MITTY HAS TO WAIT

Mitty slept peacefully in the comfortable basket.  It was full  of her boys' socks and clothes.  It was in a small room right next to the eating area. The sound of footsteps awoke her.  Swiftly, she jumped out of the basket and hurried into the other room. The tall boy and the gentle boy dashed into the room, sat down at the table and began eating. Mitty began playing with their shoe strings. But they ate quickly and dashed outside. Mitty followed them. The tall boy called out to her "Gotta go to school girl.  We'll see ya later."  Sadly she watched them disappear inside a huge orange bus.  Mitty didn't understand and she didn't want to wait until later.

"Hello, my friend."  Mitty heard a small voice and  looked up to see Rita the robin flying overhead.

 "Hi, Rita," Mitty called to her. "Do you want to play today?"

Rita flew down and landed beside her good friend.  "I  can't right now.  I'm building something very special and I promise to show it to you in a couple of days."  Rita saw the disappointed expression on Mitty's face. "Why don't you go visit Kitty Gidget. We haven't seen her in a while."

"Yea," Mitty agreed.  She loved Gidget.  Gidget was a very grown up kitty and she always taught Mitty about life.  "OK, Rita.  I'll see you later." Mitty dashed towards Gidgets house.  Rita waved her small brown wing goodbye.

When Mitty arrived at Gidgets, she went to the back window and  meowed as loud as she could.  A nice man let her in.  She looked high and low but she could not find Gidget.  Using her keen since of smell she found her upstairs in a dark closet. She was asleep in a beautiful pink box on a fluffy white blanket. Slowley Gidget's eyes opened.

 "Well hello, Mitty.  I wasn't expecting you."  Her voice was unusually soft.

"I thought I'd see if you wanted to play, " Mitty asked.

"I'm sorry, but I can't play for a while."

"But, I want to play now." Mitty said unhappily.

Gidget held Mitty's paw.  "Sometimes in our lives we just have to wait.  I know being patient can be difficult but the rewards can be wonderful too. Come see me again in a few days and I'll have a surprise to show you." Her voice was barely a whisper.

Mitty felt worried about her.  "OK, you take care of  yourself."  Mitty tip toed out of the room, down the stairs and to the back door.  The man let her out.  Now she was feeling very lonely. Why, oh why did the boys have to go on the bus?  What was Rita up to?  And most of all, why did Kitty Gidget want to stay in that box?

Over the next few days, Mitty followed the mommy around the house  and watched all the curious things she did.  It proved to be quite interesting. She was a very nice lady.  One morning after Mitty ate her breakfast she noticed that the boys still weren't awake.  She dashed up to their room and jumped in the bed with them and kissed them. The laughed and hugged her tightly. The smaller boy got a small string and played with Mitty for the longest time. Mitty was happy. She followed the boys to the eating area and tickled their toes as they ate. Unexpectedly, she heard loud chirping outside.  She ran to the door and meowed. The mommy let her out.

"Over here Mitty, over here," Rita shouted as she flew  gracefully through the air. She circled the large oak tree. "Up here, climb on up. I have something to show you."

Mitty ran to the tree and begain climbing.  Mitty reached a tall, thick branch and Rita landed near her. Rita smiled proudly and then Mitty noticed a small brown nest made out of hundreds of twiggs and leaves.  "Wow Rita. It's spectacular. Did you make it all by yourself, " Mitty asked?

"Yep, I sure did," Rita replied.  She was holding her head up high.  "And I'm sorry I couldn't play with you a few days ago."

"Oh, no don't be sorry.  This nest will keep you safe and  warm.  I understand and I've been practicing being patient," Mitty explained. Suddenly the back door of the house opened.  The tall boy came outside.

 "Mitty, Mitty where are you? Come home girl, " he shouted.

"Oh, I've got to go Rita.  I'll come back and visit  later."  Mitty carefully climbed down the huge tree.  She ran as quickly as she could to her boy. He lovingly picked her up.

"Hey, girl.  It's Saturday and I've got a surprise to  show you," he said.  He rubbed her head and carried her down a few houses.  Mitty recognized that she was entering Gidget's house.  Mitty was feeling very curious about what was going on.  He took her upstairs to the same closet Gidget had been resting in. He carefully put Mitty down. She peered into the pink box.  Gidget was stretching out and five tiny babies were sleeping peacefully beside her tummy. It was the most beautiful sight Mitty had ever seen. "Aren't they cool," her boy remarked.  Mitty was so astounded she just stared at the lovely sight. Her boy left them alone.

 Gidget smiled up at Mitty. "So what do you think," she asked?

 "They're, they're amazing, " Mitty answered.  "Their truely amazing! What are their names?"

"I have been thinking about that.  I decided, since you  have been so patient and understanding, that you should be rewarded.  I will give you the honor of naming them," Gidget explained.

Mitty's eyes grew wide with excitement.  "Oh, my I've  never, ever done anything so important before."  She gazed at the wonderful, teeny creatures. Two were all white, just like their mother.  One was black and white. One was gray.  And one was black, white and gray.  Mitty studied each one very carefully. She thought and thought for a long while.  "I have it. I have it," Mitty proclaimed. Gidget nodded her head for Mitty to continue.  Pointing her paw, Mitty started from the darker ones to the lighter ones.  "This is Rolley, then Polley, Dipsey, Doodle and Noodle!"

The two Kitties laughed and laughed.  "Oh, yes that's perfect," Gidget agreed.

Mitty gently gave each kitten a small kiss.  Then she looked  smartly at Gidget.  "And I must say, they were definitely worth the wait," Mitty whispered.

THE END

Copyright 1999, Shelly Morris