The Story Teller

Midge sat on the front porch staring at the sky. “Once upon a time in a far far away land,” she whispered. “There lived a beautiful princess with golden hair of curls.
“Midge!” called Jake three times. “Earth to Midge! What are you doing? Didn't you hear me calling you?”

“Oh, hi Jake,” said Midge. “I was making up a story and I was thinking and talking at the same time.”

“A story about what?” asked Jake.

“A story about a princess dog who as looking for her prince of a dog,” said Midge.

“Who is looking for a prince of a dog” asked Booker-T as he joined Midge and Jake on the front porch.

“Midge is making up a story in her head,” said Jake. “Maybe she is looking for that prince of a dog.”

“Will you settle for a prince of a cat?” laughed Booker-T. “I would make a wonderful prince don't you think?”

“Very funny,” said Midge.

“Don't you see?” asked Jake. “Lions are called kings so maybe Booker-T thinks that little cats can be Princes.”

“Hey Jake,” smiled Booker-T. “I think that makes good sense. Don't you think so Midge?”

“You two are just too funny,” said Midge. “You two would be good comedians.”

“Okay,” said Jake. “What is your story about and what are you going to do with the story when you finish it?”

“My story is about this little princess dog with pretty golden hair and she is feeling lonely and wants to find herself a handsome prince do who is brave,” said Midge. “Maybe I can sell my story and make it into a book.”

“Hmmm,” said Jake. “How will you do that? We can't write or talk to humans. How will you tell your story? It is humans who would have to make it into a book.”

“I don't know,” said Midge. “I hadn't thought about that part of it.”

“We understand and talk to each other,” said Booker-T. “I think some times Midge forgets the humans don't hear or understand us. They only hear us meow or bark.”

“They talk to us like they know we understand them,” said Midge. “I guess they really don't know that we do.”

“And we do,” agreed Jake. “But the humans really don't know for sure that we really do understand them when they talk to us.”

“I guess you are right,” sighed Midge. How will I tell my story if no one understands me?”

“Can you type?' asked Booker-T.

“Type on what?” asked Midge.

“On a computer,” said Booker-T. “My owner has one in her office that is on all the time.”

“I could hit one letter at a time,” said Midge. “I don't have fingers to type like the humans do.”

“That will take a very long time to type it out that way,” said Booker-T.

“But it's the only way that I can type,” said Midge. “Maybe Gabby can go faster with his break. He is good at doing things we can't.”

“Maybe,” said Jake. “You can ask him the next time we see him. All he can do is say yes or no.”

“But you are forgetting something Midge,” said Jake.

“What did I forget?” asked Midge.

“If Gabby types it in for you, What will you do with the story on the computer?” asked Jake.

“Maybe I can print it on paper,” said Midge. “Does she have a printer?”

“Sure, she has a printer,” said Booker-T. “But what will you do with the papers after you print them out?”

“Let me think a minute,” said Midge.

“Ooops, there go the brain wheels again,” laughed Jake. “I think I hear them churning away in there. Don't you hear them Booker-T.”

“I think I hear them,” laughed Booker-T.

“Don't we have a newspaper here in town somewhere?” asked Midge.

“Yes,” said Jake. “It is next door to the vet's office now,” said Jake.

“We can push it under the door of the office and maybe someone will see it and print it out for all people to see and read,” suggested Midge.

“Now your biggest problem is getting it typed and printed so you can take it to them,” said Jake.

“I should get started right away,” said Midge. “Don't you think so?”

“You don't want to go to the park with Booker-T and I today?” asked Jake.

“And maybe not go to the park for a long time until you finish your story,” said Booker-T. “We are going to go watch the kids ride the sleds and skate on the pond and maybe we will roll around in the snow making snow dog angels.”

“I will be fun Midge,” said Jake.

“I guess the story can wait til later,” said Midge. “Playing in the snow sounds like more fun.”

the three hurried along the sidewalk and quickly crossed the snow street into the park where they saw a lot of the kids with their sleds pulling them up the hill so they can ride them down.

“They are having so much fun riding the sleds Jake,” said Midge. “I want to try it again.”

“No,” said Jake. “I think it is a bad idea.”

“But why?” asked Midge.

“Because you can't ride the sled and steer it with your feet at the same time,” laughed Booker-T. “You end up with your head buried in the snow. Did you forget what happened when you tried to ride it?”

“I remember,” sighed Midge. “But you know, it was so much fun going fast down that hill.”

“You not only rode down the hill on the sled,” said Jake. “You flew through the air and zoom, right into that big pile of snow.”

“That's right Jake!” said Midge as her eyes lit up. “I rode the sled and flew too.”

“You flew all right,” said Jake. “Just like a rocket into the snow.”

“But I sure would like to try it again some time,” said Midge.

“I think your story telling would be safer,” suggested Jake.

“Okay,” agreed Midge. “I won't try again. Maybe.”

The three laughed as they watched the boys come zooming down the hill on their sleds.