Junior King's Business
M L
It took D o a bump on the head to teach Kitty Bibbs a lesson
by Betty Bruechert
/ ) inney was having a heart-to- _ / heart talk with her cat. Kitty Bibbs had a silky, black coat and a snow-white band around his neck and down his chest, which of course accounted for his name. He was lying very quietly on Lin- ney’s lap, with one eye shut, and the other regarding her very sleepily. Usually Linney was a sweet-natured little girl, but today she was cross at Kitty Bibbs. She pulled one of his ears, and Kitty Bibbs only put one of his big black paws on her hand, but very gently, so that the claws did not scratch her. “ I just can’t understand you, Kitty Bibbs,” said Linney earnestly, “You are such a nice cat. You never bite or scratch me, no matter what I do to you. I can even dress you in my doll’s clothes, and put you in her
when she pushed you out of her fa vorite armchair. You are a bad, bad kitty!” Nips and Notches “ And that’s not all. You fight with all the dogs and cats in the neigh borhood. Look at the big patches that have been pulled out of your fur. And in this ear you have a notch where a bigger cat gave you a nip.” For answer, Kitty Bibbs only curled up more comfortably on Linney’s lap. “ Oh, dear, oh, dear,” sighed his un happy little mistress, “ I wish I could get some sense into your head. For, Kitty Bibbs,” and this she whispered into his ear, “ If you don’t mend your ways, Daddy says I will have to get rid of you. And I do love you, even if you are a bad, bad puss.” With tears in her eyes, Linney put down the big cat, and went in the dining room to do her homework. It was only too true that Kitty Bibbs was a born fighter. He was an unusually intelligent animal. He knew his name, and would come when called; he kept the attic and basement and .garage free from mice; and he was very fond of Linney. But even when Bozo, the huge but gentle boxer, tried to show friendliness he only rebuffed him with hisses, erect fur and threatening paws. When the neighborhood children tried to show him affection, he walked away in dignified anger. They watched Lin ney enviously as she placed him in her doll buggy and wheeled him about. Even their mothers and fathers were displeased with the big black cat, for in the night it was his shrill voice that rose above the others as they carried on their nocturnal battles.
The next day when Linney left for school, she had another word with Kitty Bibbs. As she gave him his breakfast, she said, “ I wish something would happen today to teach you how silly it is to fight all the time.” Then she gathered up her school books and hurried away. And, strange as it may seem, some thing did happen that day exactly as Linney had hoped, which taught Kit ty Bibbs once and for all the lesson he needed to learn. And this is how it came about: Right after lunch it started to rain, and you know how cats hate to get wet. So Kitty Bibbs stayed inside. He slept a little. Then he chased a ball of yarn around the room until Lin ney’s mother rescued it. Soon he was bored. He longed for the green lawn where he could lie in wait for .un suspecting birds. Even Bozo would pay no attention to him; he was tired of Kitty Bibbs’ crankiness. Linney’s mother was busy sewing and did not even notice his restlessness. When she went downstairs to answer the tele phone, Kitty Bibbs wandered into the sewing room. Suddenly he beheld a sight that aroused his fighting blood. Across the room stood a large black cat with a white front. He looked very fierce indeed; one of his ears had been chewed. This was just what Kitty Bibbs was waiting for. He advanced very slowly, and softly, growling under his breath. The other cat came right toward him too. Suddenly, as quick as lightning, Kitty Bibbs leaped at the other cat. But instead of com ing into contact with soft fur and flesh, and sharp claws, he hit some thing very hard. For a moment he was stunned. Then he backed up, and THE KING'S BUSINESS
The sight aroused his fighting blood.
carriage, but you don’t mind. But you have to fight everybody and every thing else. Aren’t you ashamed?” She shook him a little, but Kitty Bibbs just pretended to bite her hand, and closed both eyes. But Linney put her hand under his chin, and made him look at her. “ Last night, when my father want ed to give you more fish, you growled at him. And you hissed at Mamma 26
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