Topsy the Long Tailed Cat A story by Erica Pensini
It was a beautiful early spring night, the stars and the moon were luminous in the brisk air, scented with the smell of burnt ashes and spotted now and then by the far away barking of a dog. Tommy was in the kitchen, sipping a cup of hot chocolate, while Tospy elegantly sat on the table, its tail wrapped around its paws and its eyes half closed in two slits of green. In spite of its lazy sleepy look, Topsy wouldn’t miss a thing and its ears would move at the slightest noise. Tommy tickled Topsy as he gazed out the window. “Look at the moon Topsy” – the boy whispered – “I always wanted to climb up there. I know it is impossible, but I can’t help wanting to reach it!”. Topsy opened her eyes a bit more, staring at Tommy with a sly, ironic expression. “Impossible? Meawww...If you can think it, it is possible...oh humans!”- Topsy meawed. “Topsy! You know how? Do you really?” – exclaimed Tommy, forgetting to whisper not to wake his parents already in bed. “Of course Tommy. I am a cat, and cats know how” – Topsy replied, frowning a bit. “Cats have 7 lives and 7 natures and they know 7 spells since their birth.”- continued Topsy – “Let me teach you, little boy”. Topsy winked and small boats appeared in Tommy’s cup, sailing in a chocolate sea. “WOW!” – Tommy applauded – as Topsy smiled, floating in the vapour exhaling from the hot drink. “But we were saying something about the moon” – Topsy said with refined nonchalance, returning to her former position. “Yes, can you get me there?” – Tommy begged, bubbling with excitment. “Tommy dear, let’s walk on the high hill where the oak tree grows and old Sam mumbles his stories to himself. The moon can be reached from there”. Tommy couldn’t wait a single second, he flew towards the door leaving his chocolate on the table, while Topsy calmly followed, her tail up high, oscillating slowly as whisps of smoke in a light breeze. When the two reached the hill the moon was brighter than ever, expanding a soft halo of serenity on Bloomy county. Tommy turned towards Topsy, tense with expectation. “I will need some seconds of quiet” – Topsy said with importance – “My tail will be your road to the moon. Don’t look down during your climb, you will get dizzy if you do so” – illustrated Topsy, as Tommy drank its meawed words as that famous chevalier the water of the magic fountain.
“And please Tommy dear, don’t stay to long, my paws are already wet with dew and I wish to be home before midnight” – the cat added before closing its eyes. Topsy’s tail began to grow, it got long, and longer, and longer...and so long it tickled the moon! “WOW!” – almost yelled Tommy – as he jumped up grabbing Topsy’s tail and climbing up as fast as a lizard. In less than five minutes Tommy started to see the bumpy features of the moon, which seems so smooth from below, and in the wink of an eye he was close enough to touch it! Tommy rubbed his hands on the rough surface and noticed that as he did so an inviting scent of vanilla exhaled from it. He rubbed it further till the surface darkened a bit and began to smell like cinnamon, with a hint of nutmeg. Time passed by quicker than ever as Tommy moved some steps on the perfumed surface, awestruck by the myriad of stars waving and welcoming him from above. Tommy would have stayed there for the whole night, but true to his promise to Topsy, he cautiously climbed down along the cat’s tail. When his feet touched the hill Topsy looked coldish and bored. “So? Was my effort worth it silly boy?”- Topsy inquired. “Oh yes Topsy, yes! Can we come here again tomorrow?” – Tommy exclaimed. “Tommy dear, it’s never good practice to have too many debts in life, most of all towards a cat” – Topsy replied, heading home with a dignified air. Tommy stood still, tears starting to puddle in his eyes. Tospy turned around and smiled. “Cats are moody my boy, but you are a dear fellow...we’ll see, we’ll see...Come home now, you owe me some warm milk tonight”.