The Fire Cat

The Fire Cat

PICKLES Once upon a time, there was a yellow cat with black spots in his fur. His name was Pickles.

Pickles was a young cat. His paws were big. And he wished to do big things with them. But where could Pickles find anything big to do? Pickles lived in a barrel. The barrel was all that he had for a home.

Pickles's barrel was in an old yard where there was nothing big to do. So what did Pickles do? He ran after little cats. He ran after every little cat that came into the yard. And he chased the little cat out of the yard. This was a bad, bad thing. But it was all that Pickles could find to do.

Next to Pickles's yard was a house. In the house lived many cats who called out to Pickles, " You are bad. You cannot be our friend. " But Pickles did have a friend in the house. His friend was Mrs. Goodkind.

Every day Mrs. Goodkind came into the yard and gave Pickles something to eat. One day Mrs. Goodkind said, " Pickles, you are not a bad cat. You are not a good cat. You are good and bad. And bad and good. You are a mixed-up cat. What you need is a good home. Then you will be good. "