Hello,
My name is Jacqueline and I'm a very proud grandma.
I write stories for my grandchildren and I'm very happy to share them with you too.
So make yourself comfortable because my next story is about to begin.
Archie.
Have you ever seen a cat who resembles an Egyptian goddess and an alien from another planet?
Well,
Meet Archie.
Archie is a Cornish Rex and despite his appearance,
He is a very affectionate and friendly cat who likes to have fun and frolic about.
He has soft wavy hair,
An egg-shaped face,
Large ears and long legs.
He is extremely active,
Agile and fast.
His green eyes see everything that moves and what he can't see,
His very sensitive nose can spot.
He can jump the highest fence and climb the tallest tree with no problem at all and he can lift almost his own body weight in his mouth.
Archie is a highly intelligent cat and well known by the animals in his neighbourhood for being very good at helping with problems.
This morning,
Archie wakes up feeling excited for the day ahead.
He sees the sun shining in through the window and hears his owner making breakfast.
He stands up and stretches,
Then gives himself a quick wash with his paws.
His owner calls him so he runs into the kitchen where he is scooped up for a cuddle.
Archie likes to snuggle with his owner and enjoys the affection he receives.
Back on the ground,
Archie gobbles up his bowl of food.
Now he's ready for the day ahead and jumps through the cat flap,
Taking a deep breath as he looks around at the beautiful day.
He listens to the birds singing sweetly while he thinks about where he will go to explore.
There are not many places he doesn't know about around here.
Archie decides to go for a run in the nearby field and sets off just as a bird flies really low over him.
It's a sparrow and Archie tries to move out of its way,
But it keeps flying straight at him.
Archie stops and looks up at the sparrow,
Who is now hovering a little way above his head.
At last I have your attention,
The sparrow squawks at Archie.
That's a strange way to get my attention,
Says Archie,
A little annoyed.
What do you want?
The sparrow perches on a fence close to where Archie is standing.
I've been told by the wise old owl that you are very good at solving problems.
Archie looks at the sparrow as he says,
I have been known to,
Yes.
Well I have a problem I need help with,
The sparrow quickly announces,
Now that she has Archie's full attention.
Someone keeps stealing the eggs out of my nest.
When I leave the nest to get some food for myself,
An egg disappears.
I started with four eggs and now I only have one left.
Can you please help me?
Archie is looking forward to his run,
But he doesn't like seeing this sparrow upset,
So he replies,
Yes I'll do my best.
Take me to your nest and I will see how I can help you.
The sparrow flies off to the tree where her nest is and Archie runs along trying to keep up with her.
The sparrow lands on her nest and sounds relieved as she says,
My last egg is still here.
Archie looks around and decides on a plan.
I will climb up into this tree next to your tree and lie on one of the branches to wait for whoever is taking your eggs.
Now give me a few minutes to get settled and then you fly off and find some food.
Don't worry we will catch whoever is doing this.
The sparrow agrees to the plan and settles on her nest while Archie gets into position.
Archie climbs the tree.
He chooses a good strong branch to lie on,
Which is the same distance from the ground as the branch the sparrow's nest is on in the opposite tree.
Then he lies flat against the branch with enough leaves covering him so he is not visible.
When he feels comfortable he stays perfectly still,
Ready for action.
A few minutes later the sparrow flies off.
Archie does not move a muscle.
He just waits and waits and waits.
Then he hears something nearby.
He can't turn his head to look because he has to keep as still as possible so as not to scare the thief.
But the noise stops.
Archie waits again.
It isn't long before he sees the thief.
A blackbird flies towards the tree and lands on the edge of the sparrow's nest.
He looks around and then bends his head into the nest.
As quick as a flash Archie jumps from his tree,
Leaps onto the blackbird and grabs him in his mouth.
Then as swiftly as he can he jumps out of the tree and lands on the ground still holding the blackbird in his beak.
Ouch!
You're hurting me!
Squeals the blackbird trying to wriggle out of Archie's mouth.
Put me down now!
Not until you tell me why you are taking the sparrow's eggs,
Archie says firmly.
The blackbird stops wiggling.
Well I'm waiting,
Says Archie.
I can't tell you because you'll laugh at me,
Whispers the blackbird.
I promise I won't laugh at you.
Just be honest with me,
Replies Archie gently.
Well it's because,
The blackbird hesitates for a minute before he continues,
It's because I can't lay eggs and I really want to be a daddy bird.
So I take other birds eggs and sit on them until they hatch.
But you have already taken three of the sparrow's eggs,
They can't have hatched already,
Archie says surprised by his reply.
No they haven't,
Says the blackbird quietly.
I drop them on the way to my nest.
I can be a little clumsy at times.
You have made the sparrow very unhappy,
Archie tries to sound cross.
Oh I'm sorry,
That was not my intention.
I am really a very nice bird,
Replies the blackbird as he starts to wiggle again.
Can you put me down now please?
I promise I won't go anywhere.
Archie opens his mouth and the blackbird lands on the ground.
He stands up and flaps his wings a little and then looks at Archie and asks,
What do you suggest I do now?
Archie looks at the blackbird and says,
I've always found that being honest is the best way forward and I feel so much better when I speak from my heart.
I like that,
Says the sparrow thoughtfully.
Here's a suggestion,
Archie offers.
Why don't you make friends with the sparrow and ask if you can watch her egg while she goes for food and has a little exercise.
That sounds like a great idea,
The blackbird says as he flaps his wings again.
Then I can be a kind of uncle to the little bird when it hatches.
I like your thinking,
Says Archie,
Watching the sparrow fly back to her nest.
Now's your chance to go and say sorry and ask her to forgive you.
The blackbird looks up at the sparrow.
Before he goes,
He says to Archie,
Thank you for making me see sense.
I feel so much happier now.
I'm going to talk to the sparrow and hope she allows me to be part of her family.
Archie watches as the blackbird flies up into the tree and lands on the branch a little away from the sparrow's nest.
The blackbird apologises and explains why he has stolen the eggs.
At first the sparrow turns her back on him,
But after she listens for a while she turns and faces him.
Before long the blackbird is sitting next to the nest and Archie knows the sparrow has forgiven him.
Happy with the outcome,
Archie starts back on his run to the field.
A few minutes later,
He stands at the edge of the field.
The grass is long in places and the only way Archie can get through it is to jump like a sheep.
This is a different kind of exercise to what he had in mind,
But it is fun.
Hey,
Watch out,
Dimwit,
You nearly trod on me,
Says a little squeaky voice.
Archie looks down and sees a tiny mouse holding back a blade of grass.
Oh,
Sorry,
I didn't see you there,
Archie apologises.
You are so tiny and this grass is so long.
Well,
Now that you're here,
Maybe you can help me,
The tiny mouse says,
Looking up at Archie.
I'm trying to find my brother.
We were running through this grass,
Trying to get back to our mouse hole,
When I suddenly realised he wasn't behind me anymore.
I've been walking around for ages looking for him with no luck.
Can you help me find him,
Please?
Archie looks at the tiny mouse and decides to go for a run another day.
Helping someone in distress is far more important.
And he replies,
Yes,
I'll do my best.
Which direction shall we go in first?
Let's go this way,
Suggests the tiny mouse pointing to her right.
Why don't you climb upon my head and then we can go faster and I won't step on you,
Archie says.
OK,
Agrees the tiny mouse,
Climbing upon Archie until she reaches the top of his head.
She holds onto his ears with her paws and Archie starts walking.
They walk for a few minutes and eventually come to the edge of the field without seeing any sign of the tiny mouse's brother.
Let's go back into the grass and zigzag across this time,
Suggests Archie.
Yes,
Let's give that a try,
Agrees the tiny mouse.
This field is so big,
I'm worried we won't find him at all.
Don't worry,
Archie says,
Trying to reassure her.
I have a good feeling that everything is going to be all right.
Stay positive.
When you feel positive deep inside of you,
Only good things can happen.
Try thinking about how happy you will feel when we find your brother.
Archie starts walking back into the tall grass and the tiny mouse thinks about her brother.
A few minutes pass and then,
Without warning,
The tiny mouse starts to pull on Archie's ears and yells,
Stop,
Stop,
I see him,
He's lying over there.
Archie sees him and hurries over.
The mouse has been caught in a mousetrap and seems to be unconscious.
The tiny mouse climbs down from Archie's head and runs over to her brother.
She leans over him.
He's still breathing,
She says.
I can feel his breath on my cheek.
Quickly,
Can you help me open the mousetrap?
Archie looks at the poor mouse caught in the trap.
It is a spring trap and the bar is lying across his belly and a piece of cheese is not far from his mouth.
He must have stepped onto the wooden floor of the trap to get the cheese and knocked the spring which pushed the bar down upon him.
Right,
We need to make a plan,
Archie says,
Thinking quickly.
You hold on to one of your brother's legs and I will lift the bar of the trap.
As soon as I do that,
You have no time to waste.
You must pull your brother with all your strength away from the trap immediately,
Otherwise the spring will trap him again.
We only have one chance at this.
He may not survive another hit with that bar.
OK,
Says the tiny mouse.
She grabs one of her brother's legs tightly with her paws and declares,
I can do this.
Archie gets into position with his paw under the bar.
I will count to three and then I will lift the bar off him.
One,
Two,
Three and Archie lifts the bar back and at the same time the tiny mouse pulls her brother away from the trap with all her strength.
Archie lets the bar go and it snaps down onto the wooden board where the mouse had been lying.
Nice work,
Says Archie to the tiny mouse.
He looks over to where the two mice are nestled in the grass.
How's your brother doing?
He asks quietly,
Walking over to them.
The tiny mouse is tenderly rocking her brother in her arms.
He's very cold,
She whispers.
Archie pushes some blades of grass over the mouse to help get him warm.
It's the shock of being snapped in the mouse trap that has made him cold,
Archie replies.
The tiny mouse continues rocking her brother and telling him how much she loves him.
All of a sudden the mouse starts to stir and opens his eyes.
The first thing he sees is Archie staring down at him.
He clings to his sister and looks terrified.
It's alright,
She says gently.
Archie is a friend and helped me find you.
He's not going to hurt us,
Are you?
She suddenly asks,
Looking up at Archie.
No,
I'm not going to hurt you,
Archie says smiling.
I want to see you both happy and well.
The tiny mouse smiles back and her brother relaxes in her arms.
Thank you for helping us,
She says,
And for your advice about staying positive.
It really did work.
I will remember that in future.
Is there anything else I can do before I leave?
Archie asks.
No,
You have done more than enough for us,
Replies the tiny mouse gratefully.
We will sit here for a while until my brother feels fully rested.
Thank you again.
My pleasure.
I'm glad I could help.
Now take care and bye for now.
As Archie jumps through the long grass,
He thinks what a great day he is having helping others solve their problems.
Eventually he comes to the edge of the field and decides to go home and have a rest for a while.
Jumping through long grass is much more tiring than running.
Archie starts walking back to his house when all of a sudden a bird flies quite close over his head again.
He looks up and sees the sparrow he had helped earlier.
The blackbird is looking after my egg while I stretch my wings,
She says as she circles above Archie.
Thank you for helping me today.
I think the blackbird will be a good friend to me and my family.
That's great news,
Says Archie.
I'm so pleased for you all.
Enjoy your walk,
Says the sparrow as she flies off up into the blue sky.
Helping others really makes Archie feel happy inside.
No matter what problems others have,
He always manages to find a solution for them.
Archie enters his home through the cat flap,
Just as his owner puts a saucer of cold,
Creamy milk down for him.
He takes a refreshing drink and then finds a sunny spot to lie down.
Tomorrow he will go for a run in the nearby field.
But now it's time to take a well-deserved nap.
Thank you for listening to my story.
I hope you enjoyed it.
Before you go,
I'd like to ask you a question.
Do you think you could solve problems as well as Archie does?
Thanks again for listening and come back soon to hear another story from Grandma.
Bye for now.
