Sebato The Cat

It was late one winter evening and everyone was in bed. The winds were moaning and the clouds were floating fluffy snowflakes to the ground. The trees were bowing beneath the weight of ice. The streams were frozen in their banks and Little James Bruce was sleeping on the rug before the fire. He was dreaming pleasant dreams of toasted marsh mellows, warm cups of chocolate, playful puppies and memories of mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something at the door went ..."KNOCK! ... KNOCK! ... KNOCK!" ...

"Who is there?" Asked James, while rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"It is only me," answered someone.

"And who is me?" James asked.

"It is I, Sebato, the cat." Was the reply. "It is so very cold out here tonight. Might I come inside and warm my paws before the fire? PLEEEASE?"

"How do I know you are who you say," asked James. "You may be a big bad wolf or a Boogy Man. I am never to open the door to strangers. My Mommy told me so."

"Haven't you heard of me," asked the cat. "It is I who sing on the barnyard fence each night. I am certain you will recognize my beautiful voice. Let me sing you a note ..... 'OH - SO - LOW - MEEEOW ......... OH - ROWRR - ROW - REEEOWRRR' ... "

"Okay! Okay!" said James. "I recognize your singing. But still I do not know who you are. Therefore I cannot ... I must not let you in."

"Oh PLEEEASE don't leave me out in snow tonight," pleaded the cat. "It is so very cold out here. My paws are frost-bitten and my lovely tail has become a popsicle. Please let me sleep inside tonight. I will be good. I promise."

"Well," replied James. "Step back away from the door so that I may see you through the peep hole and assure myself you are telling the truth about who you are, and I will consider letting you inside."

"Oh Thank You," said the cat. "I will always be in your debt, kind sir."

James turned on the porch light and peeked through the peep hole. He saw a very cold black cat sitting on it's haunches in the snow before the steps. "Do you see," asked the cat. "It is only I, Sebato, the cat."

"True enough," confirmed James. "You are a cat. But are you a good cat?"

"I do think so," replied Sebato.

"Then you may come inside and warm yourself by the fire," said James. "But only on one condition."

"Anything," promised Sebato. "I will be so happy to feel the warmth of your fireplace that I would eagerly sell you my soul."

"Oh ... No, you silly cat." said James. "I do not want your soul. I only want you to promise not to cause any mischief. If you wake up my Grandmother, she will put you out in the snow, and punish me for allowing you inside."

"That is good," replied Sebato. "Because I am not sure I have a soul. But nontheless, I give you my solemn promise not to cause any mischief."

"Okay. You may come inside then," said James.

Sebato, the cat, walked gingerly into the room. He made a slow circle before the hearth, then sprang upon the arm of the sofa and lay down with his arms dangling over each side. "I will sleep here tonight, kind James," said he. For James had introduced himself at the door, like the gentleman he was. "I will make no more sound than a mouse. Return to your slumber, on the blanket, by the fire and worry no more about me. It is so warm inside that I am content to lie here until the mockingbird awakens me at dawn."

"Good Night, Jamesss!" said the cat.

"Good Night, Sebato, replied James.

James Bruce curled up in his blanket, on the rug, before the fire and soon was sound asleep. Once more he was dreaming pleasant dreams of toasted marsh mellows, warm cups of chocolate, playful puppies and memories of mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something ... something interrupted his dreams.

He wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused him to open his eyes. James was awake. And what did he see? Sitting in the middle of his chest was ..... Sebato, The Cat. It gave him a scare! And rightfully so! Sebato leaned forward. James felt Sebato's warm breath on his face. The cat extended a paw ... a paw with one very long and extremely sharp claw. "Jamesssss?" asked the cat with a very mischievous purr.

"W-w-what do you w-want?" asked James.

"Can I have your nose for a toy?" asked the cat. And it wiggled it's sharp claw in front of James' nose.

"NO!" exclaimed James. "You cannot have my nose. I need it to breathe with."

"Please?" begged the cat. "I am so terribly bored. I cannot lie still without something to play with. Can't I pleasssse have your nose? Let me have your nose. Pleasssse?"

"No!" shouted James. "You cannot have my nose. Get back on the chair and leave me alone, or I will put you back out in the snow."

"Okay," pouted the cat. "I will go back to the chair. I do not wish to sleep in the cold, cold snow. I will be a good cat from now on. I promisssse."

"Good Night, Jamesss!" said the cat.

"Good Night, Sebato, replied James.

James Bruce again snuggled up in his blanket, on the rug, before the fire and soon was sound asleep. Once more he was dreaming pleasant dreams of toasted marsh mellows, warm cups of chocolate, playful puppies and memories of mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something ... something interrupted his dreams.

He wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused him to open his eyes. James was awake. And what did he see? Sitting in the middle of his chest was ..... Sebato, The Cat. It gave him a scare! And rightfully so! Sebato leaned forward. James felt Sebato's warm breath on his face. The cat extended a paw ... a paw with one very long and extremely sharp claw. "Jamesssss?" asked the cat with a very mischievous purr.

"W-w-what do you w-want?" asked James.

"Can I have your ear for a toy?" asked the cat. And it wiggled it's sharp claw up against James' left ear.

"NO!" exclaimed James. "You cannot have my ear. I need it to hear with."

"Please?" begged the cat. "I am so terribly bored. I cannot lie still without something to play with. Can't I pleasssse have your ear? You have two of them. Let me have one of your ears. Pleasssse?"

"No!" shouted James. "You cannot have my ear. Get back on the chair and leave me alone, or I will put you back out in the snow."

"Okay," pouted the cat. "I will go back to the chair. I do not wish to sleep in the cold, cold snow. I will be a good cat from now on. I promisssse."

"Good Night, Jamesss!" said the cat.

"Good Night, Sebato, replied James.

James Bruce again snuggled up in his blanket, on the rug, before the fire and soon was sound asleep. Once more he was dreaming pleasant dreams of toasted marsh mellows, warm cups of chocolate, playful puppies and memories of mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something ... something interrupted his dreams.

He wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused him to open his eyes. James was awake. And what did he see? Sitting in the middle of his chest was ..... Sebato, The Cat. It gave him a scare! And rightfully so! Sebato leaned forward. James felt Sebato's warm breath on his face. The cat extended a paw ... a paw with one very long and extremely sharp claw. "Jamesssss?" asked the cat with a very mischievous purr.

"W-w-what do you w-want?" asked James.

"Can I have your eyeball for a toy?" asked the cat. And it wiggled it's sharp claw before James' eyes.

"NO!" exclaimed James. "You cannot have my eye. I need it to see with."

"Please?" begged the cat. "I am so terribly bored. I cannot lie still without something to play with. Can't I pleasssse have your eye? You have two of them. Let me have one of your eyes. Pleasssse?"

"No!" shouted James. "You cannot have my eye. Get back on the chair and leave me alone, or I will put you back out in the snow."

"Okay," pouted the cat. "I will go back to the chair. I do not wish to sleep in the cold, cold snow. I will be a good cat from now on. I promisssse."

"Good Night, Jamesss!" said the cat.

"Good Night, Sebato, replied James.

James Bruce again snuggled up in his blanket, on the rug, before the fire and soon was sound asleep. Once more he was dreaming pleasant dreams of toasted marsh mellows, warm cups of chocolate, playful puppies and memories of mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something ... something interrupted his dreams.

He wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused him to open his eyes. James was awake. And what did he see? Sitting in the middle of his chest was ..... Sebato, The Cat. It gave him a scare! And rightfully so! Sebato leaned forward. James felt Sebato's warm breath on his face. The cat extended a paw ... a paw with one very long and extremely sharp claw. "Jamesssss?" asked the cat with a very mischievous purr.

"W-w-what do you w-want?" asked James.

"Can I have your tongue for a toy?" asked the cat. And it wiggled it's sharp claw in front of James' mouth.

"NO!" exclaimed James. "You cannot have my tongue. I need it to swallow with."

"Please?" begged the cat. "I am so terribly bored. I cannot lie still without something to play with. Can't I pleasssse have your tongue? Let me have your tongue. Pleasssse?"

"No!" shouted James. "You cannot have my tongue. Get back on the chair and leave me alone, or I will put you back out in the snow."

"Okay," pouted the cat. "I will go back to the chair. I do not wish to sleep in the cold, cold snow. I will be a good cat from now on. I promisssse."

"Good Night, Jamesss!" said the cat.

"Good Night, Sebato, replied James.

James Bruce again snuggled up in his blanket, on the rug, before the fire and soon was sound asleep. Once more he was dreaming pleasant dreams of toasted marsh mellows, warm cups of chocolate, playful puppies and memories of mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something ... something interrupted his dreams.

He wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused him to open his eyes. James was awake. And what did he see? Nothing! Hardly a sound! Scarcely a stir! Where was Sebato, The Cat? James turned his head and there on the arm of the sofa lay the cat. Sebato was sound asleep. Purring gently. With his long furry tail twitching, thumping against the soft cushion of the couch. "My goodness," exclaimed James. "What a lovely tail he has."

Sebato was finally asleep on the arm of the sofa. He was dreaming pleasant dreams of plump field mice, warm platters of milk, playful grasshoppers and memories of his mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something ... something interrupted his dreams.

He wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused him to open his eyes. Sebato was awake. And what did he see? Standing at the side of the sofa, gazing down at him was ..... James Bruce. It gave him a scare! And rightfully so! James leaned forward with a curious smile playing on his lips. Sebato felt his warm breath against his face. "Ssssebato?" asked James, with a very unnerving drawl.

"W-w-what do you w-want?" asked Sebato.

"Can I have your long bushy tail for a toy?" asked James. And he pointed with his finger to Sebatos' long bushy tail.

"NO!" exclaimed Sebato. "You cannot have my tail. I need it for balance."

"Please?" begged James. "I am so terribly bored. I cannot lie still without thinking how much I want to own your long bushy tail. Can't I pleasssse have your tail, Sebato? You could always grow another one. Let me crop off your tail. Pleasssse?"

"No!" shouted Sebato. "You cannot have my tail. If you crop it off, I could never grow another one, and I could never catch a baby bird or a mouse again."

"Okay," pouted James. "I will go back to my blanket. You just rest yourself on the arm of the sofa. You are being a good kitty as you promised, so I will behave myself as well. Good Night, Sebato!" said James.

"Good Night, Jamesss!" answered the cat.

Once more Sebato, the cat, was asleep on the arm of the sofa. He was again dreaming pleasant dreams of plump field mice, warm platters of milk, playful grasshoppers and memories of his mommy reading one of Oegyreva's wonderful beddy-time stories. The logs in the fireplace went ... "CRACKLE! ... CRACKLE! ... POP!" ... and something ... something interrupted his dreams.

He wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused him to open his eyes. Sebato was awake. And what did he see? Standing at the side of the sofa, gazing down at him was ..... James Bruce. It gave him a scare! And rightfully so! James was leaning above him holding a pair of large scissors.

"W-w-what are you doing?" asked Sebato.

"Oh! Nothing," answered James, "and he hid the scissors behind his back.

"I saw that," said Sebato. "You were going to crop off my tail."

"Oh, no I wasn't," said James.

"Oh, Yes you were too," said Sebato, "and I will have none of it. You are a naughty, naughty child to attempt to chop off my tail. I am afraid I cannot share your company any more this evening. I demand that you open the door and let me outside."

"But it is so very cold outside," said James. "Don't you need the fireplace to keep you warm?"

"Oh nonsense!" Said the cat. "I have four soft mittens and a fur coat to keep me warm. What need have I for a fireplace? At least out there, nobody will snip off my tail as I sleep."

Sebato, the cat, slunk out the doorway and into the soft falling snow. As James Bruce barred the door, he said: "Silly cat! Doesn't he know I really wasn't going to snip off his tail. Oh well, at long last I can sleep without having to worry that someone is going to snip off my nose and play with it on the rug by the fire. tee hee hee."

"I have learned my lesson," muttered James. "Never again will I invite a stranger into my house. One never knows if he holds an evil design."

Soon he was once again snuggled in his cozy blanket before the hearth.

Good Night, Sebato!" he said. "Wherever you are."

THE END

Written By: George Lewis Avery
06/26/00


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