Mama Cat was waiting at the corner when the school bus dropped off her kitten, Chloe and Zoe. They started talking as soon as they got off the bus.
Chloe: Mama, Mama! Guess what?
Zoe: She’ll never guess what.
Chloe: It’s really exciting! It’s the first time the school has ever done it.
Mama Cat: What is the school doing?
Zoe: We’re going to have a Halloween party!
Mama Cat: What’s a Halloween party?
Zoe: Everyone dresses up. And we have candy and cake and treats!
Chloe: And apple cider!
Zoe: And games!
Chloe: And a prize for the best costume!
Mama Cat: That sounds like a strange party for young animals. Whose idea was it?
Chloe: I don’t know. Doesn’t it sound like fun?
Zoe: I almost forgot. There’s going to be a haunted room too with all kinds of scary stuff.
Mama Cat: Why would you want to be scared? Your fur gets a puffy.
Chloe: But nothing bad is going to happen. We’re at school.
Mama Cat: You said you need to dress up. Like in fancy party clothes?
Zoe: No, Mama. Like something else. Like a dog or a chipmunk.
Chloe: Or a human.
Zoe: We want to go as bears or lambs. We want to be fluffy.
Mama Cat: You’re already naturally fluffy.
Zoe: And we like being fluffy. So we don’t want to do something dumb like being a bumblebee or something.
Mama Cat: Where are you supposed to get these costumes?
Chloe: They said that Gargantua and Nibbles are both good places online. Or you could make them. They have them at Dash-n-Go too.
While the girls were doing their homework, Mama Cat called her friend Sylvia.
Mama Cat: Sylvia, did your kids say anything about a Halloween party at school? What’s going on?
Sylvia: What I heard is that it’s another one of those goofy ideas about improving relations between animals and humans. Humans children love Halloween.
Mama Cat: Human children also love running around and shrieking loudly. Do we have to do that too?
Sylvia (laughing): I certainly hope not.
Mama Cat: The girls said they were going to get candy and cakes and apple cider. Cats don’t like any of those things.
Sylvia: Maybe you could suggest something more cat-friendly.
Mama Cat: Why should I have to suggest that. The school is for animals, not humans. They should know animals don’t like that stuff.
Sylvia: Except for the dogs and raccoons. They eat pretty much anything.
Mama Cat: That is very true. Maybe I need to talk to the Principal, Mr Phelps.
The girls spent the evening after dinner looking at costumes online. Mama Cat hadn’t realized how many costumes for cats were available. They narrowed the choices to a bear, a lamb, and a beaver. After the girls were on the bus the next morning, Mama Cat called Mr Phelps.
Mama Cat: Hello, Mr Phelps. I’m Chloe and Zoe’s mother. I wanted to talk to you about the Halloween party you are planning for the school.
Mr Phelps: Of course. What would you like to discuss?
Mama Cat: The refreshments don’t sound very cat-friendly. We really don’t like sweets. I was hoping that you could add something a little more cat-friendly. I’m sure there are other animals who won’t be eating candy or cake.
Mr Phelps: We are trying to provide an exotic experience by copying the human party as closely as possible. We are providing lunch that day as usual, so no one should be spending the day hungry.
Mama Cat: I’m not worried about my girls going hungry. I just think that there should be some treats there that are appealing to everyone.
Mr Phelps: I appreciate your perspective. Unfortunately, we have a budget for the party and don’t have the money to get special treats for everyone. Your children are welcome to bring their own snacks, if you’d like. We would love to have enough to share, if that’s possible. And we’re still looking for parent volunteers, if you’re interested.
Mama Cat: Thank you for your time, Mr Phelps.
Mr Phelps: My pleasure.
Mama Cat wondered how the conversation got so far off-track. She didn’t understand how it started out with wanting to change the party to her being responsible for providing treats for all the cats at the school. She decided that she would volunteer, just to keep an eye on things.
Next week: The party.
Pictures generated with Gemini AI.
I sympathize with the question about haunted rooms. Paying to be frightened has always seemed like one of those peculiar human customs that probably makes much more sense to us than it does to anyone observing from another species.
It is a little strange.
It’s an opportunity to experience certain emotions in a safe way, although it’s a very first world thing. Plenty of people around the world can just walk out their front doors to find dystopias and horror shows. We forget how lucky we are.
Sadly, that is true.
Another beautiful writing, I do agree with Mama Cat and I am sure She would find a very nice idea for them. I also loved the pictures too… You are amazing with this Cat stories, Thank You, have a nice day, Love, nia
You are very kind. Thank
eye think mizzturr phelpz waz act shoo a lee fizhin for volunteerz de hole time. de partee soundz
like itz gonna bee fun ‼️😸🐾 happee week end two everee one 🖤🧡🧡🖤🎃
The kids will love it
Sound about right- a mom getting sucked in to helping and buying stuff. 🙂 I can’t wait to read more about it next week. XO
My cats aren’t sure about all this accommodating humans.They think Mr Phelps is going to have a bunch of sick animals on his hands.
Mama Cat getting smoothly cornered into volunteering by Principal Phelps is too real. It is hilarious imagining cats trying to wrap their heads around human party food like candy and cake.
You’re right about that. Schools always need volunteers. Trying to represent animals allows for a lot of “why do we do that” situations. Thanks for stopping by
She got swindled into volunteering. Maybe he is a good principal.
How Fun! Looking forward to reading about the Halloween Party!
Thank you!
Of course cats run around and shriek loudly. As for human costumes, Freddy Kreuger would be cheap and easy. Just buy the mask, cats already have the claws.
I’ve wanted a Daft Punk costume for years but even plain helmet molds for that are insanely expensive, and then you have to wire, solder and program the LEDs yourself. Besides, Bud loves Halloween and answers the door with me when we get trick or treaters, so everyone just pays attention to him.
Aww. That must be adorable with him next to you. That sounds like an awesome costume. Would it scare Buddy?