Friday, June 3, 2011

Lenny-Lee Fest


Lenny Lee has spread sunshine on my blog, so now I’m going to spread some to him. (Send him some too by visiting his BLOG .


Below is a story inspired by real events. It’s dedicated to you, Lenny.


Boo and Patches

by Theresa Milstein


In a small city lived a family named the Bumblebees. Sandy and Randy Bumblebee and their daughter, Mandy Bumblebee lived in a tall brick building with their cat, Patches. Patches was part of the family ever since Mandy Bumblebee could remember. Patches didn’t recall living anywhere else.

But one summer day, the Bumblebees brought in a bunch of cardboard boxes and started putting the entire apartment inside these boxes! Patches didn’t know what it meant, but he didn’t like it. “We’re moving,” Mandy Bumblebee explained.

Patches only travelled when he’d visited the veterinarian for check-ups and shots. The shots were the worst part of the whole ordeal! Patches cried loudly, “MeeooOW!” He closed his eyes tightly for each trip, including the one on moving day.

When they got to the new house with the little yard, Patches watched the Bumblebees and the movers haul the boxes from the old apartment into this new strange house.

Patches noticed that the door was opened as boxes were brought in. Should I go out there? he wondered. He decided to make a break for it and took off out the door, down the steps, and to the outside world.


Patches sniffed the air. The world was so BIG!

Patches sniffed the dirt beneath his feet.

Patches stretched in the grass and announced, “I want to stay outside forever!”


Later, when the Bumblebees realized Patches was in the yard, they saw things a little differently; “You’re an indoor cat!” Sandy Bumblebee reprimanded. But Patches was determined to be an outdoor cat.

A month later a new pet joined the Bumblebee household. A baby squirrel needed a home and the Bumblebees took him in until he was old enough to live on his own. “I’ll name you Boo,” Mandy Bumblebee crooned.

Little by little, Boo grew. First he could only drink milk, then soft food, and soon hard food. First he couldn’t walk, then he took his few wobbly first steps, and soon he climbed on everything and everyone!

As Boo got older, Patches got bolder. Patches would wait at the side of the doorway and sprint out the door as soon as any Bumblebee came home.


One time when Patches got caught and was brought back inside, Boo asked Patches, “Why do you want to go so? You’re an indoor cat.”

Patch testily replied, “There’s a whole wide world out there to explore! I want to be free!”

“Why don’t you go? You are a wild squirrel,” asked Patches to Boo, in turn.

Boo answered, “The whole wide world is too scary. I want to feel safe!”


On a cool autumn day, it was time to send Boo away. Mandy Bumblebee sobbed, but Randy Bumblebee reminded her, “Squirrels are wild animals and can’t live inside.”


Boo looked around. The world was so BIG!

Boo looked back at the Bumblebees.

Boo took a few tentative steps, then pattered down the porch and onto the grass.


Boo didn’t like it outside one bit. As soon as a Bumblebee opened the door to go out, Boo would scurry in. As soon as a Bumblebee opened the door to go in, Patches would dash out. Boo and Patches mostly saw each other in the doorway, coming and going. Boo longed to be safe, while Patches longed to be free!

When Boo was out one day he met another squirrel, curiously picking up acorns from a big oak tree and clambering into a small hole. Then she would come back down to collect more acorns.


“Excuse me, but what is your name and what are you doing?” asked Boo.

“My name is Shaggy Tail and I am collecting acorns to eat over the long, cold winter. I suggest you do the same.”

“Who me?” said a surprised Boo, “I won’t need to do that. I live with the Bumblebees. I’m sure they will feed me.”

Shaggy Tail shook her head, “Squirrels are wild animals. We’re meant to live outside.”


One final autumn day was cold and blustery, but still Patches was determined to go outside. When the Bumblebees went out, he did too. “Come back!” cried Mandy Bumblebee. But Patches wouldn’t return home.

At the same time, Boo squeaked to beg a visit inside, but the Bumblebees couldn’t leave a squirrel home alone all day. Boo watched as they drove away.

Patches knew it would rain. Boo knew it would rain. Animals can sense such things. Boo ran back and forth when the first drops fell, frightened as could be. Shaggy Tail called, “Climb up here.” Boo took a deep breath and scuttled up the oak tree. He peered inside. The nest was full of acorns and it was warm and dry! He snuggled with Shaggy Tail and felt safe. He was home!

Poor Patches wasn’t so lucky. The wind howled angrily as the branches bristled. Patches didn’t know where to hide. With soaked fur, he mewed, “Help!

When the Bumblebees arrived home, Patches jumped into Mandy’s arms. She brought him in, dried him with a towel, and put him near the fireplace to warm. He was home!

The next day, Patches talked to Boo at the windowsill. Patches was on the sill, inside the house. Boo was on the porch outside the house.


“I’m meant to live inside. It’s nice outside, but a cat still needs a home and family to be safe,” said Patches.

“I’m meant to live outside. It’s nice inside, but a squirrel can have a home outside and still be safe,” said Boo.

So the cat and the squirrel visited one another from time to time. They both concluded that for either of them to be happy, they needed the freedom of the outdoors and the safety of home at the same time!


41 comments:

  1. great story, Theresa :o) I knew you'd blow it out of the water!

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  2. Love it! I'm so glad they both ended up where they belonged. :)

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  3. Hi Theresa .. love the Bumblebees .. and their story - such a fun tale - and that criss-crossing in the doorway .. brought back memories of the theatre farces in London my parents took us to ..

    Great story which I'm sure Lenny will love .. cheers Hilary

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  4. Lovely story! I was picturing illustrations as I read!

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  5. Bumblebeeds are so awesome, cute and fluffy. We don't have 'em here in Aus :(

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  6. What a great story, Theresa! You've done Lenny proud :)

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  7. An enchanting story! Like Sarah, I was seeing it illustrated as I read. The characterisation is lovely.

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  8. I love that we are all sharing what WE love in honor of Lenny! What a great kid! Wonderful post, Theresa!!!

    xoxo -- Hilary

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  9. Awwww the world may be BIG but by golly with good friends and lots of love it could also be exciting, wonderful and beautiful!!

    Great story for adorable Lenny!!!! Take care
    x

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  10. Aww...that was so cute. And I loved the ending. So sweet.

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  11. Aw. Love this. Lenny will too. *hugs* to both of you.

    And, I didn't know Aussie didn't have bumble bees. Learn something new every day. :)

    Hugs and love,
    Lola

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  12. Firstly, love the family name!! This is very visual. Great job. Thanks for bringing us all together to celebrate such a wonderful child! Hi, Lenny.

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  13. Great story! You pulled it off, my friend. SWEET! I could see the story in my head as I read it. Wonderful job. :-) (((hugs))) Lenny will love it!

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  14. Very cute story! It made me smile.

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  15. Great story Teresa and what a message, safety and home. Have a great weekend and my best to Lenny. :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  16. Wonderful story! Glad Patches and Boo found their homes!

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  17. Lenny will LOVE this story, Theresa! He feeds a stray cat and a squirrel out back of his house. (His brothers are doing it for him right now.)

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  18. What a great story! I love the back and forth of it--so fun! Lenny will absolutely LOVE this, Theresa. :-)

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  19. This is SO awesome! Well done, Theresa.

    Hi Lenny!

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  20. Oh I love this! And I'd love to know the true story of it that inspired it!

    Amazing story--Lenny will love it :)

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  21. Love this, Theresa! I'm sure Lenny will love this! :)

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  22. Yay for Boo and Patches! I'm sure Lenny will love it! :)

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  23. This is just the kind of story Lenny will love! Well done, Theresa!

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  24. Wow! This is such a great story! I could picture everything in my head so well. Amazing job. Lenny will adore it! :-)

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  25. Bees! Wonderful. I'm working so hard to bring them to my garden. We've lost a huge number of these busy and interesting creatures.

    Loved the story. Thanks so much.

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  26. So glad you did this for sweet Lenny!

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  27. Theresa, this is beautifully written and quite charming. I loved it.

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  28. Thanks for introducing us to Lenny - he's amazing. I actually couldn't believe he was real at first, that's how moved I was.

    I've tagged you in a get to know you meme on my blog - don't hate me!

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  29. Hi Theresa,

    What a great story, so beautifully written! I loved it!

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  30. Love it! What a great story Theresa - so glad you shared it with us all and not just Lenny :)

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  31. Lenny's going to love it. You did an amazing job, Theresa, organizing the blog fest. :D

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  32. I've stopped at a few blogs on the tour, what a fun fest going on. I'll bet Lenny loved it :)

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  33. Good story. I like the moral, how each learned to be happy with what they were.

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  34. what a great story! I actually envisioned it as a picture book complete with colorful illustrations!
    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  35. Thank you to everyone who commented. I appreciate your kind words for Lenny. And I also appreciate the nice feedback about my story. This was a special post for Lenny, so I wasn't expecting this many people to comment.

    And thank you to all the people who participated in the Lenny-Lee Fest.

    Love, Theresa xo

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  36. Oh my gosh this was brilliant! You're such a beautiful writer I loved this story!! I sometimes share my favorite stories with people around me and this one I'll share with my nephews! They'd love it!

    Lenny is the greatest ever!

    So glad I stopped in today!! I miss you and glad to be back in your world!

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  37. Aw, gorgeous story!! Now, that's spreading the sunshine! Thank you!

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