8/31: Octopus Course

It was a summer day as ordinary as any other, hot and lazy. Ah was in betweens mah window nap and mah chair nap when all of a sudden, without warning, Lé Toots marched into the house.

She stood in front of me and stared at me for a moment before announcing, "It is time. Make haste, ze thunder is approaching." Ah followed mah Sissy out into the heat, curious and excited to be included in her latest plans.

As we made our way to the edge of Fangorn Forest, Toots lectured, "Today marks ze end of your training. Today, you will become an official member of ze French Cat Militia, but only if you can complete ze Tower of Strength Obstacle Course."

She then revealed the Octopus Course. It involved crawling and climbing, sharp twigs and bumpy branches, scaling vines and jumping through spaces. Ah gulped.

"You must successfully complete ze course as fast as you can. Once you reach ze last arm, your final test of Fortitude awaits. Ready. Go!"

There was no time for scary thoughts, Ah just charged forward. The first leg of the octopus included climbing over a tall, steep pole. Once Ah reached the top, Ah didn't know what to do. It was so high!

Ah looked over mah shoulder for guidance from mah Sissy, where she sat crouched, watching intently. Ah knew Ah had to do this on mah own, so gulping again, Ah leaped to the ground, landing on a pile of leaves.

Next Ah crawled under and through twisted vines. Mah belly scraped across the ground leaving my pretty white fur behind. It hurt a little, but Ah had to move on!

Finally, Ah reached the largest octopus leg. Ah was to climb a wiggly, wobbly, scrawny vine. Climbing doesn't come naturally to me but Ah knew this was almost the end and to persevere.

Once Ah reached the end of the vine, Ah saw Lé Toots bounding towards me. She quickly climbed up the vine and was nose to nose with me before Ah realized what was happening. Toots is fast!

"This is your final test, fortitude in ze face of danger and ze unexpected." Ah saw Toots wind back in a slap. Ah braced for a blow to mah face.

Ah held firm as her punch glanced off mah nose. The vine bounced, but mah claws sunk in. Ah could see Ah had the higher ground so Ah started to swat back until Lé Toots lost her balance, abandoning the vine and retreating.

Winning a fight against Toots; it's oddly unsettling. Ah wasn't sure what to do next, so Ah just slowly came down the vine and waited for instruction.

"Private Beans, your Belly Robber was slow. And ze hesitation on ze Confidence Climb, unacceptable. But, your Jump and Land was near perfect and ze Boxing encounter, very successful. Your training is nowhere near complete, but you have successfully made rank. Congratulations, Corporal Beans."

And with that, Lé Toots presented me with a beautiful red bandanna!

"This comes from ze summit of Mont Blanc near Chamonix, France. Sent by Monsieur Blanc himself, ze Cat of Two Colors and esteemed General of Ze French Cat Militia. Wear this ascot proudly and with honor."

Ah don't recall Toots ever mentioning General Mouser Blank before, but Ah sure feel special for him thinking of me from so far away! Ah'm honored to wear his bandanna as a Corporal of the French Cat Militia. It's a good thing Ah have a fluffy face, to help hide mah joy and maybe a few tears.

Ah wonder what mah first assignment as a Corporal will be? Ah've been a Private mah whole life so Ah'm nervous but ready for some fun!

Hae a guid day,

Beans