunky interrupted. Boy, am I embarrassed, little hopper, he said to Thaddeus. We haven’t let you get a word in edge-wise … Let’s be quiet, boys, and give Thad here a chance to talk.

Thaddeus sat frozen, staring at them.

Go on, said Buster. We’re listening. Tell us all about yourself.

The two cats and the dog sat patiently before the still rabbit. Spunky finally broke the silence.

You understand, don’t ya’?

Thaddeus shook his head yes.

You do know how to talk?

Thaddeus had understood everything that the animals said to him. In fact he understood the humans too. But he had never thought about talking himself. No one had ever asked him to before. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

Well… He blinked and tried again.

I … gu … guess … I … ca … can, he stuttered, and his nose twitched in excitement.

It felt good to talk. Strange, but good. Like the most natural thing in the world to do … and so he did. But once he started talking, he had so many questions; Spunky and the boys had a hard time keeping up with him.

Every day Jeremy took Thaddeus out of his cage and allowed him to roam through the big farmhouse. Of course Jeremy and his little sister, Jesse, were with him. Jesse looked a lot like her mother, with her shy smile and wide eyes. She loved to snuggle her face in Thaddeus’s silky hair, and when she leaned over him, her long braids always fell on top of him. This had given him quite a start until he discovered