I didn’t have anything much to do,

When a Cat came in, as Cats will do,

And said, “An adventure is waiting for you,

If you will follow.”

 

I said I wasn’t doing anything much, and I’d sure like to come with him.

 

The Cat said, “Come, this will be fun!”

I came as fast as I could run.

We headed into the rising sun

And it was really getting in my eyes.

 

I could barely see where I was going.

 

Though my eyes were dazzled, I thought that I

Could hear wild water rushing by.

I heard the Cat say, with a sigh,

“Oh, how very wet it is here!”

 

And when my eyes finally cleared I didn’t believe what I saw.

 

“We are crossing the river, don’t fall in,”

Said the Cat with a whiskery feline grin,

“For it’s fast and deep and the currents spin,

And there’s no way I could pull you out if you lose your balance.”

 

That was very strange, because there are no rivers in my neighborhood…

 

“Now the other side is drawing near,

Just keep to the stepping-stones, have no fear.

But do be careful, it’s slippery here,

And you’re going to get a ducking if you don’t watch out!”

 

But I slipped twice and nearly fell in before I started paying attention.

 

We crossed the river, I’m glad to say,

And I didn’t get drowned, which made my day.

We continued on our merry way,

And Cat told me, “Not much farther now. Nice day, isn’t it?”

 

It was a nice day, and the scenery was pleasant, too.

 

Whispering down through the grassy hills,

The wind flung far her lacy frills.

I said, “Cat, can we hurry? I’m getting the chills

For I haven’t any fur to keep me warm.”

 

Then I really had to work to keep up with him.

 

But at the top of the tallest hill,

I was suddenly given a nasty thrill:

Two armies were faced off, ready to kill,

And the Cat said, “We’re going to go right between them, stay on your toes.”

 

Which I wasn’t too happy to hear, for sure!

 

He told me, “Move quickly, the way through narrows,

They swoop at each other like angry sparrows.

Soon the air will be full of arrows,

And of course we wouldn’t want you to be stuck with one.”

 

I scurried past all the soldiers like a mouse scampering for my hole.

 

As it happened, the battle was never begun,

For neither side knew which side I was on,

So neither side lost and neither side won,

And all because nobody wanted to shoot me. Thank goodness for that.

 

And I thought that at least I’d done some good.

 

“You are a hero!” Cat cried out,

“You’ve put those armies right to rout.

I’d say all this is working out

Much better than I had thought it would, given the circumstances.”

 

That didn’t make me too comfortable, but I liked being a hero.

 

“Across the river!” Cat then cried,

“Back across to the other side!

Here is a bridge, but beware the tide!

It might knock you off!”

 

Even so, I wasn’t expecting a ten-foot-high wave. I just barely made it across.

 

Despite all the risks I was having a ball,

I was happy, excited, and ready to roll,

When Cat said, “Now the greatest adventure of all!”

And left me standing here in my backyard waiting for something to happen.